Night of Champions brings back grand memories

Harness racing honored its stars of last season on Sunday night as The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Dan Patch Awards Night presented by Caesars Entertainment put on a memorable extravaganza at Rosen’s Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL, celebrating USHWA’s 75th anniversary.

Steve Wolf represented Harnesslink at this extravaganza and I was also honored to be there rubbing shoulders with the champions as well.

The evening brought back wonderful memories to so many of us making the history of our grand sport, spawning this Mane Attraction column.

The very first memory that came to me was when Dexter Dunn received all of his deserved accolades with the Jack Darling trained incomparable Bulldog Hanover.

Dexter is from New Zealand and that brought back the memory of Sanders Russell, a great horseman born in Stevenson, Alabama in 1900—yes, 123 years ago and, of course, long gone and forgotten these days.

He’s probably known best for his win with AC’s Viking in 1962—driving with a cast on a severely injured leg.

But back in 1948, he noticed a pacer side-wheeling along a hilltop on a farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

He bought the colt for $1,500 and was competitive in the 1950 Little Brown Jug, finishing 3-3-4 inches trio of heats and earning $2,826…and 27 cents!

The colt was Hal Tryax and, after his racing days were over, he was sold to New Zealand interests and sired our sport’s first millionaire pacer, Cardigan Bay, among others.

Thus, the “down under” influence in American harness racing now includes many horses in the winner’s circle with the letter “N” attached to their names.

Neighboring Australia has not done badly, either!!!

Jim Simpson was at Champions Night and that brought back grand memories of John Simpson, Sr.

Not only was Senior a great trainer and driver, but he was also the President of Hanover Shoe Farms, the longtime leading breeder in our sport.

During his years in the sulky, he won many of harness racing’s major stakes, including the Cane Pace, Fox Stake, Kentucky Futurity, Little Brown Jug, Messenger and the Hambletonian.

His champs included, Ayres, Hickory Smoke, Torpid, Bullet Hanover and Thor Hanover, to name a handful.

The “Magic Man,” Bill O’Donnell, approaching 75 (24 Celsius) was in attendance, too. A native of Nova Scotia, Billy “O” wandered down to New England where he started with Jim Doherty, eventually going out on his own to conquer the harness racing world. He has won over 90 of our classic stakes (many on multiple occasions) events totaling some 150 wins.

A couple of my favorites were, of course, Nihilator, Valley Victory and Cedar Strike—the latter just an everyday “overnight” horse that paid $37.00 with my $10 riding on his nose!

Brian Sears was in attendance on Sunday night and that brought back memories of his GRANDFATHER (Boy, am I getting old!), Gene.

Hi Lo’s Solar, Red Sails, Ironworks come to mind, and I remember his waving his whip over his horse’s ears to keep him alive in the final yards—maybe with Success Ed, if memory serves me.

Jay Farrar was there, too, on Sunday night…and that brought back memories of his uncle, the legendary Frank Ervin.

I’ve been lucky enough to have had many conversations with Frank over his years—from his first win in 1920 with Black Diamond and his incredible win streaks with Sampson Hanover (19 in-a-row), Expression (20), Yankee Hanover (22) and, of course, Bret Hanover (24 as a two-year-old stretching to 35 at three.)

I think my most chilling remembrance was his “team-to-pole” record with Impish and Sprite Rodney in 1:59.4.

Finally, John Campbell was there.

I have written hundreds of thousands of words since my first writing inn 1964…but not one is adequate enough to describe everyone’s admiration for this great horseman and gentleman.

A native pf London, Ontario, Canada, Campbell made the trip “south” to Canada at Windsor and Race Secretary Joe DeFrank kind of urged him “come east, young man, come east” to The Meadowlands…and the rest is history.

He’s won stakes almost from “A” to “Z”—the Adios to the Yonkers Trot—with the Meadowlands Pace, Little Brown Jug and Hambletonian among the list of over 100 Classic races he was won…and Breeders Crown events…just too many to count!

From Mack Lobell to Peace Corps, seeing John Campbell on Sunday was a trip down memory lane.

It was a grand event to witness as the “Star Wars” get set to prove superiority in the class of 2023.

“May the Horse Be With You!”

by John Berry, for Harnesslink