HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Admin on November 21, 2025, 10:11:30 AM
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4 names only, please
Campbell
Moiseyev
Lachance
Manzi
I went with a mix of guys I saw win big races, lots of races, and meet championships. I came into the sport after Herve was a significant factor, so I left him off.
Very interested to see what you come up with. tmbz1
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Case
Campbell
Sears
Dunn
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Luc Ouellette
Brian Sears
Ron Pierce
David Miller
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Campbell
LaChance
O'Donnell
Goudreau
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Campbell
LaCahnce
O'Donnell
Sears
Pierce
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Case
Dunn
Campbell
Palone
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Campbell
Pierce
Sears
Dunn
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O'Donnell
Campbell
Filion
Feagan
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Campbell
Dunn
David Miller
Ron Pierce
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Mario Baillargeron
B Sears
Campbell
O'Donnell
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Campbell
Herve
Odonnell
Tetrick
kudos to Admin for attempting to steer the discussions towards racing tmbz1
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case
palone
dave miller
brett miller
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This is always a tough one. What era? All time? How far do you go back?
OK, so, just for drivers I saw, in their prime, talent, ability, skills.....
John Campbell
William O'Donnell
Buddy Gilmour
and.....this is where it gets tough.....gun to my head.....Herve Filion.
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Campbell
Dave Miller
Pierce
Sears
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Campbell
Dunn
Pierce
Waples SR
and my choice who good have been the greatest if he wasn't taken way to soon
S Goudreau
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Manzi....Case.... Miller.....Campbe ll
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John Campbell
Tim Tetrick
Ron Pierce
Jackie Mo
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Campbell
David Miller
Dunn
Bill Gale
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Campbell
Case
Bill O
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So many great names there. You can make an argument for most of them. Tough to narrow it down to four. I never saw Keith Waples in his prime, but I did see Shelly Goudreau throughout the at the end of the 70's and into the 80's (before he died in 82). I never saw Joe O'Brien, but I know plenty of people who did, and they have more than qualified opinions, and I respect them. While some may make an argument, my friend George Sholty was truly great. Many great, great horsemen consider Mike Lachance as the greatest all-around horseman. You can make an argument for all of these men, and plenty more.
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Case
Campbell
O'Donnell
Pierce
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J.Campbell
James MacDonald
Brian Sears
Dexter
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Would have to carve another space on the mountain..
Campbell
Purple Jesus
Pierce
LaChance
Case
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IMHO
I think it took a much more capable and well rounded driver to win races a few decades ago.
Therefore
Don Busse, Daryl Busse, Del Insko, and Bob Farrington.
These four each won national dash winning championships driving Knee Knocking, Cross Firing, and all around Bad Gaited Nickel Pickles.
Only in their later years did they get to drive Point and Go horses like Dunn and Tetrick drive regularly.
If Busse, Busse, Insko,and Farrington drove back then like Dunn and Tetrick do today with their hand holds in their belly buttons, they would be turning somersaults in the first turn not winning races.
Busse, Busse, Insko, and Farrington had to do all the tactical things of todays drivers plus concendrate more on keeping their horses upright.
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PIERCE Campbell Feagan Fillion/ Goudreau/ Waples SR
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My picks are Campbell. Case,Jr., Insko, and Manzi.
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I remember Sears coming to the Meadowlands and taking over. The best big track driver IMO.
Case was phenomenal. He kept horses going that looked like they were finished. The best I ever saw on the half.
Pierce was one of the best big race drivers and got better with age.
Tetrick has had an amazing run. He won many big races at a young age. A hard worker driving and winning everywhere.
There are many greats and so many right answers. I believe we are partial to ones from the tracks we attended and what era we started watching.
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Herve Billy O Campbell Buddy Gilmore Ron Pierce
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Campbell Lachance Dunn Fillion
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Campbell, Fillion , Case , Sears , L. Williams These are the best I ever seen.
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Herve Filion
Bud Gilmour
John Campbell
Cat Manzi
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Dexter Dunn
Dave Magee
Walter Case
Walter Paisley
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Herve
Campbell
Gilmour
Pierce
honorable mention-Walter Case
Billy Parker
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1-JOHN CAMPBELL
2-WALTER CASE
3-HERVE FILION
4-CHRIS BORING
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John Campbell
David Miller
Ron Pierce
Brian Sears
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DiBenedetto, Aldrich,Merton, and Taggart
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good discussion
i will cater my picks more to the past as i feel in prior eras drivers had more influence on the outcome where now trainers have more influence
campbell
odonnell
pierce
lachance
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Filion
Case
Campbell
Webster
with Dunn on his way.
Filion and Case were true "horse whisperers."
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DiBenedetto, Aldrich,Merton, and Taggart
tmbz1
Your choices tmbz1
Your opinions tmbz1
Seriously though, are you being held against your will at Monticello - we will send help! ngc3
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good discussion
i will cater my picks more to the past as i feel in prior eras drivers had more influence on the outcome where now trainers have more influence
campbell
odonnell
pierce
lachance
well put, sir
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Campbell
Lachance
T Ritchie
Condren
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Many peoople made some great choices and some not as they picked the people they liked, Its hard to believe that KEITH WAPLES or CARMINE at yonkers got no play or even Gilles gendron who was a leading driver for a long time and ive seen many chi town drivers on the list but no TONY MORGAN and very little TIM TETRICK AS everybody is judging him on his drives these days, But one thing i know is ROGER HUSTAN does not post or PALONE would be in the number one spot
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DiBenedetto, Aldrich,Merton, and Taggart
Now that, is some funny shit ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
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Not going to list my thoughts because I agree with everyones list
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sears
jack bailey
travis bowman
josh marks
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I left off John stark jr I forgot him
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In a world full of division I thought bringing a few laughs would make someone laugh, it worked in a small way but my list would be
Herve, Campbell, Lachance, and Billy O
I'm a 1980's guy
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In a world full of division I thought bringing a few laughs would make someone laugh, it worked in a small way but my list would be
Herve, Campbell, Lachance, and Billy O
I'm a 1980's guy
I haven't been following Monti, but I remember them all from there, I checked though and was shocked, maybe a bit here and there, Pinocchio Downs too but regulars at Monti - Monti Forever! ;D
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Billy Haughton
Henri Filion
Herve Filion
John Campbell
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Herve Filion
Walter Case
John Campbell
Steve Condren
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I don't know if anyone here is not only old enough, but actually got to see Keith Waples drive in this prime. Obviously way back, and pre-simulcasting, LOL. Way different era, late 60's, early 70's. I never got to see him in his prime, but I know several people who did. Many of the old time Canadian horsemen, and guys like Billy O'Donnell and John Campbell did. I've heard people say it's hard to compare an old-time trainer/driver, with a catch-driver, but I think if you are looking at skills, ability, talent, etc., no, it's not.
Send Billy O'Donnell and John Campbell an email and ask them who is on their Mt. Rushmore of drivers. It should not be a shock to anyone if Keith's name was on both. I also think Buddy Gilmour's name would be on one of them, if not both.
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I saw Keith Waples in his prime and was going to have him in my list but went with Feagan instead. I remember Keith driving nice horses like Mr Galaphone, Blaze Pick and Strike Out.
Apparently Keith was a role model for Herve and many others.
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I saw Keith Waples in his prime and was going to have him in my list but went with Feagan instead. I remember Keith driving nice horses like Mr Galaphone, Blaze Pick and Strike Out.
Apparently Keith was a role model for Herve and many others.
Amazing that you were able to see him in his prime! I'm jealous! Apparently, Keith was a role model for many-----including, just to name a few, Steve Condren, Doug Brown, Jim Doherty, and others as well. Keith has long been considered by many horsemen as one the greatest drivers in history. Mike Lachance often praised Keith and his skills, strengths as a driver, etc. I think Keith's formal resume is incomplete as he driving long before formal/official records were kept and recorded.
I did see the LBJ in 72 when he won with Strike Out, where they set the WR for the fastest mile ever on a half. I've also seen the videos of the International he won with Tie Silk in 62. His major victories and accomplishments are too many to list. He was also involved in opening and managing three Canadian racetracks and was integrally involved in their operations. Keith gave accurate and meaningful definition to the term "legend."
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I saw Kieth at CASINO RAMA about 15 years ago walking around and asked him whats his game of choice and he replied to me that a casino has never seen a dollar of his and never will but i think his wife was playing slots,
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Amazing that you were able to see him in his prime! I'm jealous! Apparently, Keith was a role model for many-----including, just to name a few, Steve Condren, Doug Brown, Jim Doherty, and others as well. Keith has long been considered by many horsemen as one the greatest drivers in history. Mike Lachance often praised Keith and his skills, strengths as a driver, etc. I think Keith's formal resume is incomplete as he driving long before formal/official records were kept and recorded.
I did see the LBJ in 72 when he won with Strike Out, where they set the WR for the fastest mile ever on a half. I've also seen the videos of the International he won with Tie Silk in 62. His major victories and accomplishments are too many to list. He was also involved in opening and managing three Canadian racetracks and was integrally involved in their operations. Keith gave accurate and meaningful definition to the term "legend."
Not only a great driver, he trained a top stable racing Toronto and Montreal.
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Billy O
John C
Herve F
Charlie Fitz
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Amazing that you were able to see him in his prime! I'm jealous! Apparently, Keith was a role model for many-----including, just to name a few, Steve Condren, Doug Brown, Jim Doherty, and others as well. Keith has long been considered by many horsemen as one the greatest drivers in history. Mike Lachance often praised Keith and his skills, strengths as a driver, etc. I think Keith's formal resume is incomplete as he driving long before formal/official records were kept and recorded.
I did see the LBJ in 72 when he won with Strike Out, where they set the WR for the fastest mile ever on a half. I've also seen the videos of the International he won with Tie Silk in 62. His major victories and accomplishments are too many to list. He was also involved in opening and managing three Canadian racetracks and was integrally involved in their operations. Keith gave accurate and meaningful definition to the term "legend."
Kieth was part owner of ORANGEVILLE and CLOVERDALE but it was hid brother MURRAY AND his son WENDLE with the KEELINGS that ran those racetracks and MURRAY always hired regular small time gamblers who lived harness racing to assist him with operations and i really believe Orangeville was the best run racetrack in CANADA, Also kieth was silently barred in his later years but allowed to drive in stake races only as KIETH and his son GORD were known to cash huge when winning and most big players knew that be aware that your money may be dead while betting your money, One thing that is 100 percent correct is that he was a superstar in his dayand evn very good in his later days
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Monticello Saratoga Maine Pompano: Wally, Ranger, Peter Wrenn, Myles McNichol, Joe Ricci voice of PP
Billy Zeke Parker JP Morel Walter Case Jr.
John Sep Gilmour Harold Story Ted J Wing
Joe Ricco Jr. Gilles Filion Leigh The Fox Fitch
Mike Sorentino Jr. Kim Lee Crawford David Ingraham
Honorable Mention
Andy Santeramo Jimmy Allen Bruce Aldrich Jr.
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tmbz1
Amazing that you were able to see him in his prime! I'm jealous! Apparently, Keith was a role model for many-----including, just to name a few, Steve Condren, Doug Brown, Jim Doherty, and others as well. Keith has long been considered by many horsemen as one the greatest drivers in history. Mike Lachance often praised Keith and his skills, strengths as a driver, etc. I think Keith's formal resume is incomplete as he driving long before formal/official records were kept and recorded.
I did see the LBJ in 72 when he won with Strike Out, where they set the WR for the fastest mile ever on a half. I've also seen the videos of the International he won with Tie Silk in 62. His major victories and accomplishments are too many to list. He was also involved in opening and managing three Canadian racetracks and was integrally involved in their operations. Keith gave accurate and meaningful definition to the term "legend."
tmbz1
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Not only a great driver, he trained a top stable racing Toronto and Montreal.
He sure did. Even after he retired from training and driving, he continued to own horses, right up until he died (he had a nice Ontario bred colt). Greg McNair trained for him as did another here and there. I think one of the last horses he trained was Silver Almahurst, and he drove him too! LOL.
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Hugh Bell
Harold Story
Aubrey Rodney
Cat Manzi
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Russell Rash---Jacques Dupuis-----Frank Tagariello-----Coco Cormier---
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Coco used to tighten up Bud's horses when Bud was away, then Bud would be back next week and cashout. Easy scores, wash-rinse-repeat.
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Handling a trotter: Sears, Pierce, Campbell, LaChance, W. Haughton
Honorable Mention: Sonny Patterson
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Russell Rash---Jacques Dupuis-----Frank Tagariello-----Coco Cormier---
Russell could hold a stampeding bull if her were in a sulky behind it !!!
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Peter Haughton, Walter Case, Lew Williams, Shelly Goudreau
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There is only one era that counts and that was the JC and others at the big M as it was all strategy with many moves during a race and back then i found out how far WEG drivers were behind in talent as BRENT DAVIES and WILLIAM MEGANS were the first to try with zero success and then it was HAROLD STEAD AND DOUG BROWN and RON WAPLES and none of these drivers had success but DOUG BROWN who was leading driver at the time was a huge lemon down there and looked like a fool and that showed me how far ahead the top group really was. Now i see drivers that never won a driving title anywhere in Canada and miles behind guys who had no success being on peoples list of all time greats , Also when i see guys put down drivers who drove great racehorses as great drivers it makes zero sence as Clint galbraith and Stanley dancer were two real crappy drivers and Grand circuit drivers to me do not qualify as beating JIM MILLER and DOUG ARTHUR ot the KOPAS family and many others who drove in those races could not win races in a colony of every day drivers, Steve Condren who was a good everyday driver that never won a driving title is a not a hall of fame driver if he drove the Meadowlands and Trevor Ritchie who got lucky and drove a few good ones was not a top 5 driver in his prime at Windsor but he was still a very good driver, I believed at one time that RON WAPLES who was miles the best at WEG was the greatist as he won races with some of the stupidist chalks sitting in and running 3 yards in a stretch drive was the best ever and when driving at the big M he showed me how wrong i was as he was not on the same planet with top Big m drivers.
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Billy Haughton
Henri Filion
Herve Filion
John Campbell
I believe 1 Filion got kicked out of Pompano Park in the mid to late 1980's!
Rheo??
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There are a few top drivers who have gotten the boot at one time or another during their career. With Henri Filion, it happened more than once.
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Campbell Case OD
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Joe O'Brien, Jim Dennis, Bob Farrington, Joe Anderson
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Marvin Maker
Jackie Parker
Vernon Crank
Preston Burris, Jr
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Kieth was part owner of ORANGEVILLE and CLOVERDALE but it was hid brother MURRAY AND his son WENDLE with the KEELINGS that ran those racetracks and MURRAY always hired regular small time gamblers who lived harness racing to assist him with operations and i really believe Orangeville was the best run racetrack in CANADA, Also kieth was silently barred in his later years but allowed to drive in stake races only as KIETH and his son GORD were known to cash huge when winning and most big players knew that be aware that your money may be dead while betting your money, One thing that is 100 percent correct is that he was a superstar in his dayand evn very good in his later days
Silently barred? Please tell me how they manage to “silently bar” a legend. I never got to see Keith drive in his prime but I got to know him in his later years when he was training a small stable out of his barn next to First Line TC. Great guy all around was near 90 and looked 20 in the race bike. Would never tell you where your horse was off or how too better rig it unless he respected you and you asked
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Silently barred? Please tell me how they manage to “silently bar” a legend. I never got to see Keith drive in his prime but I got to know him in his later years when he was training a small stable out of his barn next to First Line TC. Great guy all around was near 90 and looked 20 in the race bike. Would never tell you where your horse was off or how too better rig it unless he respected you and you asked
ASK any horseman who was around at that time, Never a race or a trophy named after him, Do you remember SIR SINGLE going from 90-1 to 5-2 in last seconds off the most dismal paper ever , it was like a 7-2 and a 5-2 and the double paid around 700, No driver in Canadian history made more money through the windows than KIETH and yes i liked him also but that changes nothing, Bill Wellwood who was not much more than an average driver got more respect from WEG AND WELLWOOD except for the last few years really had no success in stake races but had a great producing mare.
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Ceba Horsey
Leon Bailey
Tom Merton
Simon Allard
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Ceba Horsey
Leon Bailey
Tom Merton
Simon Allard
This list makes Leon the G.O.A.T. of Mt. Rushmore!