Old Man Wally

[Cush Push]

Wally has never wanted to drive any horses with idiosyncrasies. One time, years ago, the leading trainer Joel Greenfield had a crap horse that he let one of the help qualify as a thank you for working on the horse. The horse qualified barely, but he qualified. Now that he was qualified, Joel decided to qualify him again with a top drive, hence Wally. Well, the bad-gaited horse, who had just made qualifying time with a q driver, paced about 2:17 with Wally. I remember Joel standing outside the paddock with the most dumbfounded look on his face. But that's Wally. He's good on good horses. But the best drivers are good on the bad ones.
In addition, to use a baseball analogy, Wally beat up on triple AAA drivers. Whenever he tried to compete in the majors, he did not fare well. He's a nice guy but way, way overrated.

[The Answer]

Another hater heard from.

[SwankToliverA]

Back then he even ruled Pompano and a large amount of the races finished Ranger and Wally 1 2.

You're welcome.
I remember Wally and Bruce Ranger running 1-2 often, as they were always my mom's favorite 2 driver's at Pompano.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Wally has never wanted to drive any horses with idiosyncrasies. One time, years ago, the leading trainer Joel Greenfield had a crap horse that he let one of the help qualify as a thank you for working on the horse. The horse qualified barely, but he qualified. Now that he was qualified, Joel decided to qualify him again with a top drive, hence Wally. Well, the bad-gaited horse, who had just made qualifying time with a q driver, paced about 2:17 with Wally. I remember Joel standing outside the paddock with the most dumbfounded look on his face. But that's Wally. He's good on good horses. But the best drivers are good on the bad ones.
In addition, to use a baseball analogy, Wally beat up on triple AAA drivers. Whenever he tried to compete in the majors, he did not fare well. He's a nice guy but way, way overrated.

I love how one story always defines a career, LOL. I guess on that one horse, the q driver was simply better than Wally. That's BS. A one off incident. Nothing more. Minor leagues huh?.....didn't fare well in the major leagues?.....well, let's see.....off the top of my head.....this Hall of Fame driver has.....

A Hambo Oaks, Kentucky Futurity, Woodrow Wilson, a few Nat Ray Trots (I think), Trotting Classic Oaks, Matron, and what, 5 Breeders Crowns? Oh, and the Elitlopp. I don't know. I find it hard to label him as a minor league guy. He never really wanted to be a top grand-circuit catch driver-----but when he got the opportunity, he certainly produced.

[Pacer 2]

Another hater heard from.

[Cobalt Kenny]

I still like what I see from Wally...especiall y with some of the clowns driving at Saratoga 

[whiptherabbit]

Trot Mondial at Hippodrome Montreal.

[dougie]

I remember those great years when Wally compteted for the top spot at Pompano Park with Kevin Walllis and Bruce Ranger. These drivers have all gotten older. I think it's disingenous to think that drivers in their 70's will be as successful as they were in their 30's. To me Wally is a Hall Of Famer on the first ballot!

[Birdfantammy]

Wally was much better when he drove at Pompano.  He joined the corrupt clan at Saratoga.  How about that last race stiff job?? Backed up to get 5th LMAO  ..Glad I haven't bet anything there in a while now.  Insane stuff going on

[rainman2]

Wally was much better when he drove at Pompano.  He joined the corrupt clan at Saratoga.  How about that last race stiff job?? Backed up to get 5th LMAO  ..Glad I haven't bet anything there in a while now.  Insane stuff going on

Big difference between the times!

Wally was how many years younger?

Wally doesn't have the "best" horse every race now!

[Grandstand Handicapper]

The guy is close to 70 years old! He is not supposed to be anything even remotely close to what he was. Wow. Stupidity knows no bounds.

[rainman2]

Wally has never wanted to drive any horses with idiosyncrasies. One time, years ago, the leading trainer Joel Greenfield had a crap horse that he let one of the help qualify as a thank you for working on the horse. The horse qualified barely, but he qualified. Now that he was qualified, Joel decided to qualify him again with a top drive, hence Wally. Well, the bad-gaited horse, who had just made qualifying time with a q driver, paced about 2:17 with Wally. I remember Joel standing outside the paddock with the most dumbfounded look on his face. But that's Wally. He's good on good horses. But the best drivers are good on the bad ones.
In addition, to use a baseball analogy, Wally beat up on triple AAA drivers. Whenever he tried to compete in the majors, he did not fare well. He's a nice guy but way, way overrated.

Correct!  If he was sitting behind a horse that wasn't too good, didn't like et al, right to the back of the bus.  Wanted ZERO  part with horses like this.   

[Pacer 2]

Correct!  If he was sitting behind a horse that wasn't too good, didn't like et al, right to the back of the bus.  Wanted ZERO  part with horses like this.

 

Thats what may have kept him out of serious accidents his whole career.....

[kantseeback]

I remember those great years when Wally compteted for the top spot at Pompano Park with Kevin Walllis and Bruce Ranger. These drivers have all gotten older. I think it's disingenous to think that drivers in their 70's will be as successful as they were in their 30's. To me Wally is a Hall Of Famer on the first ballot!

 

[Mr.Turnpike]

Big difference between the times!

Wally was how many years younger?

Wally doesn't have the "best" horse every race now!

   But he does get Beckwith drives