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Highlights of the 2001 Harness Racing Season

© Kimberly Rinker

I would like to preface this article by saying that Bob Heyden of the Meadowland's race track is one of the most fastidious record keepers I have ever encountered. A great deal of the information contained in this article came from him. Thanks, Bob!

First of all, for just the second time in the history of the sport, there were six events worth a million dollars or more in harness racing in 2001.

North American driving champion John Campbell will round out 2001 with over $14 million in purses, besting his own record. This year marks the 7th time (and 4th year in a row) he has bested the $10 million mark in his career. Also, John Campbell won his 19th million dollar race-the 2001 Meadowlands Pace with Real Desire, besting Bettors Delight at the wire. That pair also set another lesser known mark-BOTH of them topped the $1.5 million mark for the year, unprecedented among sophomore pacing colts prior in the SAME season.

Rival reinsman and Meadowlands driver Mike Lachance is having his best season ever as well and will easily best the $10 million plateau. Mike, who turns 50 on December 16, had a $7.4 million year in his 30's, and a $9.9 million year in his 40's.

Can you name any other sport where a 46-year-old and a 50-year-old have had those kinds of seasons? As well, Ohio-native and Meadowlands driver Dave Miller is on the cusp of the $10 million mark, not only his first ever but the first time he's ever been among the top 3 in year end earnings.

Ontario native Randy Waples is likely to make it four drivers who have gone over $10 million in purses in the same year, and Quebec native Luc Ouellette can make it an unbelievable FIVE drivers in the same year at the $10 million mark. This had only been done EIGHT times in harness history prior to 2001, with John Campbell having six of those and Luc and Bill O'Donnell one each.

Equine records of significance set in 2001 include Bunny Lake establishing the all-time single season record for any pacing filly. The daughter of 1991 Horse Of The Year Precious Bunny will join Fan Hanover as the only two female pacers to win the coveted HOY title. BOTH were also daughters of a Horse Of the Year--Fan Hanover was the 1981 recipient and a daughter of two-time winner Albatross, who also retired with the most money of any pacer after his 1972 award winning season. Bunny Lake won her last 18 in a row, and is done for the year for driver-trainer John Stark, Jr. and owners Skip and Wendy Spring.

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