You can start and end with everyone putting John Campbell on the list as he was the moneyman. I knew growing up in any big money race, you can count on him to get there. I started harness in early 80's and Campbell has made so much money in pursesit is hard to fathom
I'm fortunate enough to have seen most of the great one's in their prime: 1. John Campbell 2. Walter Case Jr. [Best on the Half] 3. Herve Filion 4. Billy O. 5. Billy Haughton/Brian Sears Honorable Mention: Stanley Dancer
On a half mile track : Camin and Walter Case. I remembr back in the 90's being at Yonkers and Walter dominated...I mean DOMINATED. People used to just watch him in AWE. I could say Herve, but he was as dirty as they come. No thank you.
Good to hear Joe O'Brien's name in the mix. I was fortunate enough to meet & "Paddock" for Mr. O'Brien in the early 70s when he drove a couple of races for the trainer I worked for at that time. I also knew & admired LaChance & Filion as well, along with Stanley Dancer, but Joe was my favorite
@@scottr1366 He drove all over the country from Yonkers to Hollywood Park and everywhere in between. He had a ranch in Northern California too as I remember, but it's been a Minit. Mr O'Brien was a Class Act Start To Finish
A half mile track is a different monster. If you are not on front at Northside downs you are in the wrong spot. If you add a passing lane it's hard to beat the pocket.
On a half mile track no one could beat Walter Case jr....They all use to go to Yonkers and try....And they all failed.......Best small track driver ever hands down....
I am only gonna give three 1 Walter Case Jr 1,100 wins in one year nuff said "With a million fewer starts then Tetrick" 2 Herve Filion over 15,000 wins 3 Dave Palone over 14,000 wins
Shelly Goudreau was the greatest driver I ever saw bar none. He always gave the the horse he was driving the best chance it had to run its race and the horses responded by improving their race times. Sadly he died in a racing accident when he was only 34 back in the fall of 1982.
Jim Fisher asked my dad who was superintendent of speed in Lake Odessa MI if he could hire me to groom a colt for him my dad said he doesn't know much hitching a horse. He said well bout time he learned the colt won and they paid me twenty bucks not bad for a 12 year old I think I was. One of my older brothers said do you know who you just worked with. I had no clue. He said Shelly The best driver in Canada nice guy he said you did a good job for your first grooming job I was so proud.
Walter Case, Herve Filion, Brian Sears, Cambell and Billy Haughten could add the Redman Carmine and Buddy Gilmour. Walter case sadly did not afford himself the chance to prove how great he could have ended up as.
Yes Casey struggled with demons and addictions. He may have set some unbelievable records if he was on a different path..Now he races in Maine 2022 and isnt the same..But I have to say, their are alot of talented drivers up here..Ask around and you would be surprised..
how can brian sears,yannik gingra,,tim tetrick,and david miller not have herve fillion in the top 5,how stupid it makes them look to not know the history of the sport he has 15,000 wins thats like a baseball player not putting babe ruth in the top five home run kings of all time,
Blame it on youth. I would also have George Sholty on the fringe of the top 5 list. Definitely on the top 10. DM is not the brightest bulb in the lamp--he can be excused, but not the others.
He drove the tough new york circuit to boot. He raced against the all time greats . Lets not forget John Campbell , O'Donnell, Pierce , and Lachance came from the NY circuit. Meadowlands came on the scene in 1977. They were all Yonkers drivers to begin with , except for Sears
If you asked today, James MacDonald in Canada would easily make the list. He was really good at Meadowlands on Cup day. Hard to be against him at Mohawk.
he best ever but died early. if he had lived, he would have owned the Meadowlands. Shelly Goudreau guess you had to be older to know but shame on these guys for not including him
This is impossible....every time you get 5, you think of someone else.....probably easier for young people who never saw guys in the 60s-70s.....also, what is the main criteria?? You show me the race, and ask me which driver I think fits best on a horse, and it would be much easier.
When I owned horses we put Dave Magee up on Fox Valley Scamp...we told him he needed the front...he put him there, but Scamp faded....after the race he asked to be drive Scamp the next race...we did...and Dave won from waaay back. And Dave was a very pleasant man to boot. The horse whisperer, Dave, was the best IMO.
Totally with you on Ronny. Not just because hes a good friend. No one could get more out of a horse then Ronny. Walter Case on a half mile track was stellar.
@@kennethkobylakiewicz3157 that’s cool we agree. I had an argument with a buddy about Ron pierce and John Campbell. I just though Ron was slightly better even John was great. I told him pierce won every big race in harness racing multiple times. I don’t think the two drivers were Close though, you would probably know better. Thanks have a good one. Steve
Thinking different track have different list. Yonkers Herve and WCJ Meadowlands Campbell and O'Donnell. Brennan calls himself on list, I like that in a driver. Sholty and O'Brian not mentioned enough. Give Billy Haughton big credit for placing catch drivers on the map when he put O'Donnell on Nialator, taking himself off. First big news of driving change I can recall.
The fact that yannick said Stanley dancer and Walter case shows he knows what he’s talkin about… jus wanna throw out there the pride of Newark Ohio the Big T Terry Holton is the Ohio 🐐
To me I liked anyone the drove. Saw Schnitticker when he was young, always got has share of wins. Thought Doug Snyder was a giant till I saw him in person, he's not. Liked Charlie Flickinger, because he made all his horses paced the same movements. There's one horse owner who buys dinner for who ever' around. Forgot his name. Liked all the greats . Thanks for the presantation.
I agree with the great drivers mentioned here, but I will add a name not many would know, but had golden hands, and a great money driver - Ray McLean Sr
Good call -Walter Case, won for us a bunch, Cat Manzi and Jackie Mo, great too, but never trusted Jack (wink wink)..Carmine A. and Lachance could get a horse off the gate better then anyone.We had a nice 1st crop Slapstick colt,mid 80's, who was talented, but lumbering and lazy.We brought him along slow, as he had foot issues,his first race at Roosevelt NW /$.Lachance on him, during warmups between races saw Lachance getting into out colt a bit, showing him the whip, I knew he was going to leave with him,and sure enough,he did never looked back, won by open legnths..made $35k.@late 3/4.but foot issue killed his chance for more.
On another note 5 years ago i would have maybe said Tony Morgan...But the last few years or so he's been a common SOB....I think he plays alot of games it's almost like he doesn't wanna win..I know he's got loads of talent but never does anything
MY TOP FIVE DRIVERS ARE HERVE FILLION KEITH WAPLES BUD GILMORE DUNC CAMPBELL STEVE CONDREN AND AT 6TH WOULD BE MY BEST FRIEND WHO IS RACING IN GERMANY NOW BRIAN LAWSON
MY FAVORITE IS WALTER CASE HERVE FILLION MARK MACCDONALD BUD GILMORE DOUG BROWN I CAN BELIEVE SOME BODY WOULD CALL THEM SELF WHAT DUE THEY CALL THAT CONCETED
It's impossible to answer the question with certainty. It' s like asking who is the most beautiful Miss America of all time. Break it down to different eras and we might see more people selecting Walter Case or Keith Waples.
Everyone I have spoken to tell me that Walter Case was the best by far. Too bad he messed up. If Cat Manzi didnt get in so many bad wrecks he would still be driving. He might be the best of all time. Mo and Fillion were crooks.
Walter Case Dave Miller Ron Pierce Brian Sears Herve Filion In no specific order. I'd take any of them. If I had to pick THE best ever, it would be tough, but I think it would be Walter or Dave Miller.
The new guys are good with but lets not get over ourselves. I think if Jason Bartlett if given the grand circuit horses that Tetrick , Miller and Gingras get he would be just as good as any of them. He proves it whenever they come to town. With that said they are all great drivers.
Dylan Paulsen I read 5 top as the 5 drivers who could clock the fastest time on a given horse not drivers who got drives on big money horses. Tetrick fits that bill someone who got the drives but can't drive.
I take it your favorite track is Scioto...Brett Miller possible but your on drugs if you consider eric and randy tharps top drivers...There not even close to the best at scioto...What about Josh Sutton he's the best there no doubt about it
Yesteryear...Gilmour, Fillion, Carmine, S. Dancer, B. Haughton Modern Day...Campbell, LaChance, Pierce, Sears and David Miller... Future....Tetrick, Gingras, Callahan, S. Zeron, Jamieson
Harmon crews Beat.michael.lachance @lincoln downs Nipped.@the wire photo finish.19.70 to71...? Oh. The horse leica.childs Yankee twist.crimson adios..off sides..had one eye my Father Bought for 90.00..
