Jim Campbell to return

Trainer-turned-restaurateur Jim Campbell is returning to harness racing. Campbell is in the process of selling his New Jersey-shore pizza cafe, Jimmy C’s, and restocking his stable at White Birch Farm. Campbell, 44, did most of the cooking at the restaurant.

"After being away from racing for a while, I really missed it," Campbell said. "Horses are a lot of work, but it’s a different type, and it’s what I’ve been used to. I had the chance to get a couple yearlings and I didn’t want to miss that opportunity. I’ve got four babies in the barn and a few people hoping to get some racehorses."

At last week’s Standardbred Horse Sale, Campbell bought four yearlings – Major Estate, an Art Major colt; Best In Choice, an Artsplace colt; A Little Crazy, a McArdle colt; and West Of Broadway, a Broadway Hall colt. Campbell trained Broadway Hall, who was a perfect nine fo nine as a 2 year old in 2002 before an injury ended his career prior to his 3-year-old season.

"I really think Broadway Hall is going to make a good sire; he was too good of a horse not to," Campbell said. "I’m looking forward to training one of his."

Campbell, who won the 1995 Hambletonian with Tagliabue, driven by his brother, John, has trained the winners of 571 races and earned more than $19.3 million in purses.

"The icing on the cake was when I turned on the TV and saw Lexington; I realized I really missed that fall meet," Campbell said. "I missed the owners and the racing. I’ve been fortunate to deal with a lot of really good people over the years and if I didn’t take the opportunity now it probably wouldn’t be there again, and I didn’t want to miss it."

Campbell has relinquished many of the duties at the restaurant so he can return to focusing on horses.

"I can come and go more as I please until I get it sold," he said, adding with a laugh, "It’s out of my system now. I’ve always believed that if you talk about doing something, then you should try to do it. The part of the restaurant business that was so tough is that to do it right you have to be there the whole time. You have no family life. It was four months before I ever sat with my family and had dinner at our house. Everybody will be much happier if I get a stable of horses back, especially me." (HRC)

« Back