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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Harnessfan902 on September 11, 2022, 09:09:53 AM

Title: Drivers
Post by: Harnessfan902 on September 11, 2022, 09:09:53 AM
For anyone who thinks the driver isn’t important needs to look no further then Fourever Boy, the horse was just a follower until Dexter took the reins.   Mike Wilder is an ok driver and a hell of a nice guy but Dexter is just at another level and it surely has showed with this horses efforts lately.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: LUCPARK on September 11, 2022, 09:25:02 AM
Of course drives matter
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: MR.DALRAE on September 11, 2022, 12:28:19 PM
 Especially for pizza delivery
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Mr.Turnpike on September 11, 2022, 12:38:05 PM
WAY WAY WAY overrated
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Mr.Turnpike on September 11, 2022, 02:16:01 PM
Catch drivers ruin harness racing
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Mr.Turnpike on September 11, 2022, 02:17:16 PM
Everyone is tired of seeing same 10 drivers and trainers win all big races

That’s why you have no fans
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Bernie Madoff on September 11, 2022, 02:27:10 PM
Who is overrated?  Dexter is the best in the game bar none.




 tmbz1 tmbz1 tmbz1 tmbz1 tmbz1
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Parked on September 11, 2022, 02:44:46 PM
Everyone is tired of seeing same 10 drivers and trainers win all big races

That’s why you have no fans

And the same owner names in big partnerships.   
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: doug on September 11, 2022, 05:17:38 PM
I think Dunn is a great driver. But i have to see how he does over the years.
My top 10 of all time
1) The "Redman" Carmine Abbatiello
2) Herve Fillon
3) John Campbell
4) Cat Manzi
5) Dave Palone
6)Mike Lachance
7) Aaron Merriman
8) Tim Tetrick
9) Billy Parker Jr.
10) Walter Case Jr.
Ok "Ploppers",,,,,start the mean and insulting comments! LOL!
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Superfecta on September 11, 2022, 05:27:23 PM
I think Dunn is a great driver. But i have to see how he does over the years.
My top 10 of all time
1) The "Redman" Carmine Abbatiello
2) Herve Fillon
3) John Campbell
4) Cat Manzi
5) Dave Palone
6)Mike Lachance
7) Aaron Merriman
8) Tim Tetrick
9) Billy Parker Jr.
10) Walter Case Jr.
Ok "Ploppers",,,,,start the mean and insulting comments! LOL!

Bill O'Donnell and Ron Pierce must replace Aaron Merriman and Zeke Parker. 
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Superfecta on September 11, 2022, 05:28:43 PM
Buddy Gilmour replaces Dave Palone. Thank you.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Mr.Turnpike on September 11, 2022, 05:30:27 PM
Bill O'Donnell and Ron Pierce must replace Aaron Merriman and Zeke Parker. 
Maybe two of your top ten can actually train a horse to do anything without catch driving they just would have been bad grooms
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Superfecta on September 11, 2022, 05:38:56 PM
Maybe two of your top ten can actually train a horse to do anything without catch driving they just would have been bad grooms

This thread is about drivers. These guys are the Best of the Best. Why be so sour ? Did you ask one of these greats to drive your horse and they turned you down ?
Add Luc Ouellette too.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: doug on September 11, 2022, 05:44:15 PM
Hey Superfecta, who would you drop from my top 10 to add Luc Q in?
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Superfecta on September 11, 2022, 05:48:02 PM
Cat Manzi. He was great but Luc was better.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Emperor Dapple on September 11, 2022, 06:46:25 PM
Hmmm.. Carmine in top 10 ? i idolized him growing up but can you really put him in top 10 with JC, O'donnell, Tetrick etc.. Great local overnight driver here in metro ny 1/2 mile tracks but those guys were/ are great on any track they raced at..Similar to Palone at Meadows.. Wins driving titles at Meadows but nothing special outside of that ..
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Superfecta on September 11, 2022, 08:18:24 PM
Hmmm.. Carmine in top 10 ? i idolized him growing up but can you really put him in top 10 with JC, O'donnell, Tetrick etc.. Great local overnight driver here in metro ny 1/2 mile tracks but those guys were/ are great on any track they raced at..Similar to Palone at Meadows.. Wins driving titles at Meadows but nothing special outside of that ..

Carmine won at every size track. You also can't compare Palone winning titles in the minor leagues while Carmine was winning titles at Yonkers and Roosevelt the premier tracks in North America. If he didn't turn down William Haughton to drive his stakes horses because he was very loyal to his regulars he would have been more recognized out side of New York.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: MR.DALRAE on September 11, 2022, 09:40:10 PM
Anthony Morgan,,Dave Magee,,Ron pierce,,,better than some on that list
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: toothman on September 11, 2022, 11:40:37 PM
Ron Pierce and Buddy Gilmour in
Palone and Merriman out.
Zeke stays because he is held in such high regard by his peers.
But I'm gonna take Carmine out and replace with Bill Haughton, the total package.
i have a feelng Joe O'Brien not far behind
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Superfecta on September 12, 2022, 12:12:26 AM
Ron Pierce and Buddy Gilmour in
Palone and Merriman out.
Zeke stays because he is held in such high regard by his peers.
But I'm gonna take Carmine out and replace with Bill Haughton, the total package.
i have a feelng Joe O'Brien not far behind

George Sholty if you want to go that far back. That's before my time.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: remington on September 12, 2022, 02:57:43 PM
Carmine was the best
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: jupiter on September 12, 2022, 07:07:30 PM
No Casey, Buddy, Joe O, Billy O, Ron P. Never get an all time top 10, too many greats of each generation and most overlap. It's not about $ race a hell of a lot more, and for better $. In his run there wasn't anybody better than Case. Ya might not like him but ya gotta give the guy credit
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Calhoun on September 12, 2022, 08:05:22 PM
Goudreau was as good as any and better than most mentioned.

Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Jazzman on September 15, 2022, 05:48:42 PM
great post such a debatable subject i think ron waples would make my list
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: PIGLAND on September 15, 2022, 06:36:31 PM
harold story was great
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: eyeinthesky on September 15, 2022, 07:18:49 PM
We finally have an intelligent post.  All mentioned are very good , successful drivers....and some are /were clearly at the top , when they were at the top of their game...with good or  better horses

Those who got watch them race....have great memories.

Impossib;e to rank them....we all have different criteria

Nice post

Thanks  for the memories....I was lucky enough to see many of their great drives....except for Carmine...there was no internet then , nor replays.......... ..but to win races against Buddy and Billy H , and Herve..he had to be great .
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: COTTONWOOD FARM on September 15, 2022, 07:55:38 PM
Goudreau was as good as any and better than most mentioned.

 tmbz1 tmbz1
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: towtruck on September 16, 2022, 10:20:43 AM
I think Dunn is a great driver. But i have to see how he does over the years.
My top 10 of all time
1) The "Redman" Carmine Abbatiello
2) Herve Fillon
3) John Campbell
4) Cat Manzi
5) Dave Palone
6)Mike Lachance
7) Aaron Merriman
8) Tim Tetrick
9) Billy Parker Jr.
10) Walter Case Jr.
Ok "Ploppers",,,,,start the mean and insulting comments! LOL!
Your list needs a nessasary update,,,, Dexter, Yannick, Timmy T.,on our side, J McDonald, Menair,Filion in Canada,,
,,,
43xc.2
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: remington on September 16, 2022, 11:25:57 AM
Certain drivers were naturals and had stop watches in their heads. They knew how fast the pace was going all the time. Story, Carmine, Dunn, Buddy and it was a lot different with the hub rail. There are a lot of drivers that made a fortune betting and five percent of nothing is nothing. So it is hard to compare drivers but some are and were great but to the average person they didn't look like it.
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: Emperor Dapple on September 16, 2022, 11:46:02 AM
Can't believe nobody mentions Ben Hur in the top 10..
Title: Re: Drivers
Post by: kooter for hipin on September 17, 2022, 03:02:41 PM
   The original "Redman" was Bob Farrington who drove one of the greats , Rambling Willie.
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