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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Birdfantammy on April 22, 2025, 12:35:06 PM

Title: Old Man Wally
Post by: Birdfantammy on April 22, 2025, 12:35:06 PM
Just curious what you all think of this guy being back driving at Saratoga.

I've seen him jump it off now MULTIPLE times as the favorite.  Also driving with ZERO effort in many races.  Is he betting the races or should he just retire?

What's your take
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: MCR on April 22, 2025, 01:00:08 PM
You cant make any money betting on harness racing.  Especially a track like Saratoga.   So why would these guys go dead? Come on
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Superfecta on April 22, 2025, 01:18:17 PM
Just curious what you all think of this guy being back driving at Saratoga.

I've seen him jump it off now MULTIPLE times as the favorite.  Also driving with ZERO effort in many races.  Is he betting the races or should he just retire?

What's your take

Get off of whatever meds you are taking.
Since April 15th and not counting today, Wally’s horses have gone off as the favorite 8 times. He won 5, finished 2nd twice and was out just once without and going off stride. Thanks for wasting everybody’s time.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: MCR on April 22, 2025, 01:37:46 PM
Get off of whatever meds you are taking.
Since April 15th and not counting today, Wally’s horses have gone off as the favorite 8 times. He won 5, finished 2nd twice and was out just once without and going off stride. Thanks for wasting everybody’s time.
Thank you!!!!
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: SwankToliverA on April 22, 2025, 01:52:23 PM
Wally is where he wants to be, doing what he loves to do.
I don't see whatever it is that you see or made up.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Harness racer on April 22, 2025, 01:57:27 PM
Wally 100% wants to win.  Bird fan is more like bird brain on this one.  Sorry you lost $2.   ngc3
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Papillon on April 22, 2025, 02:02:38 PM
Wally has been winning races as a driver for probably over 40 years

the fact that he can still can compete these days is amazing and a testament to his skills

he wants to win all the time tmbz1
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Brown jug on April 22, 2025, 04:22:04 PM
good for him
however we all have a shelf life, eyesight gets worse, reflexes much worse
driving harness horses at race speed might not be the best idea for someone in their late 60's
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on April 22, 2025, 04:25:28 PM
Get off of whatever meds you are taking.
Since April 15th and not counting today, Wally’s horses have gone off as the favorite 8 times. He won 5, finished 2nd twice and was out just once without and going off stride. Thanks for wasting everybody’s time.

I guess he "jumped off" as favorite once.....not multiple times. Thanks for THE FACTS!

The guy is close to 70 years old, has been driving for 50 years, won close to 12,000 races, and is in the HOF. He may not be in the peak or prime of his career, but he's not supposed to be, and he is still competitive wherever he chooses to go.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: kantseeback on April 22, 2025, 04:42:27 PM
Wally who?
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Foalin at 4 on April 22, 2025, 04:48:34 PM
Being old hopefully happens to all of us! Wally always knew how to drive, and still does. He also loves to win.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: SwankToliverA on April 22, 2025, 05:14:33 PM
Wally who?

Hennessey
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Pacer 2 on April 22, 2025, 05:48:58 PM
Wally 100% wants to win.  Bird fan is more like bird brain on this one.  Sorry you lost $2.   ngc3
 
   tmbz1
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: kantseeback on April 22, 2025, 06:01:17 PM
Hennessey

Thank you,
Wally Hennessy?
Now I know I am getting old. Years ago, Wally was a top-notch driver especially on a 1/2 mile.
I remember for years he would come up from Florida for the NYSS series horses and dominate. Case would have his hands full if Wally drove against him and many times, they ran 1 2 at YR.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: kantseeback on April 22, 2025, 06:03:21 PM
Back then he even ruled Pompano and a large amount of the races finished Ranger and Wally 1 2.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Cush Push on April 22, 2025, 06:05:56 PM
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.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: The Answer on April 22, 2025, 06:46:46 PM
Another hater heard from.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: SwankToliverA on April 22, 2025, 07:40:18 PM
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.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on April 22, 2025, 08:11:33 PM
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.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Pacer 2 on April 22, 2025, 08:16:13 PM
Another hater heard from.
ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Cobalt Kenny on April 23, 2025, 09:13:12 AM
I still like what I see from Wally...especiall y with some of the clowns driving at Saratoga  73cv.2
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: whiptherabbit on April 23, 2025, 04:04:25 PM
Trot Mondial at Hippodrome Montreal.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: dougie on April 23, 2025, 04:12:56 PM
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!
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Birdfantammy on April 23, 2025, 04:22:11 PM
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
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: rainman2 on April 23, 2025, 04:30:57 PM
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!
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on April 23, 2025, 05:18:41 PM
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.
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: rainman2 on April 23, 2025, 11:23:47 PM
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.   
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Pacer 2 on April 24, 2025, 12:37:56 AM
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.....
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: kantseeback on April 24, 2025, 04:12:12 AM
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!

 tmbz1 tmbz1 tmbz1
Title: Re: Old Man Wally
Post by: Mr.Turnpike on April 24, 2025, 05:19:32 AM
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
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