Our Jockeys

Twin Brothers Jesse and Joel Campbell

Both Jesse and Joel learned to ride on their grandparents horse farm in Northern Wisconsin. Like any good horseman they learned from the ground up. Their Aunt Patti gave each of them a horse of their own at the age of 6. If they wanted to ride they had to take care of their horse. That meant cleaning the stall, feeding, grooming, tacking and exercising. Both of the twins entered the show ring with great success. Jesse was state champion in equitation for many years in a row while Joel was runner-up but Joel had the state champion pleasure horse for years while Jesse was runner-up. And so it went.

About Jesse: Jesse began his professional career as a jockey while a senior at Lake Zurich High School. Through a special arrangement with the high school Jesse split his time between the track and school He won his first career race at Arlington Park on July 20, 1995 aboard Apostle Island, a horse trained by his father and bred by his grandfather. Jesse graduated high school and began riding full time in January 1996. He rode 22 winners at Sportsman's Park during the spring of 1996 breaking the single-season apprentice record at that track. He was Hawthorne's leading apprentice and second-leading rider during its 1996 meet. He became a journeyman rider on March 2, 1997 and rode his first winner without the bug that day. He captured his first-ever riding title that fall at Hawthorne and earned his first stake victory with Instant Charmer in the Sugar N Spice Handicap on November 18, 1997 at Hoosier. He recorded his first Grade 3 stake aboard Beboppin Baby in the 1998 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows. Jesse also won the 2000 Hanshin Handicap with Bright Valour and the 2005 Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie aboard Original Spin. On June 25, 2005, Jesse recorded his 1000th winner.

About Joel: Joel took a different route. He took a retired race horse, Loo Lincoln, and began jumping him in major compititions on the Chicago "A" show curcuit. He won the reserve champion jumper title in 1996 and qualified him two years in a row to the Washington International Horse Show Finals in Washington D.C. Joel continued his education attending Northern Illinois University for two years. He is currently finishing his degree through University of Phoenix while riding professionally full time. Joel started his jockey career in the fall of 1998 winning his first race on his 11th career ride on October 18, 1998 aboard Gill's Rock, a horse trained by his father. Joel completed his apprentice year at Calder Race Course in Florida and then Laurel Park in Maryland. Joel is currently spending his winters racing at Turf Paradise. His first year there he won 9 stakes including their signature race, the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup. He spends his summers racing at Prairie Meadows in Iowa. Joel is always among the top 10 riders in the standings.

June 25, 2005

Congradulations Jesse!! He Just won his 1000 career win!

On Illinois stake day, June 25, Jesse had 3 winners - win number 999 was the $100,000 Lincoln Heritage Handicap and win number 1000 was the $100,000 Springfield Stake. What a great day to hit this major milestone.

October 9, 2004

Happy Birthday Joel & Jesse ! What a great way to celebrate - with a winner! Joel won the 4th at Turf Paradise while Jesse won the grade 3 "Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap" on Scooter Roach at Hawthorne. Nice Going !

July 17, 2004 - The Claiming Crown

Congradulations Joel - He won the "Pepsi Express" abord "Chisholm". Not only did he win this claiming crown race but he won 7 races in a row on this horse. Chisholm is the leading winner and money earner at the Canterbury summer meet. 

May 15, 2004

Jesse had a great Hawthorne meet ending up third in the standings and started out Arlington as one of the leading riders after opening weekend. 

Joel had a wonderful meet for his first year riding at "Turf Paradise" in Phoenix. He won 102 races - 9 of them stakes including "The Phoenix Gold Cup" ($100,000) and "The Tempe Handicap" ($50,000).

He is currently riding at "Canterbury Park" in Minnesota for the summer. Good Luck Joel !!