Mike Campbell Racing Stable
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News from Mike Campbell Racing Stable
March 5, 2009 Oaklawn Notes & Quotes A Family Affair The Campbell family defines the meaning of family affair in horse racing. Father, mother and twin brothers are all involved in the sport. In the third race at Oaklawn Thursday, three-forths of the Campbell family will make an appearance. Trainer Mike Campbell, the dad, owner Janice Campbell, the mom and jockey Joel Campbell, the son, will all be rooting home Digi's Tolerance. Mike has come to Oaklawn not only as a trainer, but rode here briefly in the early seventies. Now son, Joel has made his way to Oaklawn to ride full-time for the first time in his career. His twin brother Jesse rides at Fair Grounds and Joel admits they share a very unique bond in the sport of kings, as well as a special bond with his father and mother. "As riders, Jesse and I think a lot alike. We are very proud of the business we are in, and know the importance of family," confided Joel, the older twin by four minutes. "I am very proud of the contributions my family has made to racing, but more importantly I am proud of them as people. We are a close knit family, and being in the racing business you need that. I am proud of being a part of racing and have really enjoyed getting to meet the people I have and being a part of a really special sport." Dad Mike also feels proud of what his family has accomplished in horse racing. "My wife is the backbone of the business and is indispensable," remarked the trainer. "We are proud of everything Joel and Jesse have done for themselves. They have worked hard to be in the position they are today, and continue to work hard. I wouldn't be happy doing anything else and wouldn't be happy if I didn't have my family there with me along the way." Trainer Mike and jockey Joel look to reunite throughout the rest of the meet. The Campbell's know the importance of family in racing, and in case they forget, mom Janice keeps them in line.
Kid Grindstone: 10 wins, 3 to 6, 2008, $352,497 Fifth Season Stake - Grade III - win - Oaklawn Park Tenacious Handicap - win - Fair Grounds Dr. Fager Stake - win - Arlington Park Minneapolis Stake - win - Canterbury Park Fifth Season Stake - 2nd - Oaklawn Park Hawthorne Gold Cup Grade II - 3rd - Hawthorne Park Awad Stake - 3rd - Arlington Park
September 28, 2006 Mike Campbell Racing Stable will be starting Kid Grindstone in the Grade II - $500,000 - Hawthorne Gold Cup on Saturday, Sept. 30 as well as No Tolerance in the Grade III - $150,000 Robert Carey Memorial Hdcp. at Hawthorne Race Course. Lil Tree set a new track record for 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt at Arlington Park for The Easy Money partnership - Jesse Campbell up. He ran in 22:0 - 44:32 - five furlongs in 56:19 (Wow!) and finished in 1:02:47. Congratulations!!! September 4, 2006 Kid Grindstone won "The Minneapolis Stake" for Wexler Racing Stable, Jesse Campbell up. July 8, 2006 Kid Grindstone won "The Dr. Fager" Stake at Arlington Park for Wexler Racing Stable, Jesse Campbell up. First start back in 3 months. Great Race. May 29, 2006 No Tolerance won "The Mister Gus" Stake at Arlington Park for The Easy Money, 2006 LLC partnership. 1 mile on the turf - wire to wire - Jesse Campbell up. April 12, 2006 "Kid Grindstone" WON The Fifth Season Stake at Oaklawn Park Grade III - $100,000 for Mr. Avers Wexler - Jesse Campbell up
About Mike Campbell Mike grew up in northern Wisconsin on a horse farm (the same area that produced Wayne Lukas and Don and Linda Rice), watching my grandfather train horses and observing as his father took up the reins - jockeying in Florida, Kentucky, Illinois and Iowa. He loved everything about the racetrack lifestyle and learned the game from the ground up - caring for the horses, grooming, feeding and riding "as soon as I was big enough to climb aboard". He attened college for two years, but gave up the books for the saddle and began a career as a jockey. Mike enjoyed immediate success as a rider, but an unfortunate accident at Oaklawn Park shortened his riding career. He turned in his whip for a condition book, and began training horses in 1974. He got started by conditioning a stable of three for his father but his stable grew quickly the next couple of seasons. He won the 1979 training title at Thistledown in Ohio and moved his horses to compete in Chicago on a full time basis in the early 1980s. He won the 1993 Gold Digger Stake at Hawthorne with First Flag, and the 1995 Illinois Fillies Stallion Stake Final with Shannon's Innocent. Mike's wife Janice also holds her trainers license and the two operate a public stable. The Campbell's formed "Get In The Picture Stable" parnterships in 2004 with the goal of brining new owners into thoroughbred racing. In 2004 the first "Get In The Picture" parntership brought in 35 new owners, they raced 5 horses for the partners with 8 winners, 9 seconds and 7 thirds. The 2005 "Get In The Picture" partnership has 45 owners, they are racing 6 horses with 11 winners, 3 seconds and 7 thirds through October 2005. Their twin sons, Jesse and Joel, are both very successful jockeys. Jesse plies his trade in the Chicago area, always among the leading riders at Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course, while Joel is one of the top jocks at both Turf Paradise in Arizona and Prairie Meadows in Iowa. |