Soupie [Campbell w

Soupie Campbell was fortunate to haye worked for a trio of respected and knowl» edgeable trainers and drivers — Len O‘Meara. l)on Seaman and Clark Smith. Some of the people who worked in the Winston Campbell Stable oyer the years included Burgoyne. \V’ayne Rudge. I’aul Lannigan. Walter Craig. \bnda Campbell. Drew Campbell and Heath Campbell.

Russell

There were many people that Soupie respected as driyers and/or trainers but the one he respected the most was Clark Smith from Hunter Riyer. l’.li.l. He chose Clark because. “He dominated on PHI. for a number of years when he was a young fellow. Clark was a worker. He used to haye 13 to 18 horses for Stanley Mayhew' and he would work all day on them. He was a great horseman and a great driyer. He could hang one out as good as anybody." By the way. Clark Smith and Stanley Mayhew were two of the first people Soupie worked for as a youngster while learning this industry.

In his linal two years. illness forced Soupie to curtail a lot of his driying and training. \V'hen he was well. he did a yery proficient job of both roles but he preferred driying oyer training. He explained. “I like both. I dont driye that much now. I might driye four or the a week. I think if] quit driying I would get old too fast. I like to compete against the younger driyers. I like training because you always think you are going to

improye your horse. I especially like

60

Behind the Gate

spring training with the young horses and getting your older horse back to the races. As to trainers driying. it doesn‘t make much sense to see a \V'alter Case .Ir. watching a lucratiye stake race when some trainers are driying in that race."

Soupie and Linda were especially proud that both their sons. Drew and Heath. had established themselyes as successful trainers and driyers in a Very competitive industry. Heath was based at Bangor. Maine and Drew was established at Scarborough Downs. Maine. Their daughter. \'onda. could look after a horse with the best of them until illness forced

her to the sidelines a few years ago.

On September 6. 2002 members of this Campbell family droye seyen of the nine winners at Scarborough Downs. Soupie droye 'li/rn For the lies! to a [:38 yictory in the 523.000 final of the (Iianchette Dingo Pacing Series open to fillies and mares. ()n this same card. lleath droye two winners and Drew teamed four win: ners. ’l‘his was a memorable day at the races for a yery talented family. The patriarch of the clan emerged with the biggest win and a smile to match. “I'm happy for the boys. I guess it‘s good to show them I can still win the big ones

when they get a little cocky."

lt seems like only yesterday that l was making my compulsory weekend jaunts from Charlottetown to Sackyille Downs for harness racing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons but it was oyer 3t»