Who Are The Top 5 Drivers Of All-Time?

TOP 10

J.Campbell
Herve
Michel LaChance
W. Haughton
S. Dancer
B. Gilmour
Ron Waples
W. Case, Jr.
D. Magee
R. Feagan

I can't believe no one mentioned Doug Brown, how quickly people forget. He dominated the ojc circuit for more then a decade. In many of those years he did not just dominate but he crushed all other drivers in total wins and money won. If he was in his prime and drove in these days of high purses because of slot revenue his earnings would be way over a 100 million.

The 5 top canadian based drivers of all time were, Doug Brown, Keith Waples, Steve Condren, Bill Gale and Ron waples. The top 5 american based drivers of all time are John Campbell, Herve Filion, Joe O'Brien, Bill O'donnell and Brian Sears.

I think the Challenge idea is great. The top drivers however, should use the trainers and their horses that are at the bottom of the list. The young inexperienced drivers should have the top trainers and their horses in both Canada and the US.

The two day challenge at Woodbine and Meadowlands sounds to be an exciting one and would really determine who is at the top of their game. I feel the older drivers would have to use some tactics with the horses that are not at the top of the list. Their experience and knowledge of horses would be showcased. The younger drivers have a better advantage using the best horses and trainers.

Good idea. As far as top drivers how to you pick ones from all the eras in harness racing?

Janelle Scherbik

Quite a list of greats in the comments. Being from Lucan I like the fact some mentioned Buddy Gilmour, and that other guy from down highway seven there in Nairn, Campbell. But the memories are all short. How about adding a guy like Clint Hodgins, from up highway 4 in Clandiboye?

John Campbell,Mike Lachance, Walter Case, Brian Sears, Wally Hennessy
Kyle Gillis Photography

The top five drivers are an impossible task but I can say for sure that the top five modern era drivers drove for the top five trainers. In other words there are 20 drivers that given the best horse would win the race their in. Campbell, LaChance, O'Donnell, Sears. Tetrick, Chapman, Gendron, Goudreau, Waples, Gilmour would have equal success with the likes of Niatross.

how about this for a top ten drivers
1. john campbell
2. h filion
3. w case jr
4. r remmen
5. b odonnell
6. m lachance
7. k waples
8. a morgan
9. w gale
10.s dancer

C.Renon Not one mention of Cat Manzi who may be one of the best trot drivers in north america.Would love to see Walter Case come back and would be great to see him at woodbine.Another 3 John Campbell,Keith Waples and Jacques Hebert

I've never met GB but I now have a pretty good impression of him after his 30 sec. interview. The best part was the fact that he never even batted an eyelash - CLASSIC!!

Obviously there would be a lot of top 5 lists. For me, based on shear talent it would be John Campbell, K Waples,Ron Waples Sr, Walley Hennessey and Ray Maclean

amazing question, some great responses. Great horses make great drivers and not usually the other way around. So when someone states that a driver also brings in the long shots as opposed to the 50cent favourites it's a better measurement of a driver's ability. Different eras also. How do you compare Gretzy to Howe?

I think this is something that would have to be broken down by era. I always measured a driver by effort day in, day out. You don't always get that with all drivers. My all time favourite just on class alone is John Campbell. Drivers to fear were Walter Case Jr, Lachance, Ron & Keith Waples, Herve Fillion.

Sorry, I can't name Sears, Tetrick, Jody or Randy as I always believe in the test of time. Much like calling Crosby the best hockey player ever. See me in 20 years on that one.

for the five top drivers of all time without herve filion or keith waples no list is valid ken alliet

When Herve Filion(still the leading driver of winning Harness Horses) was asked years ago when he was on top of the Driving World who was the best Harness Driver, he said "it is not even close it is Keith Waples", nuff said!!

Larry Resnitzky: Seeing that this top five discussion is largely about personal preferences, here are mine:1-John Campbell 2-Joe O'Brien 3-Jack Moiseyev 4-Wally Hennessey 5 Jacques Hebert

Ron Waples...Won when driving the best horse in the race, or 5th and 6th best.
Walter Case...2000 claimer at Lewiston or a FFA @ the M1..Drove them all like Champions.
Mike Lachance...Aggresive driver who like fine wine, got better with age.
Shelly Goudreau..The fearless leader.
Dave Palone...Ask Sears from his time at MEA and watch when they hook up with horses of similar ability on the Grand Circuit...Still isnt even close.

Ron Pierce was only one that didn't even mention John Campbell. Were has he been, in a cave somewhere?

Watching this gave me an idea for a present day drivers and trainers challenge between Canada and the U.S. It might get fans interested again. Showcase the top 5 drivers and trainers in a two day challenge, one day at the big M and the other at Woodbine or Mohawk. For the drivers, have Randy Waples, Mark Macdonald, Sylvain Filion, Rick Zeron, and Jody go against Sears, Brennan, Tetrick, Pierce and Gingras. But also use the horses in the challenge races from the top 5 trainers, so B.Baillargeon, Brainard, Moreau, Allard and S. Robinson from Weg and L. Pena, R. Burke, Kesmodel, Marino and Harder from the big M. Would make for some very interesting and exciting races. Also maybe have a couple of young guns driver challenge races with S.Allard, S.Zeron,D.McNair, J.Drury and John MacDonald for Canada and A.Merriman, C.Callahan, J.Bartlett, B. Dobson and J. Stratton for the U.S. I think fans in both countries would greatly appreciate a weekend of racing like this. Would be nice to see WEG and the Big M get together to organize this.

John Campbell, Buddy Gilmour, Magic Man, Ron Waples and Jody Jamieson. It's a tough question, there are so many great one. LaChance, Jackie Moe, the younger guys like Brennan, Tetrick it's like comparing hockey players across generations. Jody Jamieson gets a lot out of horse and rarely makes a bad decision. Same for Paul MacDonell, a very under rated guy.