Drew Campbell: Another Maine Superstar
October 12, 2009,by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent
Kimberly French Louisville, KY — 
“The Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association named me as its 2008 Driver and Trainer of the year,” explained the Scarborough resident. “It’s never been done before and once I started looking around at all the trophies, it began to sink in what an achievement that is. Then I also knew why I lost 15 pounds last year, but it was certainly worth it.”
Campbell, who is a third generation horseman, began driving in 1989 and never considered any other career. His father, the late Winston “Soupie” Campbell, retired from training in 2001 after being diagnosed with cancer and he received the New England Harness Writer’s Association’s Iron Man award in 2003. Drew still conditions his horses in his father’s old barn and his brother Heath is also a top trainer/driver in the Pinetree State.
Scarborough Downs photo
Drew Campbell is enjoying another terrific year in 2009 with 309 victories and a .404 UDR.
The brothers are in second (Drew, 228) and third (Heath, 177) place in total wins on the Maine circuit in 2009, as well as third and fourth place among all North American drivers with .404 (Drew) and .387 (Heath) in the Universal Driver Ratings. Drew also ranks 20th out of all the drivers on the continent with 309 victories. Throughout his 20-year career, Campbell has earned more than $5.7 million in the bike with 2,433 triumphant tallies.
“We were horse-crazy as kids and learned everything we know, including shoeing our own horses, from my father,” he said. “I never wanted to do anything else and it’s really great to be able to get up every morning and love what you are doing.”
Until this year, Campbell maintained a stable of about 10 head, but he decided to pare his horses down to five so he could concentrate on driving.
“I’m good friends with Jason Bartlett, who is an outstanding guy and a very hard worker,” he said. “That’s what he did, because you just don’t have the time to do both anymore if you catch drive. This way I can focus on my drives.”
The thing Campbell enjoys the most about driving is winning, especially stakes races, but even if he’s not getting his picture taken he’s still having fun out there.
“I have a blast racing no matter what happens,” he said. “Of course I like making money, but some days things just don’t go your way or the horse simply doesn’t have it. Then you go out there the next day and do it all over again.”
Since he competes primarily on the Maine circuit, Campbell acknowledges he hasn’t had the luxury of driving the likes of a Dan Patch or Nova Award winner, yet he admits he has reined some very nice horses and while he has captured over 2,000 races there is one victory that does stand out.
“It meant a lot to me to win the 2006 Paul Bunyon Invitational at Bangor Raceway with Chewy Gross,” he said. “He was a talented horse.”
Although he has spent his entire career within the confines of Maine, Campbell is considering a move similar to Jason Bartlett’s and will begin racing in other states over the winter months, when no harness contests are conducted in Maine.
“It doesn’t make any sense to sit here and not make money during those off months,” Campbell said. “I have some really nice guys offering me drives in places like New Jersey, so why not do what Jason did and test the waters? I certainly don’t think I’m going to set the world on fire, but I’m willing to work hard and you don’t know what will happen if you don’t ever try.”