Driver Randy Waples crosses finish line with San Pail
Only two years after receiving open heart surgery, it appears as if Glenn Van Camp’s heart can handle almost any kind of excitement.
And proof of his regained health came during a ‘heart-thumping’ finish at the Maple Leaf Trot last month in which his five-year old gelding, San Pail, pulled an upset victory in the lucrative $720,500 race, edging out the reigning champion by a neck.
It was Glenn’s wife Donna, who reminded him following the race that it was two years ago, to-the-day, that he was lying on his back in a Toronto hospital undergoing life-saving heart surgery.
Today Glenn sports a big smile when announcing doctors have given the 75 year-old a clean bill of health.
Glenn described the recent Maple Leat Trot win as a “thrill of a lifetime” especially since San Pail had been picked to place third. “Even that placing (third) was an honour,” the long-time horse breeder and trainer said.
While Glenn’s interests in horses began about 30 years ago, Donna’s side of the family has been involved in raising and racing horses for as long as she can remember.
“My grandfather, father and brothers were all breeders, drivers and trainers. Horse racing was a real family affair,” she recalled, adding that she never really took a liking to horses until recently.
Glenn’s first foray into raising horses came in the mid-1980s but it wasn’t until almost a decade later he experienced success on the track.
Glenn proudly shows off the Maple Leaf Trot trophy
“I always liked horses and I get a lot of enjoyment out of being involved,” Glenn says, while admitting he’s been lucky that his ‘hobby’ has been quite successful.
“The first good horse I owned was Tantalon Celtic, which I bought as a ‘Father’s Day’ present to myself,” Glenn said with a big smile.
Years later, with $6,500 in hand, Glenn purchased the yearling Village Beretta. “Beretta was the most successful horse I ever owned, with lifetime earnings of more than $800,000,” Glenn says.
After major wins in both Canada and the USA, Village Beretta was chosen to represent Canada in 1997, competing against the best in the world in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Both he and Donna recall being treated like ‘royalty’ while touring throughout Scandinavia, where horse racing is a very popular sport.
Another of Glenn’s horses which he expected to do well, was Village Beauty, the mother of San Pail. Unfortunately at the age of three years, she was injured, ending a promising racing career.
With Village Beauty out of the racing picture, Glenn turned his attention to San Pail and once again was disappointed when the yearling’s leg was injured after being kicked. “I had high hopes for him (San Pail) and was disheartened,” Glenn confessed.
At this point he considered selling San Pail and began looking for a new owner or a partner. It was during this period that trainer Rodney Hughes showed interest in the horse and the two men came to an agreement which ended with Rodney taking over 75 per cent ownership of the horse and Glenn retaining 25 per cent interest.
Glenn gives Rod a lot of credit for his patience and the time he spent training San Pail. “He took his time and it paid off,” he says.
And so it was, on July 25th, with family and friends watching from the stands at Mohawk Racetrack, Glenn watched driver Randy Waples edge out the two favoured horses, Arch Madness and 1-4 favourite Lucky Jim, in 1:52.1.
Aside from the thrill of winning, Glenn and Donna were excited to have been presented the Maple Leaf Trot trophy by former Toronto Maple Leaf captain Darryl Sittler. “He’s a great guy. We had a nice chat and he congratulated us on the win,” Glenn said.
This wasn’t the Van Camp’s first foray into the winners circle, but it was certainly one they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Donna explained it best saying “we were never so
excited in our lives.”
By J. Peter Hvidsten
Focus on Scugog
Personalities
