story and photos by Dave Briggs
Each week, a familiar name in the sport will be in the spotlight, answering some fun, offbeat questions, giving readers a unique perspective into their personality.
Canadian and U.S. Hall of Famer Ron Waples (right with fellow Hall of Famer Bill O'Donnell) has won nearly 7,000 races and almost $75 million in his illustrious career. The 71-year-old Ontario native is also one of the most beloved ambassadors in the game.
1. What is your kryptonite?
(laughs) “I’ve got too many of them to tell. I seem to have more weaknesses than I have strengths.”
2. What is the best movie ever made and why?
“I have two or three, but I think the one is mainly because of me. Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire. I wasn’t there for all of my kids and I saw what he was going through and I had lots of days I had that same feeling that he had. That one always sticks in my mind.”
3. If you could pick one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with that power?
“The ability to read minds. What I would do with it would depend on what person’s mind I was reading, I guess.”
4. What do you think you would be doing now if you had not been in the horse industry?
“I’d probably be in jail. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a cop or a truck driver that drives big rigs. I never got either one of them accomplished, but now I drive the motor home. I guess that’s the same thing as a big rig.”
5. If you had the chance to drive one horse in harness racing history, what horse would you pick?
“I kept asking Paul MacDonell if I could drive Somebeachsomewhere, but he wouldn’t let me.”
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