Meet champs crowned at Mohawk

Woodbine Mohawk Park honoured James MacDonald, Richard Moreau, and Brad Grant during it’s Monday (Jan. 2) card as the top harness racing driver, trainer, and owner, respectively, of 2022.

MacDonald won 400 races during the track’s season, becoming the first to do so in 16 years. He had a strike rate of 21.1 per cent and earned $8.8 million at the oval. He was also Canada’s leading driver and is nominated for the Keith Waples Driver of the Year Award, which he also won in the prior season.

“A few years ago, I dreamed of winning an O’Brien Award or just being nominated, and then I would go to bed at night and be like ‘you’re an idiot, you’re probably never going to win one,” MacDonald said in an on-track interview with Chad Rozema. “Last year was a dream come true. I just wanted to keep picking away, try and show up every night, do the best I could, try and limit the mistakes, and it’s just been amazing. I haven’t had too many bad nights all year, and hopefully I can just carry it into this year, and keep getting the good horses, and trying to put them in the best positions I can.”

Moreau topped the charts with 202 winners sent behind the gate for a winning percentage of 17.9 per cent. The trainer rung up earnings of $4,236,899 across 1,127 starts. Gaines Hanover provided the trainer with his first Breeders Crown victory in October. Moreau also conditioned stars Jimmy Freight, Wheels On Fire, Fashion Frenzie, and Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winner Dws Pointman. He is nominated to win his 10th consecutive Trainer of the Year Award at the O’Briens.

Moreau thanked his staff in his interview and added “I remember I used to drive by, and I was hoping to make it. So I can say now: ‘dreams do come true.'”

Grant tallied 42 winners and $1.3 million in earnings in 301 starts. His co-ownership of Bulldog Hanover defined his season, and he has already been named the Woolworth Owner of the Year Award winner by the United States Harness Writers Association.

The Monday card was Woodbine Mohawk Park’s first of the new year. It will continue racing on Thursday, Jan. 5.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink