MacDonald captures second National Driving Championship

Harness racing driver James MacDonald put on a driving clinic at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on Friday (July 5) in winning his second Canadian National Driving Championship.

The last time MacDonald won the championship was 2016 and he then went on to win the World Driving Championship in 2017.

Now MacDonald will be heading to New Zealand in 2025 to represent the red and white colors of Canada in the World Driving Championship.

The eight-race competition on Friday began with Ontario’s Tyler Borth winning the first dash with Mach Play (Shadow Play) in 1:59.2. MacDonald, whose horse, Classic Jim, made a break at the start of the race, but rebounded to finish second.

Then it was MacDonald’s turn to shine in the very next race as he led from start to finish with Rec Time (Huntsville) in 1:57.4 to take a slight lead over Tyler Borth.

The third division saw Tyler Borth return to the winner’s circle with the race favorite Delgero (Shadow Play), who was parked out first-over and never gave up for Borth. Borth then led all the drivers with MacDonald in second place.

Now it was MacDonald that stole the show as in the next race he sent Bonfire Bash (Angus Hall) right to the front and did not look back, winning in 2:00 and taking the lead away from Borth.

MacDonald then put the icing on the cake in the 6^th race pace (5^th race in the competition) with a bold, first-over move before the half mile with the 1-5 favorite American Zestar (American Ideal) and hanging tough against pacesetter Odds On Carmel (Phil Giesbrecht) with those two racing head and head down the stretch with American Zestar winning by a neck in 1:56.1.

With his third win in the competition, MacDonald was not to be caught.

Drivers Michael Hennessey (Mybitcoin 1:55.4), Stephane Brosseau (Last Try 2:01.3) and Redmond Doucet (Albert Albert 1:55.3) won the last three contests.

The final leader board read as follows:

1. James MacDonald – 66
2. Tyler Borth – 53
3. Robert Shepherd – 53
4. Stephane Brosseau – 50
5. Phil Giesbrecht  – 44
6. Mike Hennessy – 43
7. Redmond Doucet – 36
8. David Dowling  – 31

MacDonald’s third win in the tournament sealed the competition for him.

MacDonald said about winning the championship again. “I said I may never get a chance to wear the red and white. This is such a great experience. I wish everyone could experience it. I’m just so thrilled and I get to go to New Zealand. I love my blue and yellow (driving colors), but there is nothing like an entire country cheering for you.”

The competition was hosted by Standardbred Canada.

Track Notes: James MacDonald led the day and the tournament with a driving triple. Tyler Broth had a driving double and Michel Allard had a training double. The first race saw local favorite X O X O ($3.40) make a triumphant return to H3R, wiring the field in the Preferred Trot in 1:58 for driver Denis St Pierre and owner-trainer Michel Allard. Live racing resumes on Sunday at H3R with first race post time at 12:00 noon. Sunday’s program will feature the first pari-mutuel race for two-year-olds Quebec-bred pacing fillies and a Preferred-Handicap Pace. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club