Brett Macdonald hits 1,000 wins

Ontario harness racing driver Brett Macdonald steered his 1,000th winner on Monday at Grand River Raceway.

He entered the card with 999 victories and reached the four-digit milestone in a last-to-first score aboard Midnight Surf in the seventh race. Macdonald sagged off the starting gate with Midnight Surf, seating the five-year-old Sunshine Beach mare behind all five five rivals early in a :28 opening quarter mile. The Freelton-based reinsman moved her third-over approaching the half in :57.4 and made the decisive three-wide move as the field neared three-quarters in 1:27.

Midnight Surf steadily advanced on the final turn and responded to Macdonald’s urging, striking the front at headstretch and battling home for the 1:57.4 score. It was the mare’s first win of the year for trainer Todd Ratchford and owner E C S Racing LLC of Rockford.

Macdonald made his first career start on Mar. 8, 2015 at Rideau Carleton Raceway and finished third with Veal Marsala, whom he qualified four days prior. His first victory came a month later on Apr. 9 with What A Rush – aptly named for the occasion – also at Rideau.

The 2017 O’Brien Rising Star Award winner is 12 days short of his 25th birthday. He has enjoyed a successful career to date, winning his 1000th race in 7625 tries – a rate of 13 per cent and a UDRS of 0.250. His drives have earned $6,313,268. He was Canada’s second-winningest driver in 2020 with 279 trips to the winner’s circle, and he earned drivers’ titles at Clinton Raceway, Georgian Downs, and Flamboro Downs in that season.

Macdonald expressed his gratitude to the horsepeople he has worked with in a Facebook post after the race card.

“I’d like to thank all the owners, trainers, and grooms that helped me make it to this great milestone, and hopefully there are many more. I appreciate it very much!!!” he wrote.

Macdonald is one win away from 100 wins in in 2021.

Grand River Raceway returns to action on Wednesday, Aug. 11 with a 10-race card starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink