MacDonald becomes first new 400-club member in 16 years

James MacDonald became the fifth driver to win 400 races in a season at Woodbine Mohawk Park with two victories at the harness racing track on Thursday night (Dec. 29).

He piloted P L Ooooooooooyah (Thinking Out Loud) to the mare’s second straight win in the third race and reached the milestone as he got Littlebearcat (Tigerama) home in the ninth.

JAMES MACDONALD MILESTONE REPLAY

MacDonald joins his brother Mark, Chris Christoforou, two-time 400-race winner Doug Braown, and Randy Waples as the only drivers to beat 400 Woodbine Mohawk Park victories in a single season. Waples holds the record for wins in a year with 430, which he hit in 2001. Mark MacDonald accomplished the feat most recently in 2006.

James MacDonald is at the end of a career year. The Guelph-based reinsman has won 451 of his 2,062 starts with two days left before 2023 begins. It is the first year he surpassed 400 wins across all tracks. He has guided his charges to earnings of $9,882,904, making him Canada’s leading driver in earnings by a wide margin. He is up against Doug McNair for the Keith Waples Driver of the Year Award at the 2022 O’Brien Awards.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will race next on Friday, Dec. 30.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink