Skip to content

Ontarian harness racing driver captures 2024 Canadian driving championship

MacDonald, 3 times Canada’s top standardbred driver, finished the 8-race event with 66 points

Harness racing driver James MacDonald of Guelph, Ont. captured the Canadian driving championship Friday night.

MacDonald, three times Canada’s top standardbred driver, finished the eight-race event at the Hippodrome 3R with 66 points. Tyler Borth of Ingersoll, Ont., and Robert Shepherd of Mirabel, Que., both registered 53 points but Borth took second spot as he had more first-place finishes.

MacDonald, the 2017 world driving champion, will represent Canada at the ‘25 global championship in New Zealand.

MacDonald, 38, earned the bulk of his points through his first five drives as he won three and was second in another to accumulate 55 points. His victories came with Rec Time (1:57.4; $2.10) in the second race, Bonfire Bash (2:00; $3.30) in the fourth leg and American Zestar (1:56.1; $2.70) in the fifth.

“It’s the best,” said MacDonald. “I’m just so thrilled I get to go to New Zealand and wear the red and white.

“I love my blue and yellow (MacDonald’s traditional colours in his driving suit) but there’s nothing better than a whole country cheering for you.”

The Canadian Press

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up