Harness racer James MacDonald has won the 2024 Canadian Driving Championship

TROIS-RIVIÈRES — Harness racer James MacDonald of Guelph, Ont. captured the Canadian driving championship on Friday night.

MacDonald, Canada’s three-time top standard-bred driver, finished the eight-race event at Hippodrome 3R with 66 points. Tyler Borth of Ingersoll, Ont. and Robert Shepherd of Mirabel, Que., both posted 53 points, but Borth took second because he had multiple first-place finishes.

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

MacDonald, 38, earned most of his points through the first five races as he won three and was second in another to accumulate 55 points. His wins 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,” MacDonald said. “I’m so excited to go to New Zealand and wear the red and white.

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

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 5, 2024.

The Canadian Press