James MacDonald Wins Canadian National Driving ChampionshipJames MacDonald Wins Canadian National Driving Championship On July 5, 2024, James MacDonald, Woodbine Mohawk Park’s top female driver, triumphed at the Canadian National Driving Championship (NDC) held at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, QC. MacDonald earned 66 points throughout the competition, besting renowned drivers like Tyler Borth and Stephane Brosseau. She also finished second to Borth in the 2024 Ontario Regional Driving Championship. Inspired by Keith Waples’ 2017 World Driving Championship victory, MacDonald approached the NDC with confidence, having had previous success at Hippodrome 3R. Despite an early setback in the first race, she rallied to finish second. She then secured her first win in Race 3 with favorite Rec Time. Borth won the opening round and Race 4, but MacDonald retaliated in Race 5 with Bonfire Bash. She continued her dominance in Race 6 with American Zestar. Mike Hennessy and Mybitcoin triumphed in Race 7, while Brosseau and Last Try prevailed in Race 8. The final race was won by Redmond Doucet, Jr. and Albert Alpha. MacDonald’s strategy and determination proved crucial in her victory. She recognized the increased competition at NDC compared to Mohawk Park. She will now represent Canada at the 2025 World Driving Championships in New Zealand. Doug McNair withdrew from the NDC, having represented Canada at the 2023 World Driving Championship in Europe. MacDonald acknowledged the benefits of her Mohawk Park experience but emphasized the unique challenges of NDC racing. She credited her overall experience and adaptability as key factors in her success.
by Melissa Keith
On Friday (July 5), Woodbine Mohawk Park’s top female rider proved that he is a force to be reckoned with on any track, anywhere.
James MacDonald won the 2024 Canadian National Driving Championship at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, QC, taking home a total of 66 points. He even finished second to regular Mohawk driver Tyler Borth in the 2024 Ontario Regional Driving Championship, held on April 23 at The Raceway at Western Fair in London, ON. Both qualified for the NDC.
The day after his championship win, two-time reigning Canadian Driver of the Year Keith Waples told HRU that memories of winning the 2017 World Driving Championship in his home country gave him confidence for the 2024 NDC.
“The 2017 competition was at tracks across Canada,” MacDonald said. “I’ve raced at 3R a few times and always had luck there, so I was hoping for more of the same.”
The 2024 NDC covered races 2-9 last Friday at Hippodrome 3R. MacDonald overcame bad luck in his first outing, closing wide from last to finish second despite an early break from his mount, 3-1 shot Classic Jim. Tyler Borth won the tournament’s opening round with 4-5 favourite Mach Play.
In race 3 MacDonald employed a similar strategy and won 1-9 as favourite Rec Time, who easily held off runner-up (35-1), Whitemountaincammy and driver Robert Shepherd.
Borth took his second win in Race 4 by crossing first with the (6-5) favourite Delgado, beating the (7-5) leader Granite Beach (driven by Shepherd) in the closing stages.
MacDonald was back in the winner’s circle after Race 5, following a front-row victory by 3-5 favorite Bonfire Bash, who quickly caught his stablemate Cleveland Moneyka, driven by Quebec-Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship winner Stephane Brosseau. Bonfire Bash held off late moves from the pocketed Cleveland Moneyka and La Bromontoise, who made a strong final run ahead of Borth.
Western Canadian Driving Champion Phil Giesbrecht set the pace in Race 6, with 6-1 odds on Odds On Carmel. MacDonald sent 1-5 favorite American Zestar after the leader at the break, passing her on the home straight for his third win of the tournament.
In race 7, Mike Hennessy and 2-1 mare Mybitcoin swept past 6-5 favourite Jimbelina, ridden by Giesbrecht, for an Alberta exactor. Race 8 saw Stephane Brosseau take his first win of the NDC, riding 4-5 favourite Last Try to a gate-to-wire victory over the next best Drinklikehenry, with Hennessy in the sulky. MacDonald and Borth failed to hit the board in either race.
The Race 9 final was won by Atlantic Regional Driving Champion Redmond Doucet, Jr., who led the 3-1 Albert Alpha to a narrow victory over the 9-5 favorite Cl Big Beach and driver Robert Shepherd.
In the final standings, MacDonald came out on top, with 66 points in total. Second Borth was tied on points with Shepherd (53 points each), but finished second overall on the strength of his two wins. Brosseau was fourth, with 50 points.
While you might expect Mohawk’s top driver, a three-time Canadian Driver of the Year (2021, 2022, 2023), to win the NDC with ease, MacDonald said the higher level of competition at the NDC doesn’t compare to driving in big races at his home track.
“It’s completely different in every way,” he said. “Strategy is completely different, knowing how hungry every driver is for every point.”
MacDonald told HRU that he went to Hippodrome 3R without any preconceptions about who his biggest rivals for the NDC title would be.
“I didn’t have any expectations of who would be the biggest challenge,” he said. “I just tried to do my own thing and stay focused. It’s not a shock to see Tyler (Borth) doing so well. He’s a fantastic driver.”
MacDonald will now represent Canada at the 2025 World Driving Championships in New Zealand.
Doug McNair withdrew from defending his title in the 2024 NDC. The 2022 National Driving Champion represented Canada at the 2023 World Driving Championship in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, where he finished second to Dutchman Rick Ebbinge last August, as reported here in HRU.
“I couldn’t go to New Zealand next winter,” McNair said Saturday (July 6). “So I didn’t think it was worth going to Quebec when I knew I wasn’t going to be able to go to the finals. Something came up for next winter.”
When asked if his consistent riding at Mohawk gave him an advantage at the NDC, MacDonald replied that it was not necessarily a clear advantage.
“I think all the experience is a big help,” MacDonald said. “It’s always very different racing in these types of events. Nothing can really prepare you for races like this. Everyone is different; you have to see how the day goes.”
