The names Gord Brown and Guy Gagnon would be expected among the top drivers at Rideau Carleton Raceway for 2016. But right now a 19-year-old up-and-comer is not only holding his own competing with these top horsemen, in some ways he's doing better.
Sure, it's still early in the year and a lot can happen. Just don't be surprised if Brett MacDonald ends the year at Rideau with top five placings in wins, money and UDRS. Among drivers with 10 or more starts thus far, he's tied for second (11) in wins, fourth ($52,075) in money and fourth (.323) in driving percentage.
Not bad for a driver whose first pari-mutuel start came just over a year ago on March 8, 2015. Of course, Brett's affinity and knowledge comes somewhat honestly. His parents, trainer Ron MacDonald and Kim Seaman, have been involved with harness racing for decades. Longer than Brett's been alive, in fact.
"My Mom and Dad, they had horses their whole lives so I grew up in it," Brett told Trot Insider. "I always wanted to be a part of it. When I first started driving in matinee races in PEI, I really got the bug for it and really wanted to be a driver. My cousin John was a top driver at Rideau for a long time, so I always looked at his success and thought maybe I could strive to be as good."
Prior to his 2015 season, Brett honed his craft for a number of summers on the matinee tracks in PEI, a path to success followed by drivers the likes of O'Brien Award winners Mark MacDonald and Marc Campbell. Brett feels that the matinee driving experience has certainly helped make him more complete.
"You're always in tight spots and tight spaces there," noted MacDonald. "You're not allowed to use whips so you really have to keep the bit in their mouth and keep them alive."
A native of PEI, MacDonald now resides with his parents in Embrun, Ont. -- about 30 minutes from Rideau Carleton. He cites his father and cousin John as primary influences and mentors thus far.
"Even when I was driving in the matinees [John] would give me tips to make me better...and my dad, too," said Brett. "And it was never criticism. It was always focused on trying different ways to make yourself better."
Judging by the numbers, Brett MacDonald has made himself better. With a UDRS that's nearly double what it was last year, his skills have caught the eye of trainers at the Ottawa-area oval.
"I'm driving for Jamie Copley now and that's pretty big. He's always had good numbers. To give a young guy like me a shot, that's been a real big influence. People have definitely noticed."
While he's been at Rideau for about seven years, Brett would return to PEI for the summer and that's when he would get his experience on the matinee circuit. This summer, however, he'll be Ontario-based and looking to build on his sensational start to the season.
"I'm probably staying here, with racing on Thursdays and Sundays. I'll probably go home for Old Home Week but most of my summer will be here."
His goals for 2016 are lofty, yet presented with an air of Maritime modesty.
"I hope to be as high on the leaderboard as possible and just keep trying to do my best and make sure I drive smart."
Who does MacDonald feel drives smartly? He speaks highly of those he competes with on the track, noting that despite being rivals the grizzled veterans aren't above doling out some sage advice.
"You watch everybody and you take a little bit from everybody," admitted Brett. "I get advice from Darrell [Coville] and Stephane Lareau...'patience is a virtue', 'you don't have to move them first up all the time', 'you can drive them different'...I think because I am the young guy a lot of the older guys give me tips."
Throughout the week between race days, Brett works with his Dad in the barn helping with the seven-horse MacDonald stable. While none of the seven horses in Ron's stable have Brett's name on the papers, he does own part of a two-year-old in training with Ronnie Gass in PEI. Those horses racing at Rideau are often entered with Brett's name listed to drive.
"He [Ron] wants to make sure that there's enough there that I have a shot to show people what I can do. When I was a bit younger and in school there was about six, but now that I'm a bit older we have better horses and there's more of them."