James MacDonald, Standardbred Canada's 2024 National Driving Champion and Canada's representative for the upcoming 2025 World Driving Championship (WDC), received his Canadian colours at Woodbine Mohawk Park on the evening of Monday, Oct. 6.

The presentation took place during a trackside ceremony before the first race of the evening. Standardbred Canada President & CEO Darryl Kaplan (second from the left),  joined SC Board Chair Mark Horner (fifth from left), SC Industry Development Manager Jade Regina (first from left), SC Industry Development Coordinator Jessica Street (second from right), and SC Stakeholder Relations Coordinator Jeffrey Hunt (right) in making the trackside presentation to James MacDonald (fourth from left) as he was joined by his son Griffin MacDonald (third from left). 

A resident of Guelph, Ont., the four-time consecutive Keith Waples Driver of the Year winner expressed his sentiments after receiving the driving suit and helmet he will wear while competing as Canada's representative in the international event next month.

“It’s a great competition, and I’m just grateful to be representing Canada again,” MacDonald said. “It’s the best — there’s nothing like mixing it up and putting the red and white on.”

The 2025 WDC will be held next month in New Zealand, featuring harness racing drivers from 10 countries competing in a six-leg tournament that kicks off in Kaikoura. The international drivers participating are:

• Brett Beckwith (USA)
• Mats Djuse (Sweden)
• Gary Hall Jr. (Australia)
• Michael Nimczyk (Germany)
• Blair Orange (New Zealand)
• Santtu Raitala (Finland)
• Antonio Simioli (Italy)
• Jaap Van Rijn (Netherlands)
• Pierre Vercruysse (France)

The 2025 WDC will be held at various New Zealand racetracks, commencing with the Kaikoura races and concluding with the New Zealand Cup Day at Addington Raceway. The complete racing schedule is as follows:

• Sunday, Nov. 2 – Kaikoura Races (12 p.m. NZST)
• Monday, Nov. 3 – Kaikoura Races (12 p.m. NZST)
• Wednesday, Nov. 5 – Cambridge Races (4:30 p.m. NZST)
• Friday, Nov. 7 – Addington Races (4:30 p.m. NZST)
• Sunday, Nov. 9 – Winton Races (12 p.m. NZST)
• Tuesday, Nov. 11 – New Zealand Cup Day, Final WDC Heat (12 p.m. NZST)

For more information on the 2025 WDC, click here.

Stay tuned for upcoming details from Standardbred Canada on how to follow the action and cheer on Canada as the Championship unfolds!

(Standardbred Canada Press Release)