Many followers of harness racing would agree that the driving colony at Woodbine Mohawk Park, on a nightly basis, sports world-class depth of talent.

That statement makes the fact that James MacDonald is the first driver to win the Keith Waples Driver of the Year title for five consecutive years all the more impressive.

It's impressive enough to be named the best in the business once, yet alone five times. But five straight years is an unprecedented run, and one that MacDonald himself has a hard time putting into words.

Going into Saturday night, both Doug Brown and MacDonald boasted runs of four straight O'Brien Awards as Canada's Driver of the Year. MacDonald broke that tie when he was named Keith Waples Driver of the Year at the 37th O'Brien Awards, presented by Standardbred Canada and held at the J-AAR Expo Centre at Western Fair District in London, Ont. on Saturday, Jan. 31.

"I talked to Doug Brown last year when I was getting close, and he was wishing me luck, obviously, it's just a dream come true and more. It's something I never thought possible, it's something I never dreamed of.

"As a driver, I wanted to do well and I was pretty happy when I was winning a bunch of races on the B tracks and just making a living at it doing something where I got to compete. To etch my name in the record books, it's pretty unbelievable."

MacDonald, a native of Prince Edward Island who now resides in Guelph, Ont., posted sensational numbers in 2025 with 369 wins, $9.2 million in purse money while driving multiple O'Brien Awards winners and adding and a second World Driving Championship title. He'll have the opportunity for more rarified air in 2027 when Canada hosts the World Driving Championship and a chance to repeat on Canadian soil. Only one driver in the history of the World Driving Championship has more than two victories, and the 40-year-old MacDonald is eager to add another WDC title to his already impressive resume.

"It's something to shoot for, and something to hope for, and I'm really looking forward to it."

In this interview with SC's Jeff Porchak, MacDonald reflects on his record-breaking 2025 season and what helps him stay consistent despite the wealth of talented competition in his regular driving colony. The interview is the second in a series of interviews sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta.

(Standardbred Canada; photos courtesy New Image Media)