Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer Paul MacDonell brought his illustrious career to an end on Sunday, Aug. 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and the conclusion came with one last trip the winner’s circle.

MacDonell’s final drive came with his own trainee, Ungawa, in the fourth race. The 2008 Driver of the Year marched the four-year-old gelding to the top passing the quarter in :27.1 and had him on cruise control past the half in :55.2 and 1:24.1. He kept his charge to task down the stretch to get Ungawa home in 1:53.2, putting the reinsman’s final win tally at 5,786.

MacDonell was met with a large contingent of friends, family and fellow horsemen in the winner’s circle following the win.

“I was floored, actually,” the 63-year-old said to Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis on the reception. “To see the guys come out like they did, it means a lot, it really did.

“Other racing relationships I’ve had over the years, with the Wellwoods and the Baxs, numerous other stables, Doug Brown was a major part of my career starting out – there’s so many, I can’t even think of them all at the moment – it all comes together to go into a career.”

MacDonell, who got his start working for Doug Brown, made his driving debut in 1981. He won five races that year and crossed the 100-win threshold in 1984, starting a 30-year streak with triple digits in the victory column. His standout regular drives include Hall of Famers Admirals Express and Invitro, though the Oshawa, Ont. native’s best-known connection is undoubtedly to Hall of Famer Somebeachsomewhere, the 2008 Canada and U.S. Horse of the Year and triple millionaire.

“That was a tremendous ride,” MacDonell said of his time with Somebeachsomewhere. “He grew from just being a horse from Nova Scotia that came out here and took this business by storm.”

MacDonell finished with $127,916,644 in driving earnings from 46,315 starts. He also won 138 races as a trainer with $2,791,144 in earnings from 859 starts. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2020.

He said he’s looking forward to settling down.

“We bought a place in Cape Breton – Port Hood, Nova Scotia – and I’m going to be going there and just kicking back for awhile," he said. "My wife Lynn is there, she’s probably watching, and she’s waiting for me to show up next week, so I can’t wait for that next part to start.”

Featured on the race card were two $30,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Leg 4B divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Trouble With Names ($4.70) cut the mile in the first division in line to Bob McClure in a 1:54.1 score. Paul Reid trains the winning son of Muscle Mass-Usainy B.

Mike Me Up ($2.70) took the second split with a 1:55 mile. Tyler Borth piloted the Muscle Mass-Meghan C gelding for trainer Kyle Fellows.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)