Trot Insider has compiled a list of the leading drivers and trainers at racetracks across Canada through the 2023 harness racing season.
James MacDonald retained his title as Canada's leading driver in both wins and earnings once again in 2023. Coming off back-to-back Driver of the Year award-winning campaigns, MacDonald drove 429 winners to victory in Canada over the course of 2023 with his mounts banking $9,757,726 on the year.
Tyler Borth made MacDonald work for the win title in 2023, surging over the 400-win plateau in a career year, ending with 413 victories. Travis Henry rounded out the top three with 316 wins.
Louis-Philippe Roy finished second to MacDonald for the second consecutive year in the earnings category, with his Canadian mounts banking $$6,813,659. Sylvain Filion ranked third best having driven horses to earnings totalling $$5,983,841.
On the UDRS front, Brandon Campbell did one better than in 2022, moving to the top spot on Canadian soil with a UDRS of 0.437 in what was a career year. A winner in 289 of his 1,035 starts, Campbell racked up career-best totals in both wins and earnings with $2,195,404 made on the year.
Guy Gagnon (0.400), the 2022 leader, and Marc Campbell (0.378) finished in the top three for the second consecutive year.
Of note, Manitoba's Blake Piwniuk sported North America's highest UDRS for a driver less 120-300 drives with a sparkling 0.493 from his 150 seasonal outings.
A familiar face finished atop the trainer standings in 2023, as Richard Moreau took home his eighth consecutive titles for earnings and victories in 2023. Coming off a career-best season in 2022, Moreau backed it up strongly with 297 winners and his stable banking $4,947,193 over the course of the season.
Kyle Fellows earned the runner-up spot in earnings, amassing $2,477,465 in purses over the course of the season, while Jodie Cullen finished third with $2,398,444.
Cullen finished second in the national standings for training victories after sending out 225 winners in 2023, while Kelly Hoerdt rounded out the top trio with 148 victories from his stable.
Isaac Waxman emerged atop the UTRS standings, batting an efficient 0.422 over the course of 2023, while Brandon Campbell proved to be just as consistent on the training side as he is driving, putting up a strong 0.414 percentage. Jennifer Doyle completed the trifecta, batting 0.405 on the year.
(All statistics include Canadian starts from Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023. Minimum 265 starts for URS.)
Century Downs
Top Driver (Money): Brandon Campbell ($705,989)
Top Driver (Wins): Brandon Campbell (76)
Top Trainer (Money): Brandon Campbell ($546,520)
Top Trainer (Wins): Brandon Campbell (52)
Century Mile
Top Driver (Money): Brandon Campbell ($615,247)
Top Driver (Wins): Brandon Campbell (78)
Top Trainer (Money): Brandon Campbell ($354,760)
Top Trainer (Wins): David Kelly (44)
Clinton Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Tyler Borth ($173,295)
Top Driver (Wins): Tyler Borth (44)
Top Trainer (Money): Patrick Bissett ($35,542)
Top Trainer (Wins): Patrick Bissett, John Kennedy, Cameron McQueen (8)
Dresden Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Garrett Rooney ($106,152)
Top Driver (Wins): Garrett Rooney (23)
Top Trainer (Money): Robert Doyle ($23,632)
Top Trainer (Wins): Robert Doyle (8)
Flamboro Downs
Top Driver (Money): Brett MacDonald ($861,870)
Top Driver (Wins): Travis Henry (133)
Top Trainer (Money): Jodie Cullen ($527,119)
Top Trainer (Wins): Jodie Cullen (96)
Fraser Downs
Top Driver (Money): Brandon Campbell ($756,419)
Top Driver (Wins): Brandon Campbell (115)
Top Trainer (Money): Jim Marino ($697,158)
Top Trainer (Wins): Kelly Hoerdt (85)
Georgian Downs
Top Driver (Money): Brett MacDonald ($254,869)
Top Driver (Wins): Brett MacDonald (37)
Top Trainer (Money): Jodie Cullen ($145,417)
Top Trainer (Wins): Jodie Cullen (26)
Grand River Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Brett MacDonald ($306,635)
Top Driver (Wins): Colin Kelly (42)
Top Trainer (Money): Bob MacIntosh ($241,534)
Top Trainer (Wins): Brett Lester (18)
Hanover Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Tyler Borth ($100,073)
Top Driver (Wins): Tyler Borth (22)
Top Trainer (Money): Matt Bax ($32,558)
Top Trainer (Wins): Cassidy Schneider (9)
Hiawatha Horse Park
Top Driver (Money): Garrett Rooney ($175,899)
Top Driver (Wins): Garrett Rooney (44)
Top Trainer (Money): Jason Libby ($48,076)
Top Trainer (Wins): Jason Libby (13)
Hippodrome 3R
Top Driver (Money): Pascal Berube ($351,765)
Top Driver (Wins): Pascal Berube (81)
Top Trainer (Money): David Pilon ($238,495)
Top Trainer (Wins): David Pilon (37)
Kawartha Downs
Top Driver (Money): Samuel Fillion ($144,595)
Top Driver (Wins): Samuel Fillion (36)
Top Trainer (Money): Thomas Riley ($79,886)
Top Trainer (Wins): Thomas Riley (21)
Inverness Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Redmond Doucet ($57,435)
Top Driver (Wins): Redmond Doucet (35)
Top Trainer (Money): Jason Hughes ($21,055)
Top Trainer (Wins): Zach Mullins, Donald Beaton (15)
Leamington Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Garrett Rooney ($126,249)
Top Driver (Wins): Garrett Rooney (40)
Top Trainer (Money): George Robinson ($49,854)
Top Trainer (Wins): George Robinson (16)
Northside Downs
Top Driver (Money): Ardon Mofford ($33,715)
Top Driver (Wins): Ardon Mofford (36)
Top Trainer (Money): Ardon Mofford ($24,885)
Top Trainer (Wins): Ardon Mofford (29)
The Raceway at the Western Fair District
Top Driver (Money): Tyler Borth ($1,183,122)
Top Driver (Wins): Tyler Borth (192)
Top Trainer (Money): Cassidy Schneider ($332,042)
Top Trainer (Wins): Cassidy Schneider (53)
Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park
Top Driver (Money): Jason Hughes ($496,913)
Top Driver (Wins): Marc Campbell (157)
Top Trainer (Money): Jason Hughes ($260,904)
Top Trainer (Wins): Jennifer Doyle (74)
Rideau Carleton Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Guy Gagnon ($873,704)
Top Driver (Wins): Guy Gagnon (156)
Top Trainer (Money): Mandy Archer ($533,482)
Top Trainer (Wins): Mandy Archer (97)
Summerside Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Corey MacPherson ($223,988)
Top Driver (Wins): Corey MacPherson (61)
Top Trainer (Money): Marc Campbell ($77,213)
Top Trainer (Wins): Earl Watts (18)
The Loop
Top Driver (Money): Blake Piwnuik ($133,291)
Top Driver (Wins): Blake Piwniuk (37)
Top Trainer (Money): Trevor Williams ($130,604)
Top Trainer (Wins): Trevor Williams (33)
The Track On 2
Top Driver (Money): David Kelly ($121,250)
Top Driver (Wins): David Kelly (42)
Top Trainer (Money): David Kelly ($79,320)
Top Trainer (Wins): David Kelly (26)
Truro Raceway
Top Driver (Money): Corey MacPherson ($84,922)
Top Driver (Wins): Paul Langille (31)
Top Trainer (Money): Paul Langille ($46,015)
Top Trainer (Wins): George Rennison (23)
Woodbine Mohawk Park
Top Driver (Money): James MacDonald ($9,044,832)
Top Driver (Wins): James MacDonald (400)
Top Trainer (Money): Richard Moreau ($4,195,792)
Top Trainer (Wins): Richard Moreau (206)
Woodstock Raceway NB
Top Driver (Money): Todd Trites ($39,729)
Top Driver (Wins): Todd Trites (10)
Top Trainer (Money): George Rennison ($30,774)
Top Trainer (Wins): George Rennison (12)