"I always say I want to be the best driver. A few years ago, I wouldn't have said that; I just wanted to be a good driver, do good things out there and not make mistakes. But now...with two O'Brien Awards, I want to be the best driver."
Standardbred Canada announced the winners of the 2022 O'Brien Awards, honouring Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season, at its Black Tie Gala on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. James MacDonald was honoured as the Keith Waples Driver of the Year for the second consecutive year following a career best season.
In 2022, the Guelph, Ont. resident shattered his personal bests, winning 451 races with more than $9.9 million in purse earnings. In addition to leading all Canadian drivers in wins and earnings during this career season, he added a second consecutive Lampman Cup, which is awarded to the leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Other accomplishments include winning the inaugural Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup at Flamboro Downs with Linedrive Hanover in a Canadian-record time, as well as an historic night at Woodbine Mohawk Park which saw him win eight races on a card — a new WEG/OJC record. MacDonald was the regular driver for three O’Brien Award winners: So Much More, Adare Castle and Twin B Archie.
After this past Saturday's gala, MacDonald reflected on his award-winning season and compared his win this year to his virtual setting from the 2021 O'Briens. He also talked about the horse(s) he's most looking forward to driving in 2023 and what exactly being "the best driver" means to him.
MacDonald's interview with Standardbred Canada's Jeff Porchak and Brittney Mayotte appears below.