MacDonald Doing Double Duty

As a horseman, Anthony MacDonald is no stranger to early mornings and late nights. But as a candidate for Ontario’s upcoming provincial election in June, and as a full-time harness driver, MacDonald is not counting on much sleep over the next four weeks.

MacDonald, who is the Progressive Conservative candidate for Guelph in the upcoming Ontario provincial election, says he will continue to drive horses and dedicate all of his remaining waking hours to canvassing in his riding.

“I used to get up and go to the barn, help with horses in the morning, take a nap, hang out with my daughter and son, and then head to the racetrack,” MacDonald told Trot Insider. “Now I get up at 7, go to a diner or establishment, and start talking to people first thing. I hand out cards, canvas all morning, stopping for a lunch, then I canvas all day.”

On race nights, MacDonald will still head off to Woodbine, with his plan to race the majority of programs on the Woodbine-Mohawk circuit, until election time. At the same time, he is committed to attending every political event and debate that takes place.

“I’ve made a promise to Tim Hudak and the PC party, and I intend to fulfill that,” he says. “At the same time, my family always comes first, as I have a son, a daughter and a wife to support, so I will continue to drive. I have 100,000 people in Guelph and my goal is to speak to as many of them as I possibly can. I canvas until the last minute I can, at some point I drink a large Red Bull, then I continue on.”

MacDonald believes he can achieve victory in Guelph, and believes that will be in large part to the vital support he continues to receive from the harness racing industry.

“We’ve had an unbelievable amount of support and that shows what the people in this industry are like. On the racing side, the trainers, like Carmen Auciello, and the owners I drive for, have been so understanding with my schedule and they’ve donated to the cause. I can’t say enough about the efforts of all of the volunteers who have spent so much time dedicated to this cause.”

Even with the support he’s received, MacDonald is still very concerned about the funding his campaign has for the final weeks before the election.

“I have received so much help but we’re at 65% of the budget that we absolutely need to have,” he says. “I know I can win, and represent this industry at Queen’s Park, but if I can’t raise the amount of money needed, it’s like breaking at the gate and trying win the race. It’s a huge disadvantage.”

As for why MacDonald is running, the 37-year-old doesn’t mince words.

“It’s not just the people in this industry,” he says. “The people in rural Ontario understand and know what we’re up against. Sure I could make more money in harness racing than in politics but I’m worried about the kids, the next generation of horsepeople and Ontarians in general. It bothers me greatly that their future, on the current course, is in jeopardy.”