Three-time O'Brien Award winner James MacDonald is doing everything in his power to make it four Joes in a row in 2024, starting off the second half of the year with highlight after highlight.
MacDonald, who captured the 2024 National Driving Championship on Friday, July 5 at Hippodrome 3R, checked off another bucket list item with a Meadowlands Pace victory this past Saturday, July 13 at The Meadowlands by guiding Legendary Hanover to a 1:46.3 stakes record score.
"It was an unbelievable night and my feet haven't touched the ground since," MacDonald said. "I'm just soaking it all in."
Though the post position and trip did not work out in his favour, MacDonald gives a lot of credit to the ability of Legendary Hanover.
"Usually when he straightens out, he takes off on his own and that's exactly what happened," MacDonald said on the turn for home. "He's just a special horse with an unbelievable stamina and he can carry it forever.
"He's a total package. He comes off a helmet like a total freight train. He's perfect-gaited. He leaves the gate if you want him to. He normally will come off sensibly. He can get a little warm, but when he's quiet like he was both starts at the Meadowlands, he's virtually unstoppable because he can do everything."
After the wire, MacDonald recalls the celebrations from all of those around him with not only messages and calls from all kinds of people, but also with the on-track congratulations from the drivers in the race.
"I think that's probably the biggest thing I really enjoy about the Meadowlands is that there's so much money on the line and the races are so prestigious, but it's just a really professional group of drivers," said MacDonald. "They know what it takes to win a big race and every single one of them came to me with high praise and high fives."
Above all, MacDonald said that his family has given him the most support through everything.
"We have a really close family and I wouldn't have it any other way."
A week prior to crossing the wire with a win in the Meadowlands Pace, MacDonald secured a ticket to the 2025 World Driving Championships in New Zealand.
"There's nothing like representing your country so to be able to go there and win, it was a dream come true. I can't wait to wear the red and white and go to New Zealand and hopefully do a good job representing our country," MacDonald said.
Going forward, MacDonald places the Hambletonian, the North America Cup, and the Gold Cup and Saucer at the top of his bucket list. But, he also looks ahead to the Jug and the Breeders Crown as well.
The full interview with MacDonald is available below.
(Standardbred Canada)