Newfoundland native, Florida Harness Racing Hall of Famer and accomplished lifelong horseman James R. "Jim" McDonald, 69, passed away suddenly at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the morning of March 15, 2025 following a brief illness.
Jim’s roots in harness racing began with his grandfather, Patrick McDonald Sr., and father, James McDonald, who were part of the community of family and friends that launched the Avalon Raceway in Goulds, Newfoundland in 1962, and where Jim took his first training mile at just three years old, won his first race at 14 and raced through the late 1960s and into the 1970s there before his passion and obvious harness racing talents took him to Pompano Park in Florida in 1981. Over his 44-year career there, Jim trained horses during racing season and off-seasons such as millionaire pacer Hyperion Hanover, U.S. and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee McWicked and one of his favourite horses, Macadream, who he owned and trained through to the horse’s retirement at age 14. As a driver and trainer, Jim amassed a combined 7,443 top-three finishes (2,564 wins) and more than $11.74 million in purses. In 2012, the United States Harness Writers Association honoured him as a Florida Chapter Hall of Fame inductee.
Jim was a veteran horseman with a wealth of knowledge and expert in breaking bad behaviours. He was a mentor to many starting out in the industry and a lifelong friend to other veterans of the sport here in Canada and in the U.S.
A modest man, Jim has always attributed his lifetime achievements to hard work and dedication as well as the support from his community of family including his mom Madeline; wife Dona; his son James and grandson Griffin; stepson John; his sisters Betty, Sharon and Brenda; his five brothers Gerald, Gary, Gordon, Douglas and Carl, each involved and accomplished in harness racing; as well as many family uncles, aunts and cousins who have been a part of his early days and throughout his life focussed on doing what he loves as a harness racing driver and trainer.
Arrangements are pending.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jim McDonald.