History: MacDonald wins eight Monday to set new Woodbine record

MILTON, December 5, 2022 – James MacDonald entered the Woodbine history book on Monday night by driving the winners of eight races at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The eight-win evening by MacDonald establishes a new record for most wins in a single card by a driver at Woodbine Entertainment/Ontario Jockey Club. MacDonald also established a record for most consecutive wins on a card by winning seven straight (Races 4 through 10).

MacDonald entered Monday’s card with 372 wins on the season at Mohawk Park, 106 more than his nearest rival. Woodbine’s leading driver took advantage of his horsepower, guiding six post-time favourites to victory throughout the evening.

A native of Prince Edward Island and current resident of Guelph, Ontario, MacDonald’s two most notable victories on the card came in the Preferred Trot (Locatelli) and Pop Up Series Final (Never Mind N).

The victory with Locatelli also brought the need for an addition to the record book, as the four-year-old gelding won in 1:50.4, matching the older trotting horse track record.

MacDonald’s eight victories are listed below:

Race – Purse – Horse (Trainer) – $2 Win Price

Race 2 – $20,000 – White Tiger (Dominic Gladu) – $4
​Race 4 – $21,000 – Looks Like Moni (Harry Poulton) – $4.10
​Race 5 – $10,000 – Pointomygranson (Chantal Mitchell) – $2.90
​Race 6 – $20,000 – Resolute Bay (Harry Poulton) – $11.60
​Race 7 – $16,000 – P L Opportunity (Matt Dupuis) – $2.80
​Race 8 – $18,000 – Quan Blue Chip (Garry Merner) – $4.10
​Race 9 – $34,000 – Locatelli (Harry Poulton) – $10.30
​Race 10 – $30,000 – Never Mind N (Carmen Auciello) – $3.30

MacDonald also had a fifth and third-place finish in two other drives Monday.

The favourite to repeat as Canada’s Driver of the Year at the O’Brien Awards, MacDonald leads the nation with 429 victories and is nearing $10 million in earnings for the 2022 season.