Harness hall of fame inductee class of 2017 has been one of sports best money drivers for past 15 years. His overall total of 706 victories a career best in 09 ranked him third among all drivers in north americawas second in all three categories at northfield in 2010 after missing significant time due to injuries suffered in a june racing accident at the meadowsmerriman started out in the business with his dad, the noted horseman lanny. East rutherford, nj mark macdonald, a winner of more than 5,000 races, will be driving at the meadowlands on friday nights through the end of the championship meet macdonald is hoping this will be a launching point to him becoming a meadowlands mainstay. Macdonald said several factor played into his decision. Macdonald is hoping this will be a launching point to him becoming a meadowlands mainstay going forward. The track sizes are grouped based on the number of turns the horse must travel to complete the mile.
From lebanon raceway to northfield park to scioto downs to the meadows racetrack to now driving against the top drivers at harness racings mecca the meadowlands. Im right around the corner, macdonald said, laughing. Only two islandborn drivers have more official wins than he does. Mark macdonald hopes to return to the bike in january. As of late january, the twotime obrien awardwinning driver was symptom free and eager to return to action. There is no clearcut way to get to the top in any business. A feelgood moment 10 years on harness racing update. Drivers average earnings harness racing newsroom usta. Jody jamieson, paul macdonell, casie coleman, blair.
Anthony macdonald earns cam fella award localsports sports. Excerpt from the documentary exhibition drive, a finalist for the 2012. The sixyearold had not raced since november and was making his u. Hn horse driver win place show 7 calvin b corey callahan 8. Mark macdonald plans to stay in us to drive harness racing.
The other driver involved, eric goodell, was xrayed for potential upperbody injuries but released when the xrays proved negative. Trainer profile mark macdonald equibase is your official source. It was a business decision made by the connections who we are not sure, but they wanted driver brian sears instead. Standardbred canada has reported driver mark macdonald will likely miss the remainder of 2019 after undergoing surgery following an. A north american champion is a horse that has set the fastest time at their gait, age and sex at the time of the performance either against time or in a race at one mile.
In a quiet moment in the jug barn wednesday, driver mark macdonald slipped over to western fames stall to give the colt a pat and some inspiration the day before the two will contest the 71st little brown jug. Two years later he took a stable of seven to windsor raceway and began his career as a trainerdriver. Pure country 2 and driver mark macdonald get up in a wild finish to take the breeders crown mare pace at hoosier park on oct. As most know, mark was taken off the horse this spring, after driving him well last year.
One version of the blueprint to success harness racing. To connect with anthony, sign up for facebook today. Drivers average earnings thursday, december 08, 2005 dean a. For at least the duration of the winter meet, macdonald will be driving friday and saturday nights at the meadowlands. Blood line mark macdonald was a winner for the takter stable closing stoutly into a 26. Mark macdonald driving western silk first off the gate was mark s father fred macdonald, who penned an oped column in the charlottetown guardian stating the case that his son should have been nominated as canadas harness racing driver of the year for 2010.
Mark macdonald to miss rest of 2019 harness racing. Mark macdonald nabs 6,000th win in nyss at vernon career macdonald broke into the sport as a 16yearold trainer and was in the winners circle for the first time on may, 1995, at charlottetown with the pacing stallion dusty lane timetwo years later he took a stable of seven to windsor raceway and began his career as a trainer driver. The meadowlands is where i always wanted to be, its the place to drive. Drivers doug mcnair and brett miller have taken different paths to the upper echelon of the sport, but will mcnair one day follow millers lead. For the second consecutive year, leading harness drivers jason bartlett, brent holland, mark macdonald and jordan stratton will be among yonkers raceway employees and horsemen teaming up with the food bank for westchester to help those in need throughout america. Safety harness brands driver insurance logbook for drivers har mar lock and key jeep wrangler towing wiring harness.
Macdonald handled the fastest winner of the session, the mach three gelding highrthananeagle a. Hambletonian, which is harness racings premier event for 3yearold trotters. Taken down just about every major race, many more than once and way too numerous to mention in this small space. Standardbred canada has reported driver mark macdonald will likely miss the remainder of 2019 after undergoing surgery following an accident at saratoga casino hotel in july macdonald, a winner of 6,220 career races, was on the track with 2yearold so surreal colt splash brother prior to a new york sire stakes race at the halfmile oval. He suffered a fractured left shoulder joint and is now rehabbing following surgery and. Sugg was injured monday july 22 while driving in a race at the tiffin, ohio, fair.
Beginning this saturday, driver mark macdonald will be making a change in his driving plans. Teenager wearing earphones killed by train jeffrey bellinger, from cedar lake, ind. Mark macdonald sat down with yonkers raceway and shared how he got his start in harness racing and how lucky he has been. Mike macdonald prince edward island sports hall of fame pei. Mark macdonald, a twotime winner of canadas driver of the year award in the mid2000s and the winner of numerous grand circuit stakes, grew up in charlottetown not far from the hennessey family and was energized by wallys exploits. Harness racings 2017 dan patch award winners announced. Mark macdonald guides blissful breeze to victory in the 2011 gold cup and saucer race in charlottetown, prince edward island. Charlie hill, the cleveland classic, the dayton trotting derby, the maxi lee invitational at harrahs chester, the cashman. Freehold, nj driver mark macdonald s admiration of sportswriter continues to grow. Yonkers raceway drivers bartlett, holland, macdonald. Macdonald, who has been a familiar face on the woodbine entertainment group weg circuit for several years, took time off from november 2011 to february 2012 after he developed intense migraines and bouts of dizziness that prevented him from leaving his home. Macdonald is listed to drive in two of the afternoons six landmark stakes events at historic track in goshen, n. I drive and train race horses, and represent my friends and family as best i can as a candidate for the progressive conservatives under tim hudak right here in guelph. But after the 1999 season, macdonald decided to give.
Ackerman this year, but their pay rates are about the same. My father has loved horses, harness racing and this community his entire life. Mark macdonald is still more than a month away from returning to the racetrack as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but the veteran driver is feeling good and looking forward to a successful 2020. We had a horse that now had the respect of his competition and we had driver mark macdonald, kelley said. On tuesday, april 16, dozens of racewayempire city casino staffers, headed by. Mark macdonald is still more than a month away from returning to the racetrack as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but the veteran harness rcing driver is feeling good and looking forward to a successful 2020 macdonald was injured in july when he was unseated from the sulky prior to a race at saratoga. Albion just a few miles east of charlottetown has driven in thousands of races and has accumulated over 3000 victories. Hoffman tweet brian sears has driven in over 2,000 more races than d. Macdonald was injured in july when he was unseated from the sulky prior to a race at saratoga. Saturdays victory in the north america cup was more than just a win for mark macdonald. His drives run the gamut from the most challenging projects to the easiest to manipulate around the oval.
Wally was a hometown hero for sure, macdonald said. Driver mark macdonald shares his harness racing story and how a horrific crash couldnt slow him down. Garry macdonald from the picturesque community of mt. Macdonald was injured last saturday night july 20, prior to a new york sires stakes at saratoga. Yonkers raceway driver mark macdonald shares his harness. In canada, mark macdonald won five races on saturday three at woodbine and two at flamboro to end 2006 with 739 canadian wins. In 2016, obigado and macdonald took home wins from seven premier races. Driver brian sears was aboard the trond smedshammer trainee and earned his. When it comes to travel, mark macdonald is unlikely to get to stakes races any easier than his trip on friday july 5. Artrageous mark macdonald was not happy with that arrangement, having to work as. Unbelievable visit with champion driver mark macdonald youtube. Harness driver, daniel dube wins 9,000th race by frank drucker. Mark macdonald harness racing usta harness the excitement.
On tuesday, april 16, dozens of racewayempire city casino staffers, headed by vice. April 15, 20 prlog for the second consecutive year, leading harness drivers jason bartlett, brent holland, mark macdonald and jordan stratton will be among yonkers raceway employees and horsemen teaming up with the food bank for westchester to help those in need throughout america. The days fastest mile came when a really good bunch of fouryearold pacing horses gathered for race eleven. Pure country 2 and driver mark macdonald get up in a.
Among the standout horses hes driven are pair of harness horse of the year in gallo blue chip 2000 and rock n roll. Woodbine based driver mark macdonald recently visiting fraser downs as part of a fund raiser and we sat down to discuss his career. Mark macdonald is still more than a month away from returning to the racetrack as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but the veteran harness rcing driver is feeling good and looking forward to a successful 2020. A decade after mr feelgood won the 61st jug, driver mark macdonald reminisced about one of his greatest career victories. Macdonald to drive at meadowlands friday, april 11, 2014 from the meadowlands media department tweet. Driver mark macdonald was taken to the hospital following an accident that occurred prior to the start of the second of three new york sire stakes races for 2yearold pacing colts and geldings on.
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