It’s still sinking in
Islander James MacDonald basking in limelight of world driving championship
James MacDonald is still basking in the limelight of a most unlikely world championship.
The 31-year-old Kingston native clinched the world driving championship in Charlottetown Friday night. MacDonald replaced Calgary’s Brandon Campbell as Canada’s representative in the biennial harness racing event less than three weeks earlier after Campbell was involved in a positive drug test.
“Honestly, it hasn’t really sunk in,” MacDonald said. “I can’t really grasp it . . . I haven’t really had time to really think about it and enjoy it.
“Obviously it’s a big accomplishment. I’m really proud of it but I know I still need to get better, I still need to keep working hard if I want to be one of the best.”
Campbell, 33, was fined $4,000 and suspended through Jan. 31, 2018, by Standardbred Canada on Aug. 1 after Ima Dude, a horse he trained, tested positive for ephedrine and pyrilamine and associated metabolites.
Standardbred Canada named MacDonald as Campbell’s replacement after he finished second to Campbell in qualifying. MacDonald, now living in Guelph, Ont., took full advantage, becoming the first Canadian to capture the world crown on home turf.
“I never expected it,” MacDonald said. “I ended up second in the national (standings) and while I was disappointed, I’d kind of accepted it and that was that.
“When they called me and said they needed me to fill in, it was a no-brainer. Obviously I would’ve loved to earn my way to the worlds . . . I don’t want to see anything like that happen to anyone but when they asked me to fill in, it was an easy decision.”
MacDonald hasn’t had the luxury of time to fully comprehend what he’s done. Early the morning after winning the title he flew back to Toronto to race on that night’s card at nearby Mohawk Racetrack.
Then on Sunday it was off to Quebec for an event there before returning to Guelph for more racing Monday night at Mohawk.
“Busy is good in this business,” MacDonald said. “I’m not going to complain about being busy.”
The world driving event was held at five different tracks in four provinces from Aug. 1218. Eleven competitors from 10 countries – New Zealand had two entrants as Dexter Dunn was the defending champion – competed in 22 races, earning points based upon their final position.
MacDonald accumulated the most points to earn the world championship and $25,000 top prize.
He became the fifth Canadian to capture the honour but first since 2011 when Jody Jamieson of Moffat, Ont., won his second tournament crown.
MacDonald said the hometown support at Red Shores at Charlottetown Driving Park was huge.
“The reception I got in P.E.I was something I’ll never experience probably again in my life, it was absolutely insane,” he said. “It put more pressure on me, for sure, but I knew if I could get myself in the hunt going there I’d have the whole province and the whole country on my side.”
MacDonald will defend his global crown in 2019, which should give him enough time to get used to the idea of being a world champion.