MEET the other JMac.
In this part of the world, JMac is the champion jockey on his way to re-writing the record books and becoming the greatest hoop of all time.
Say Jmac in North America and it means someone very different.
Canadian superstar James MacDonald is smashing records as a harness racing driver.
Earlier this month, the 40-year-old MacDonald became the first driver to be crowned Canada’s champion driver in five successive years.
He’s driven almost 4500 winners with lifetime stake earnings nearing $90 million.
Like “our” JMac, many say the Canadian is in the top handful of drivers in the world.
He underlined that just a few months ago in New Zealand when he won the World Drivers’ Championship for a second time. The other was in 2017.
MacDonald has returned Down Under much earlier than expected after an offer to drive in the slot of Aaron Bain Racing, Summit Bloodstock and the Ron Burke Brigade in the innovative and hugely successful Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.
“I jumped at the chance. It’s a big trip from home to Brisbane, but I watched this series when it was run for the first time last year and loved it,” he said.
“With Dexter (Dunn) and Yannick (Gingras) in it (from the US), there was huge interest in it back home. It was the talk of harness racing in North America.
“It was very exciting to follow and I wished I was part of it … now I get my chance.
“Those guys came back home from it last year raving about what a great time they had, on and off the track.
“It’ll also be great to escape the snow here for the beautiful weather in Brisbane this time of year.”
MacDonald has driven in NZ and Australian before, but never at Albion Park.
“I know I’ll be at a disadvantage on that front with so many top drivers in it who have loads of experience at the track. Hopefully I can adjust to it quickly,” he said.
“I love that challenge. It helps me as a driver to go to different places and see the different racing and driving styles.”
MacDonald certainly adjusted quickly in NZ last year when he beat WA superstar Gary Hall Jr to win the world title.
Hall Jr, who finished second to young gun Angus Garrard in last year’s inaugural Ultimate Driver Championship, will lock horns with MacDonald again.
“That’s one of the most exciting parts,” MacDonald said. “Gary is such a great guy, I can’t wait to line back up against him … hopefully it will be a repeat performance of what happened in NZ.”
MacDonald is one of seven new faces in the 10-driver series from last year.
The others are Australia’s premier driver James Herbertson, star NSW trio Luke McCarthy, Cam Hart and Robbie Morris, top Kiwi driver Zachary Butcher and local Trista Dixon.
PHOTO: HRNZ
