Columbus, OH — Lawrence “Soupy” MacDonell, 75, died March 3, 2024, after a short illness at his home in Bowie, Md.

He was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia.

Since a very young age, his love of horses led him to his harness racing career. He came to the United States in the mid-1970s with Norman Bradbury, where he was second trainer for several years. He eventually started his own stable with his favorite horse, Mini View. He raced many years at Rockingham Park and Foxboro.

When those tracks closed, he relocated to Rosecroft Raceway. He was happy anywhere as long as there was a golf course nearby, and NASCAR to watch on the weekends. While there, he got his starter’s license.

He moved to Florida, working as a trackman at Winter Miles Training Center in Oviedo, until it closed and then worked for the County.

Racing was ingrained in his heart and soul, and for many years he started the qualifying races at Ben White Raceway and Southern Oaks Training Center.

He never forgot his Cape Breton roots and returned home to Inverness to race as often as he could.

He was always available to mentor the younger horsemen starting out and allowing them to drive his horses to get their licenses.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Karen; sister-in-law, Janet Gilmour and her son Bret; sisters, Kay Kennedy-Young and Shirley Lennon; brother, Sandy (Evelyn); and many nieces and nephews in Canada.

Private services will be held at a later date.