from Standardbred Canada
Mississauga, ON — Mike MacDonald, one of the most revered horsemen in Atlantic Canada and considered by many to be the greatest Gold Cup & Saucer driver in the race’s history, died June 19, 2018, at the age of 70.
Retiring from active competition in 2009, Mr. MacDonald was inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame later that year, fittingly at Charlottetown Driving Park — the scene of many of his greatest triumphs. The Charlottetown-born driver and trainer won the region’s biggest race five times, and competed in an amazing 29 of the 49 Gold Cup & Saucer finals contested up to his retirement. Aside from winning, Mr. MacDonald sent top horses into Old Home Week for almost 40 years, and had arguably done more for putting Old Home Week, and the Gold Cup & Saucer race, on the map than any other individual.
Mr. MacDonald campaigned at all of the major harness racing centers across North America, winning nearly 2,300 races and earning more than C$13 million in purses. Horses driven by Mr. MacDonald set numerous track records, one of the most notable coming in 1991 when he twice broke the CDP record in a 48-hour span.
He was a mentor for many of the region’s top drivers, including two-time Canadian Driver of the Year Mark MacDonald. A list of notable horses driven and connected to Mr. MacDonald include Ventall Rainbow, Gimble, Vizzi Hanover, Hubris, Rumpus Hanover, Bomb Rickles, Kin O Classic, Yankee Predator, Winners Accolade, Jojo Maruri, Pearl’s Falcon, Southview Matt, Chewy Gross, Ambivalent, Moldau, Sandy Hanover, Whosurboy, Ebbalutionary, Harmony P and Bellas Bliss.
Trot Insider will update this notice with arrangements when available.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Mike MacDonald.