The Charlottetown-born driver and trainer won the 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 in 2009. Aside from winning, 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.

MacDonald campaigned at all of the major harness racing centres across North America, winning nearly 2,300 races and earning more than $13 million in purses. Horses driven by 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 Drivers of the Year Mark and James MacDonald. A list of notable horses driven and connected to MacDonald include Ventall Rainbow, Gimble, Vizzi Hanover, Hubris, Rumpus Hanover, Bomb Rickles, Kin O Classic, Yankee Predator, Winners Accolade, Jojo Maruri, Pearls Falcon, Southview Matt, Chewy Gross, Ambivalent, Moldau, Sandy Hanover, Whosurboy, Ebbalutionary, Harmony P and Bellas Bliss.

He was inducted int the P.E.I Sports Hall of Fame on September 25th, 2009, the same year he retired from competition. 

Mike sadly passed on June 19th, 2018 at tee age of 70.

(Courtesy of the P.E.I. Sports Hall Of Fame and Standardbred Canada)