Canadian James MacDonald, seen in a Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, handout photo, has won the world driving championship in New Zealand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Standardbred Canada (Mandatory Credit)

By The Canadian Press

Canada’s James MacDonald captures second world driving championship

Nov 10, 2025 | 8:26 PM

CHRISTCHURCH — Canada’s James MacDonald is a two-time world driving champion.

MacDonald, a native of Prince Edward Island now living in Guelph, Ont., clinched his second title during the final leg of the 2025 world driving championship at Addington Raceway. A seventh-place finish driving trotter Alotoftrouble in the 20th and final race of the event clinched the crown for MacDonald.

MacDonald finished with 168 points, 17 ahead of Australian Gary Hall Jr.

The world driving championship was held over six race days at tracks across New Zealand.

MacDonald captured his first world title in 2017, the last time the biennial event was held in Canada. MacDonald will have an opportunity to defend his championship on home soil as the ’27 championship will return to Canada and be held at a number of tracks.

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Hall Jr. led through the first five races over two legs at Kaikoura Trotting Club in Kaikoura with MacDonald climbing from sixth to second in the standings. The Canadian took the lead at the start of the third leg at Cambridge Raceway with his first of two driving victories on the day.

MacDonald picked up another win to maintain his standing during the fourth leg at Addington Raceway before securing the title on the lone race of the final leg.

Canada has won four of the 11 world driving championships — the most of any country — and six times since the international harness driving competition was first held in 1970.

MacDonald, 39, is four times Canada’s top driver and has won 4,282 races and nearly $85 million in purses across North America over his career. He has earned 282 wins and over $12.3 million in earnings this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2025.

The Canadian Press