Canadian Mike MacDonald dies after stellar career in harness racing

CHARLOTTETOWN — The Canadian harness racing community has lost one of its top drivers.

Mike MacDonald, a native of Charlottetown, died on Tuesday night. He was 70.

MacDonald won the Gold Cup & Saucer, considered Atlantic Canada’s biggest race, a record five times. He competed in 29 of 49 Gold Cup & Saucer finals before retiring from competition in 2009.

MacDonald won almost 2,300 races in his career and earned more than $13 million in purses. He raced at most major tracks in North America.

MacDonald was inducted into the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

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The Canadian Press