Bolt the Duer!

[pezz97]

Mark definitely top 10. He has had to go thru some really bad injuries. He is top notch in my book

[Dolfan]

Mark definitely top 10. He has had to go thru some really bad injuries. He is top notch in my book

So your top 10 would be?

(Don't forget Pat Lachance has a higher win %!)

[Headpole Dave]

Pats wins also come mostly off his own stock... And Pat isn't recovering from major injuries/surgery or new at Yonkers either.

[pezz97]

So your top 10 would be?

(Don't forget Pat Lachance has a higher win %!)

Ok he is in my top 11
1 Sears
2 Tetrick
3 Brennan
4 Pierce
5 Jamieson
6 Gingras
7 S Fillion
8 D Miller
9 Morrill
10 Palone
11 mcdonald

[BretHanover]

Jody, Slyvain, and Y all in front of David Miller???  C'mon man.  I love all those guys but they are not better than David.  Also, you're putting McDonald in front of a guy named John Campbell???

[jug]

Jody, Slyvain, and Y all in front of David Miller???  C'mon man.  I love all those guys but they are not better than David.  Also, you're putting McDonald in front of a guy named John Campbell???

Currently driving JC doesnt make the top 30.....best of all time, but not now just average. I would rather bet Slyain over David or Jody, he can make them go and usually gets value.

[BretHanover]

I love Sylvain.  He drives everything for us in Canada and has done an overwhelmingly good job.  He also has the richest owner in Canada going for him, which helps.

Campbell, in my mind, is still up there simply because he's earned it. He doesn't get nearly the talent he used to.  I mean...what am I supposed to say?  My son's name is Campbell!

[pezz97]

Currently driving JC doesnt make the top 30.....best of all time, but not now just average. I would rather bet Slyain over David or Jody, he can make them go and usually gets value.

[Dolfan]

I know Gary's going to enjoy this but I am serious:

I'd put Brett Miller ahead of MacDonald.  And speaking of Miller's, Andy too.  And eventually, Marcus.

I just don't understand how you can rate a guy who's got a 9% winning % that close to the top.  You can make plenty of excuses but can't explain those excuses, like he doesn't get great stock - so then, why are better trainers NOT using him?  The facts are the facts & numbers don't lie.

JJ put MacDonald up a handful of times at M1 & YR & got the typical bupkis!

[Headpole Dave]

Funny that Sylvain is only really getting recognized now as a great driver - he dominated at Rideau and Blue Bonnets/Hippodrome Montreal for years. Even when the big guys came in he would dominate there. When he went to Woodbine or Flamboro he was solid before he made the full time jump... He was loyal to Quebec until they went under. I'm sure you all remember the Monster from Montreal - Goliath Bayama! Filion's top 5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZnuUGviiVo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Headpole Dave]

Couple of blurbs on Mark: June 1, 2011 00:06:00
Dave Briggs, In Harness
Jody Jamieson of Moffat is convinced he was spared serious injury or even death by the selfless act of his fellow harness driver Mark MacDonald of Cambridge.

[Elgin]

Pacingguy, at viewfromtheracetrack.com, states on his blog that,

[Headpole Dave]

Also you said MacDonald messed up driving Bolt the Duer, I was looking at his losses so far this year and I remember these:

Puts away Hurricane King Cole but gets beat by a flying Rock N Roll Dance who is a nice colt in the Hempt. Made all the right moves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FUQw8PLY9E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Puts away Hurricane King Cole again but Sears picks up the pieces off a great trip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Q5aSZwy8g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Just gets nipped by Bettors Edge at the wire in the Adios. Again it was a good drive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa3EMvfLQrQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This one bothered me - meadowlands pace elim. Had a ton of horse and there looked to be an opening but Tetrick shut the door quick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip8GkJssPyM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The final wasn't good either, he ducked looking to follow Sweet Lou. Than everyone pulled and nobody went anywhere. I didn't like this drive either. Those are the only two I can think of really:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hhkTuUcPNc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Dolfan]

Dave, you have mentioned "all the right moves" or "good drive" & sometimes it's just that little extra bit of magic that separates the top drivers from the rest.  The 2 M1 drives were really poor & again, top drivers do not get into those spots often.

I also recall a drive at M1 maybe 2 years ago - it was a HUGE race & he had the big favorite & he stuck himself out 3 wide at 3/8's & just took his shot which worked out very badly.  Can't remember the horse but it was the kind of drive that you might expect from Rod Allen.

As I've said this has no bearing on his character & he sounds like the kind of guy you want to pull for so I don't blame you.  I have Bruce Ranger on a pedestal & admit I am a poor judge of his driving abilities.

Pacingguy, at viewfromtheracetrack.com, states on his blog that,

[LB46]

I know Gary's going to enjoy this but I am serious:

I'd put Brett Miller ahead of MacDonald.  And speaking of Miller's, Andy too.  And eventually, Marcus.

I just don't understand how you can rate a guy who's got a 9% winning % that close to the top.  You can make plenty of excuses but can't explain those excuses, like he doesn't get great stock - so then, why are better trainers NOT using him?  The facts are the facts & numbers don't lie.

JJ put MacDonald up a handful of times at M1 & YR & got the typical bupkis!

I don't understand how you can put Brett ahead of McDonald, when the last big time horse Brett drove he was yanked in favor of David because he couldn't get the job done.  Don't get me wrong, I think Brett can drive and do it very well but I don't think he is better than Mark McDonald.