Page 5 - May 2009 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
MacRae Off to Hot Start at Woodbine
The Game, May 2009 5
By Dave Catsimbras
to grow in 2001, the young trainer would have more and more success. In 2004, Don’s out t would have him second in the trainer’s standings at Fort Erie, missing the leader by
Donald MacRae is back at it again at the Toronto oval this year and off to a very promising start. In the rst three weeks of the thoroughbred season
Donald has run seven starters,
accumulating three winners and
a place showing for earnings of
$78,186, with the majority of
his success coming on Sunday
April 12th, 2009. That Sunday,
Don; training for the Centennial
Farms out t, would send out three
runners, picking up wins with the
promising young colt Niagara
Thunder and four-year-old lly
Gladys Irene; getting her second
win of the campaign, the third
runner, Bent Attorney, would also
hit the tote board with a second
place nish.
a win.
In 2008 to present day, Don works
Clark out for Few Weeks
After a great start to the 2009 season at Woodbine, Jockey David Clark, will have to sit it out for two or three weeks after sustaining a fracture in his right arm in a starting gate mishap on April 18.
At the time of the incident, David had 4 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds and $152,095 in purse earnings in 27 starts.
Born in 1976, in Hamilton, Ontario, Donald would nd himself involved in thoroughbred horse racing in 1991, purchasing his rst horse, partnered with his father for $500.00 and racing at Fort Erie Racetrack. It would be in 1996 that MacRae would get his trainer’s licence and begin his career at the Fort with ve or so horses, “grinding it out, trying to make a living”, as Don says of the experience. He would also meet his ancée Tracy Hnatko at Fort Erie, with whom he credits for much of his success and knowledge, “She is the reason why I do well, she brings you up to the next level, she’s a very smart horseman.” The young couple will bounce ideas off one another and so far it has been productive to say the least. As Donald’s stable would begin
in there with me. You know, if the boss is doing it then they’re going to do it to.” It’s easy to
Centennial Farms trainer Donald MacRae(left) and groom Mark Johnston(right) with Bent Attorney
out of barn 19 in the sales barn area with twelve stalls, all of which are housing Centennial Farms equines. Don will be the rst to tell you he’s not the easiest to work for, “When we’re at the barn there’s no friends, it’s business, it really has to be that way.” MacRae runs a tight ship expecting the best from his staff, instilling his own work ethic into his employees, “I’m no prima donna and I think you have to lead by example, if I’m in there doin’ ve
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to six stalls a day, the guys are right
see that Donald’s hard work has paid off and it is re ected in his staff. “It’s been great working here, Don’s a good trainer, I enjoy working for him”, says Mark Johnston of his boss of two years. “Everything runs smoothly and we all get along, we just work as a team.”
Donald MacRae will de nitely be one to keep an eye
on throughout Woodbine’s 2009 meet, as you can bet he will have an eye on everyone else, being a knowledgeable claiming trainer. The season is still young and MacRae will look to continue picking the right spots and picking up cheques throughout.
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