GOLD CUP AND SAUCER: When MacDonald nosed out his mentor

This Aug. 19 marks the return of the Gold Cup & Saucer, an annual harness racing spectacle held in the heart of Prince Edward Island.

As anticipation mounts for this year’s competition, a look back at the 2003 Gold Cup unveils a story of an unlikely victory, sheer grit, and shared love between driver and horse.

Two decades ago, Mark MacDonald and Sand Olls Dexter paced into legend, proving that sometimes, racing isn’t just about speed; it’s about heart.

Paddock to the podium

Mark MacDonald’s introduction to horse racing was anything but conventional. Diving headfirst into the sport as a 16-year-old trainer, his maiden victory was aboard the pacing stallion Dusty Lane Time in 1995 at Charlottetown.

“I really enjoyed the horses and just felt like that was my place,” he recollects, emphasizing his love for the equine world.

His undying passion led him from the quaint P.E.I. racetracks to the bustling Windsor Raceway, training under his mentor, Mike MacDonald (family friend, no relation).

“I learned everything from Mike,” says MacDonald.

Stallion that stole the show

MacDonald might have been the hands steering the reins, but it was Sand Olls Dexter (owned by Ontario-based trainer Darryl Roberts and partners) that captured everyone’s attention — MacDonald’s included, describing him as a “racetrack warrior.”

Weighing about 1,200 lbs, Sand Olls Dexter was chill in the paddock but aggressive on the track.

“Great big black horse ... so tough ... you wouldn’t want to mess with him,” says MacDonald, noting Sand Olls Dexter raced and won in various cities across Canada, including London, Ontario and Toronto.

“He was so nice and so fun to drive,” MacDonald fondly reminisces about the horse that would soon bring him a new and unprecedented accolade.

The photo finish

The 2003 Gold Cup & Saucer was, by all accounts, a thrilling showdown. Boasting the “best field ever assembled for the Gold Cup and Saucer” at that time, the odds seemed stacked against MacDonald and Dexter. Starting from the outside seventh position, their win seemed improbable when they were five lengths behind the leader at the head of the homestretch.

However, in a stunning twist, just as Harmony P, driven by none other than Mike MacDonald, appeared poised to win, Dexter accelerated, finding a “whole new gear” and clinched the victory in a photo finish.

Recollecting the breathtaking finish of his first Gold Cup win, MacDonald said, “If you watch that replay, you wouldn’t think I am the winner. I didn’t think I was gonna catch him.”

This improbable win wasn’t just about professional triumph but personal as well. Nosing out his former mentor, whom MacDonald deeply respects and calls “all class,” added a touch of poetic justice to the victory.

“You couldn’t write a script in Hollywood like that,” adds MacDonald.

Cheers to champions

Post-race celebrations were less tension-filled but equally full of jubilation and camaraderie.

“We ended up back there with Paul MacDonald (Mike’s brother) and everybody, just drinking beer, barbecues going — it was so much fun,” MacDonald recounts, painting a vivid picture of pure joy and togetherness.

But that Gold Cup wasn’t the end for Dexter and Mark MacDonald. They would return to win the race again in 2004. In 2005, the pair would attempt a threepeat in the classic race. They did lower the Red Shores – Charlottetown track record while winning a Gold Cup Trial before finishing third in the Gold Cup and Saucer. The racetrack warrior who earned more than $1 million in a seven-year racing career enjoyed a tranquil retirement, before passing in 2021 at age 23.

Hoofprints of a legacy

MacDonald’s Gold Cup win did more than add a trophy to his mantle. It solidified his reputation in the standardbred community, propelling his career forward with yet another accolade earned on home soil.

As the Island prepares for another Gold Cup, memories of inspiring victories, like MacDonald and Sand Olls Dexter’s, loom over the beloved tradition. Racing is, after all, not just about speed or technique. It’s about the unyielding spirit of those who dare to dream and the horses that make those dreams come true.

Reflecting on his iconic victory, MacDonald, now based in New York, is still undecided about (but heavily considering) returning for this year’s festivities. However, regardless, he notes his spirit will be in attendance, wishing attendees and competitors alike a wonderful experience.

“Enjoy the week; take it all in,” says MacDonald. “It’s just so much fun — the pageantry and just everything of the whole week. It’s not all about trophies; it’s just a lot of fun.”