McDonald, of Owaka, races Glencoe V C with his daughters, Katherine Dodds, of Wyndham, and Christine Mitchell, of Tahakopa. They bred Glencoe V C from Harmonic, a mare loaned to them by Ian Wilson. Glencoe V C, a 4yr-old by Washington VC having his first start, is trained at Wyndham by Brendon McLellan.
McDonald was at Wyndham when he trained and drove his first winner, Toll Booth, who won the Waikouaiti Cup the following year, 1964.
McDonald owned, trained and rode Tasmanian Lady to win a race for pacers in saddle at the Vincent Jockey Club meeting at Omakau in 1966.
Eden Lad and Scenic Drive were other winners for him in the 1960s.
Scenic Drive cleared maiden ranks in a non-totalisator race at Balfour in 1965 at her 39th start over four seasons.
• Nicky's Passion, who did not race last season due to a broken pedal bone and a virus, regained winning form on Thursday night at his second start as a 4yr-old.
Nicky's Passion won his first start at 2 when trained by Phil Anderson. The Peruvian Hanover-Nicky's Girl gelding was placed in two furthers starts at that age, including a third to Carabella and Malak Uswaad in a sales series race at Alexandra Park.
He was transferred to Mark Jones for a fresh preparation.
Nicky's Passion is raced by Bernard (Jim) McDonald and his daughter Michele McDonald, of Oxford. Mr McDonald has raced other horses from the Jones stable, including Crystal Star and Commander Jewel.
Crystal Star won the 2010 Four-Year-Old Championship at Forbury Park and Commander Jewel won the New Zealand Trotting Oaks in May. Crystal Star has been exported to Australia after being sold to Glenferrie Farms.
Michele bought Nicky's Passion for $2500 at a Christchurch sale.
"I picked him out as a yearling. I really liked that his granddam, Nicky Michele, was my name," she said.
• Bill Colgan, the interim chief executive officer of the NZ Racing Board, was at Forbury Park on Thursday night. He is in the South Island visiting TABs.
• River Black has been scratched at Rangiora tomorrow. Trainer Dean Taylor has decided to give him more time before he begins a 4yr-old campaign.
• Additional information for the meetings today:
Waikato RC
Scratchings:
Race 4: Saved By The Bell.
Race 10: Asworthy.
Weather, fine; track, slow(9); rail, true.
Canterbury JC
Riders
Race 1: The Rose - P Ormsby (1.5); Deceptive - P Hamblin; Noble Court - D Nolan (2.5).
Race 9: Dior's Gold - J Riddell.
Scratchings:
Race 1: No Governance.
Race 2: All My Colours.
Race 4: Chocolater.
Race 9: Tommy Rulz.
Race 10: Cape Fear, Lastofthedragons, Lido Shuffle.
Weather, overcast; track, slow (8); rail, true.
