Guy Heveldt: J-Mac's Nomination is a win for racing
Guy Heveldt • December 20th, 2024 9:47 AM
James McDonald said it himself – being named one of five finalists for Halberg Sportsman of the Year is as significant a moment for him as it is the entire racing industry.
McDonald’s finally been given the recognition he deserves – named alongside Olympic high jump gold medallist Hamish Kerr, Paris 2024 canoe slalom champion Finn Butcher, silver medal-winning triathlete Hayden Wilde and record-breaking goal scoring Premier League machine Chris Wood as the five male athletes in the running for the honoured gong.
Equestrian legend Sir Mark Todd won the Supreme Award in 1988 after claiming Individual Eventing gold at the Seoul Games in 1988. Which begs the question, why has it taken so long for anyone in thoroughbred racing to be recognised in a similar way?
Having worked in the general sports media, outside racing, for my 15-year career, it’s not that they don’t care about anything to do with the sport (ok, some definitely do), it’s more they don’t understand it. Outside of having a ticket in the Melbourne Cup work sweepstake, nearly every other race means nothing to them. They don’t know the significance of winning a Cox Plate, they don’t know why saluting in the biggest races in Hong Kong should be celebrated and some don’t know the difference between a midweek maiden or a Group One.
They also think it’s all to do with the horse. Now, every single person inside the industry knows the horse is the protagonist in any race, but every single person inside the industry also knows the pure importance of a jockey - their skill, their strength, their bravery and their dedication, to name a few. But this is not a shot at those people, it’s more a lesson in how racing can make itself a bigger deal to a broader audience.
Which is why it’s so important to put our people up in lights, to celebrate them further afield than just the racetrack. James McDonald has gone “mainstream” (don’t worry, I hate that word too) because of his abilities and achievements, but equally because of his accessibility and willingness to be open. Don’t get me wrong, he’s absolutely not the only one (in fact there are so many who deserve similar recognition), but he’s a shining example of what can happen if we broaden our sport to others. If we give some explanation to our events in layman’s terms, if we do it with excitement and enthusiasm and if we continue to celebrate our incredible animals, but also our remarkable people.
Will James McDonald win Sportsman of the Year? Well, we need to be realistic – if the TAB were allowed to open a market for Halberg winners this year, he would be around 50-1 to win his category. But just being in the same sentence and conversation as Olympic champions is a significant win for racing.
Now to continue to champion our champions and put them in lights further afield than just this great little community in our sport.
Photograph at the top of the Page: James McDonald has been nominated for New Zealand's Sportsman of the Year. He has won over 100 Gr.1 races. He is photographed winning the TAB Karaka Millions aboard Velocious in January 2024. Credit: Race Images
