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James Doherty

Category

Athlete

Sport

Harness Racing

Hometown

Saint John

Year Inducted

1993

Sport Ambassador

athlete

James Doherty (D)

HONOURED MEMBER

Biography

Saint John’s “Gentleman Jim” Doherty has lived the dual life of harness racing trainer and driver almost since that day of his first victory as a teenage driver in 1956. That was only the beginning of a career that, thanks to the early support he received from his father and from Milton Downey, took him from the Maritimes to Montreal’s Blue Bonnets, Boston’s Foxboro Raceway and, in 1976, to New Jersey’s Meadowlands, with intermediate stops in New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Jim’s record to date includes almost 4000 career victories and purses totalling just under $30,000,000.These numbers continue to increase as he consistently maintains his position as one of America’s top five drivers.It’s little wonder that Saint John and his “Home Track” decided to honour him in 1987. Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, May 29th, 1993.

Quick Facts

  • Competed on the New England circuit from 1966-76 

  • Won the North American driving title in 1972 

  • Has driven over 4,000 winners and won more than $28 million in purse money 

  • Wins include the Alexander Memorial, the New Jersey Classic and the American National 

  • Became member of the New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame in 1986

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