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Where has J-Mac been? Hall provides timeline on champion hoop’s return
Connor Scanlon • July 19th, 2026 11:02 am
“Where is James McDonald?”
That is the question which was continually asked to SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up host Gareth Hall.
Australia’s top jockey, James McDonald, hasn’t raced a horse since June 20 – one full month ago – and the public is starting to wonder where the hoop has gone.
Hall revealed that the all-time Australian Group 1-winning leader has taken the month of July off to travel and spend time with his family.
“J-Mac has got that much money, he said, ‘Well, I'm going to take July off basically’,” Hall revealed on SENTrack's Winners.
“(He) travelled the world, (he) went to all of the flash joints in Italy and Greece, (he’ll) come back home and spend some time with the family.”
Regarding when the champion hoop will return, Hall stated that J-Mac will trial the best horses that he will ride during the spring on Monday, before racing again at the start of August.
“He’ll go to the trials because Autumn Glow, Aeliana, Central Europe, and basically the majority of the best horses in the land which he'll be riding, he'll trial them on Monday,” Hall continued.
“Then he'll return to the races at the end of July or the start of August.
“J-Mac will be back riding at the start of the month, so there you go.”
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