Fields locked in for Western Regional Driving Championship

The draw for the 2022 Western Regional Driving Championship, which will take place this Sunday (June 19) at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, is now complete.

First race post time for Saturday’s card of harness racing is 2:15 p.m. local time or 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. The following drivers will be participating in the Western Regional Driving Championship:

Brandon Campbell (B.C.)
Phil Giesbrecht (Alta.)
Mike Hennessy (Alta.)
Kelly Hoerdt (Alta.)
Dave Kelly (Alta.)
Scott Knight (B.C.)
Glenn Le Drew (Man./Sask.)
Rod Therres (B.C.)

Due to the number of horses entered to race Sunday, there will be seven competition races instead of eight — four with an eight-horse field and three with a seven-horse field where one driver will sit out. Five (5) points shall be awarded to the driver sitting out.

“To sum it up, we’re short of horses. Recent bad weather along with a sickness that a big chunk of the horse population is just getting over has made it difficult,” said Josh Murphy, Race Secretary at Century Downs. “Despite it being a different version than originally planned, we are very excited about hosting the Western Regionals and are looking forward to a great day of racing on Sunday.”

The WRDC races will take place in Races 2 to 8. To view Sunday’s entries, click on one of the following links:

Drivers will receive points based on their finishing position and the top two drivers will join six other drivers at the 2022 National Driving Championship (NDC) at Century Mile Racetrack & Casino on Thursday, November 24.

The winner of the 2022 NDC will have the opportunity to represent Canada in the 2023 World Driving Championship (WDC) in Italy.

SCORING

The Regional Driving Championships and the National Driving Championship will adapt the point system utilized in the World Driving Championship. Points will be awarded on the order of finish as follows:

• Number of Starters 8:
  15 (1), 10 (2), 7 (3), 5 (4), 4 (5), 3 (6), 2 (7), 1 (8).
• Number of Starters 7:
  14 (1), 9 (2), 6 (3), 4 (4), 3 (5), 2 (6), 1 (7).

In the event of a scratch, the driving rep drawn to a horse shall drive the ‘also eligible’ horse.

In the event of a horse being scratched or where no horse is available, five (5) points shall be awarded to the driver concerned. If a horse is disqualified or a horse and driver fail to complete the race, they will receive one (1) point.

In the event of a dead heat for any placing in any race the points for the horses involved will be added together and divided equally among the drivers concerned (eg. If there’s a dead heat for third between two horses, the points for third and fourth place will be added and divided among the drivers).

For complete Saturday entries, click here.

From Standardbred Canada