Post draw Wednesday for Quebec/Eastern Ontario RDC

The Quebec/Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship (QEORDC), the third of four regional harness racing events, brings us closer to the 2024 National Driving Championship (NDC) Final at the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, set for July 5.

This Sunday, June 2, eight drivers will be battling it out for the Quebec/Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship. The eight drivers are Pascal Berube, Nick Boyd, Stephane Brosseau, Samuel Fillion, Guy Gagnon, Jimmy Gagnon, Stephane Pouliot and Robert Shepherd.

The post-position draw for Sunday’s card takes place on Wednesday, May 29.

This is the fifth time the QEORDC has been held at Hippodrome 3R, where the track will also host the National Driving Championship for the first time.

“It’s quite an honour to host this event at our historic racetrack, one of the oldest in North America, especially during a time when the city of Trois-Rivières is buzzing with activities,” said Sophie Mongeon, Chair of the Board for Club Jockey du Québec. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase and promote our wonderful sport.”

In 2022, Pascal Berube and Samuel Fillion advanced to the NDC at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta.

Drivers will receive points based on their finishing position. The first and second-place finishers from the eight-race competition will advance to the 2024 National Driving Champonship, which is set to return to Trois-Rivières, Que., on Friday, July 5 at Hippodrome 3R. They will be joined by the two finalists from each of the other regional championships (Western, Ontario, Atlantic).

Invitations were extended to drivers based on racing criteria from their 2023 season up to Feb. 29, 2024. Additionally, drivers were required to confirm their availability for both the 2024 National Driving Championship and the 2025 World Driving Championship.

The draw on Wednesday for the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional will be facilitated by Standardbred Canada. The format will allow drivers to participate in selecting the horses they will drive.

First, there will be a draw to determine the order of the draft (first through eighth) for the first Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional race. A random number generator will then be used to determine the draw for the next seven races to ensure each driver has the opportunity to draw a first through eighth pick. Following the draft will be the post-position draw to ensure that every driver drives from post one through eight for the competition.

The winner of the 2024 National Driving Championship will be invited to represent Canada in harness racing’s 2025 World Driving Championship, hosted in New Zealand and Australia.

From Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club