McNair to replace Roy in National Championship

As reported by Standardbred Canada, Doug McNair, Canada’s Driver of the Year in 2017, will take the spot of Louis-Philippe Roy in the National Driving Championship on Wednesday, September 26 at Grand River Raceway.

McNair, who finished third in the Ontario Regional Driving Championship on May 16 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, was automatically offered the spot when Roy, who finished second, withdrew from the event on Friday afternoon.

“It’s my first National Championship,” said McNair. “It is a tough way to earn the spot, and I do feel for Louis. I haven’t seen the horses I’ll be driving yet but I’m excited and pretty sure I’ve got a good shot.

“It’s a good rebound of my bad day yesterday,” McNair said, referring to the placing (from first to fourth) of Stay Hungry in the second elimination of yesterday’s Little Brown Jug. Stay Hungry was ultimately scratched from the final.

Roy’s withdrawal was the result of racing commitments he felt he had to fulfill on Tuesday, September 25. In addition to other drives, he will drive Shower Play in the $125,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Drivers are required to participate in all promotional, charitable and media events related to the National Driving Championship, on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Unfortunately I’ll have to give up my chance to represent Canada in Sweden,” said Roy. “It’s not an easy decision, but I think it’s the best thing to do for my career and my business.”

Roy’s withdrawal came shortly after the draft took place for National Driving Championship horses. Because of that, McNair has agreed to drive the horses originally selected by Roy.

In addition to being the O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top driver last year, McNair currently has 242 wins and $4,384,381 in earnings this season. He will join the seven other drivers competing in Wednesday’s NDC, including Trevor Henry who won this year’s Ontario Regional Driving Championship.

From Standardbred Canada