Trey’s Two Cents Worth: Take a Lesson from Curling

Sports have always found a way to bring people together, no matter the sport. Canada is no exception to this, and Canada has a rich and proud history when it comes to sports other than harness racing. For example, a popular winter sport that many enjoy is the game of curling.

For those unfamiliar with the game of curling, it is a relatively simple game played on ice with 16 giant granite rocks and two teams with four players on each. Opposing players take turns hurling the stones down the ice and try their best to get the rock as close to the center of the rings as possible. Of course, there is more to it than just that, but that’s a good base for context.

Every March, thousands of Canadians huddle around the television to watch the Tim Horton’s Brier, which is one of the premier men’s curling events. One team from each Canadian province and territory earns the right to play in the Brier by being crowned the champion of their local tournament. The format has changed over the years, with a few additional teams having been included to add to the excitement.

The current format also has wildcard teams that earn a spot to participate. Also, the champion from the previous year earns an automatic berth as Team Canada. The 2023 edition of the Tim Horton’s Brier saw 18 teams from all over the country. Curling fans were treated to a fantastic final when the defending champions, Team Canada, led by Brad Gushue, defeated Matt Dunstone’s Team Manitoba.

When curling fans look at the draw list, they get a sense of pride seeing their local region’s flag next to the team’s name. The teams wear local-style uniforms with local colours and images to emphasize where the team reign from. For example, the mighty bison rests comfortably on the crest stitched on `the back of team Manitoba’s jackets as the team slides down the ice.

The Tim Hortons Brier was first played in 1927 and has been played annually every year for other than three consecutive years during World War II. As a result, the tournament has become a staple for many Canadians. It allows fans to watch the provinces/territories battle it out on the ice to see who has the best team.

You can rejoice if you are still reading because you have finally arrived where I state my point. Wouldn’t a harness racing version of the same template not be a great idea? Harness racing has been around for just as long in Canada, but we do not have the same style of event.

We do have something similar in the Canadian National Driving Championship. But, still, it should be expanded to have a representative from each province in the final event instead of having two drivers from the same region. All ten provinces would be able to put forward a name to represent them, and that would only be two extra drivers permitted to participate than the eight that do so in the current format.

Before the National Driving Championship, there are four regional championships to determine who gets sent to the big finale, which took place at Century Mile in Edmonton, Alberta, last November. The Western Regional Championship has Glenn Le Drew represented both Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the event and he ended up tied for third place once everything was said and done.

The joy I had rooting for the local boy going against the big shots from Alberta and British Columbia was impossible to truly measure. He performed well against guys who have raced way more than him and at better facilities.

But, let’s imagine that Le Drew only represented his home province of Saskatchewan, and Manitoba also sent another local driver to represent them. Le Drew would line up beside someone like Michel Rey, Chris Brown, Marc Fillion, or Daryl Mason, all of whom have been driving in Manitoba for years. This would eliminate the need to have regional events but would give each province a chance to host their own.

Why stop there? Why not let the four-legged athletes in on the fun as well? One horse bred from each province would compete in a stake race event every year to determine who Canada’s true champion is. Of course, Ontario might have a heavy advantage over the rest. Still, the one time a horse from a small barn an hour outside of Regina, Saskatchewan, with an unknown sire, beat a top-bred horse from southern Ontario would produce the story of a lifetime.

There is nothing wrong with trying to manufacture more feel-good stories by giving more underdogs a chance to shine.

There is also the potential to have multiple categories based on gender, age and gait, making for a decent card. Also, why not have a driver from the same province be in the sulky? Make it an actual province versus province event across the board.

With the amount of movement that there already is with horses and horsemen around the country, this could be the non-brainer suggestion of the year.

Allow different tracks to host the event yearly so everyone can participate in the fun. Then, move it around just like the Tim Horton’s Brier does to ensure everyone eventually has a chance to cheer on their local driver and horse in person.

Now, more than ever, we must find something to unite people in the racing community and our society. Why not give the people a competition allowing all Canadians to cheer for the participants?

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink