Taking the lead into the fourth round, Guy Gagnon held the top spot on the standings and claimed victory in the final round to take the Eastern Ontario / Quebec Regional Driving Championship at Kawartha Downs in Fraserville, Ont. on Saturday, June 30.

Gagnon had one win through the whole championship with two seconds, a third and two off the board finishes. Brosseau, finishing second in the contest, will join him in representation at the 2018 National Driving Championship at Grand River Raceway in September.

They will compete against six other drivers in the championship, including Ontario finalists Trevor Henry and Louis-Philippe Roy, Western Canada finalists Kelly Hoerdt and Jamie Gray and Atlantic Canada finalists Gilles Barrieau and Redmond Doucet.

The winner of the 2018 NDC will have the opportunity to represent Canada in the World Driving Championship (WDC), and join 2017 World Driving Champion, James MacDonald, in the 2019 WDC in Sweden.

Guy Gagnon (second from L) receives his EOQRDC trophy from Standardbred Canada's (from L) Hailey Saunders, Kathy Wade Vlaar and Catherine Chouinard

Race Recaps

EOQRDC Race 1 Driver Nick Boyd blew away the opening race field, winning in a wire-to-wire romp with Gramps in 1:54. Boyd sent the Jennas Beach Boy gelding to the front, putting up fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.3 all while being chased by Brett MacDonald and Sup Hanover for second, while Jayda Nicole with Reg Gassien finished third.

“It was pretty simple,” Boyd said of the result after the race. “I had what turned out to be the best horse tonight and he got the job done.”

EOQRDC Race 2 Sent the 7/5 co-favourite, No Panic and Reg Gassien popped pocket on pacesetter Dads Filly (Guy Gagnon) to win in 1:56.4. Ima Holy Terror (Richard Simard)came first over at the half and led the chasing pack to take third with Rocket Gal (Brett MacDonald) rallying for fourth.

EOQRDC Race 3 Jonathan Lachance powered to the lead with Lyons William approaching the half, maintained control and kicked clear of his rivals to a 1:53.3 victory over Statement (Stephane Brosseau) and Jetset Charmer (Richard Simard).

EOQRDC Race 4 With Burlington (Guy Gagnon) commandeering the field heading to the half and setting a quick tempo on the lead, Judy The Beauty and Stephane Gendron capitalized on the swift fractions and rallied through the center of the track to win in 1:58. Majestic Maggie (Nicholas Boyd), from second over, claimed third.

EOQRDC Race 5 Stephane Brosseau swept off cover with Every Girls Desire turning for the wire and kicked clear to win in 1:55. Badstormanyport (Brett MacDonald), who set the pace, held onto second while Four For Orr (Nicholas Boyd) off a pocket trip held third.

EOQRDC Race 6 Guy Gagnon solidified his spot atop the championship standings, catapulting Ok Diablo to the front and to score in 1:56 over Big Sport (Stephane Brosseau) tracking his move in second and Amble Over Hanover (Stephane Gendron), who helped set a quick pace with Its Machademic (Brett MacDonald), holding third.

“I knew if I could get a fast half I’d be okay,” Gagnon said following the race. “Because, as a horse, he likes to finish strong.”

Leaderboard (Final)
1. Guy Gagnon - 49
2. Stephane Brosseau - 41
3. Stephane Gendron - 36
4. Nicholas Boyd - 33
5. Reg Gassien - 32
6. Brett MacDonald - 31
7. Jonathan Lachance - 29
8. Richard Simard - 25

Important Links:

- Saturday Entries

- Saturday Results