The field is now set for the 2018 National Driving Championship this Wednesday, September 26 at Grand River Raceway following Friday afternoon’s 'horse draft'.

For the third consecutive time, the eight drivers competing in Standardbred Canada’s National Driving Championship (NDC) chose the horses they would drive in the eight-race event.

First, there was a draw to determine the order of the draft (first through eighth) for the first NDC race (race two) and then a random number generator was used to determine the draw for the next seven NDC races so that each driver had the opportunity to draw a first through eighth pick.

The post position draw was done following the draft. The automated draw was used for the first NDC race (race 2) and then a random number generator was used for the balance of the seven races to ensure that every driver drives from post one through eight for the competition.

As previously reported, Doug McNair will replace Louis-Philippe Roy, who participated in the draft and selected horses in the eight NDC races. 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.

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

The NDC races are carded as races two through nine. First race post time is 6:30 p.m.

To view the completed fields, click here or view program pages here courtesy of TrackIT.