Representing your province and possibly your country is a long way from driving ponies on the Quebec fair circuit and nearly falling out of the bike in your first ever drive

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Needless to say, Sylvain Lacaille has come a long way from his initial introduction to harness racing. He first raced on the local fair circuit in Quebec where he drove ponies, starting at the impressionable age of 7. According to Sylvain, his legs were a bit short and he fell between the pony and the sulky while trying to get his foot in the stirrup. The horse dragged him for quite some time, but he did not let go and eventually was able to pull himself back onto the bike and finish the race. Now 45, Lacaille, has racked up over 500 lifetime wins and career purse earnings in excess of $4 million.

“Before I die, I would like to win the World Driving Championship, representing Canada,” claimed Lacaille, one of Quebec’s two representatives. To get to the 2011 World Driving Championship, Lacaille must beat out seven of the top reinsmen from across the country, including former WDC champion Jody Jamieson and a past NDC champion, Gilles Barrieau, in Saturday's National Driving Championship.

Since the dramatic decrease of race dates in Quebec, Lacaille, who hails from Le Gardeur, has been driving regularly at Rideau Carleton Raceway. His affection and passion for the sport comes naturally as his father Marcel operated one of the leading Standardbred breeding operations in Quebec, Canaco Farms for several decades. Sylvain confesses that his father wanted him to get involved on the breeding side but his interest was in driving.

When asked what winning the NDC would mean to him, Lacaille commented, “I would have a lot of pride. It would feel like I was going to the Olympics. It would be a great honour and my greatest achievement in this business.”

Competing on Saturday to represent Canada are the following drivers:

• representing Western Canada: Brandon Campbell, Dave Hudon
• representing Ontario: Trevor Henry, Jody Jamieson
• representing Quebec: Mario Charron, Sylvain Lacaille
• representing Eastern Canada: Kenny Arsenault, Gilles Barrieau

The 2011 National Driving Championship takes place on Saturday, May 7 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park. The winner will represent Canada in the World Driving Championship scheduled from July 31- August 5 in the United States.

To view entries for Saturday's card of harness racing, please click one of the the following link:

Saturday Entries: Charlottetown Driving Park -- Saturday TrackIT Program - Charlottetown Driving Park