The Atlantic Regional Driving Championship (ARDC) is set for this Saturday, July 30 and is hosted by Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park. The ARDC is the final of four Regional Driving Championships (RDC). The top two drivers will then join the six other top drivers of the other regions and compete in the National Driving Championship (NDC) and possibly represent Canada in the World Driving Championship (WDC).

To kick-off celebrating the ARDC, we have interviewed both Prince Edward Island's Corey MacPherson (CM) and Nova Scotia's Paul Langille (PL). Check out their responses below to get to know them!

1. What were your thoughts when you got the call to participate in the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship?

CM: I was definitely very excited. I have competed in one other Regional Driving Championship before so it was an honour to be participating again.

PL: I was honoured when I got the news and excited to represent Nova Scotia. I’ve competed in a Regional Driving Championship before so it’ll be a fun time to try again.

2. What are your thoughts on driving with the seven other drivers in the championship?

PL: They’re all really good drivers so it should be a great time! I’ve raced with a few of them during some stakes races so It’ll be fun to compete again.

CM: They’re all a pretty competitive bunch with each their own driving style so it should make for a fun time. I drive throughout the week with Jason, Marc, & Gilles so I’m looking forward to competing with them.

3. How does it feel to have the opportunity to represent your track in the Regional Driving Championship and possibly represent Canada in the 2023 World Driving Championship in Italy? 

CM: It is fantastic! Anytime that you get the opportunity to represent your racetrack, province, or country is an amazing honour. If I get the opportunity to advance, it would be my first time to visit Italy which I would bring along my wife to join.

PL: It feels super cool! A memorable moment for me was watching James [MacDonald] compete in Charlottetown so it’s interesting to be on the other side of it this time and competing. I haven’t been to Italy before but If I was fortunate to advance, I’d definitely be bringing along my wife.

4. Do you think you have any advantage over the other drivers?

PL: I wouldn’t say that I have any noticeable advantages. I think that the drivers from the area will have a bit of an advantage as they know the horses better but ultimately it can just come down to your post position.

CM: The main advantage that myself, Jason, Gilles, and Marc all have is that we all race at these tracks all the time and have driven all of the horses that could be used for the draw. All of the drivers are very talented though and an advantage can simply come down to just the luck of the draw. 

5. Are you doing anything to prepare for the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship?

CM: Nothing too specific, the summer gives me lots of time to race so just keeping up with that and participating in stakes races. Once the horse draw is released, I always take a look at it prior to the race but I don’t spend too much time studying it as I’ve driven all of the horses here and know what to expect with each of them. 

PL: Nothing specific, I just treat it as another race and try my best. I always check the horse draw right when it is released and since I am not from the area, I’ll make sure to check it out a little bit more in-depth.

6. Anything special that you are looking forward to about the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship?

PL: Overall, it’s going to be a great time! Win or lose, I’m just looking forward to competing. I as well have family coming down to watch which will add to the excitement. 

CM: There isn’t anything specific, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to compete against such talented drivers and looking forward to the possibility of coming first or second.

The first race post time is 6:30 P.M. (ADT) with the ARDC races carded as Races 1, 3 ,4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10. To view Saturday’s entries, click on one of the following links: Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park – Saturday Entries – Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

Please see below for a full list of the drivers competing in the ARDC.

• Gilles Barrieau
• Redmond Doucet
• Marc Campbell
• Jason Hughes
• Corey MacPherson
• Paul Langille
• Mark Pezzarello 
• Todd Trites

SCORING

The Regional Driving Championships and the National Driving Championship will adapt the point system utilized in the World Driving Championship. Points will be awarded on the order of finish as follows:

Number of Starters 8:
15 (1), 10 (2), 7 (3), 5 (4), 4 (5), 3 (6), 2 (7), 1 (8).

In the event of a scratch, the driving rep drawn to a horse shall drive the ‘also eligible’ horse. In the event of a horse being scratched or where no horse is available, five (5) points shall be awarded to the driver concerned. If a horse is disqualified or a horse and driver fail to complete the race, they will receive one (1) point.

In the event of a dead heat for any placing in any race the points for the horses involved will be added together and divided equally among the drivers concerned (eg. If there’s a dead heat for third between two horses, the points for third and fourth place will be added and divided among the drivers).