In order to solidify the card for the Western Regional Driving Championship (WRDC), Standardbred Canada held a conference call with the eight WRDC participants on Wednesday, May 8 to finalize the horses they will drive this Saturday, May 11 at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.

This marks the first time in history that a draft call has been coordinated for the WRDC. This format, adopted from the National Driving Championship, allowed drivers to take part in selecting the horses they would drive in each race. The eight drivers will participate in eight competition races. Each race will have a field of eight and each driver will compete in eight races and drive from every post position.

The WRDC drivers selected the horses they preferred in a fantasy-draft-style format, with each driver having the opportunity to select first overall in one of the eight WRDC races. First, there was a draw to determine the order of the draft (first through eighth) for the first WRDC race and then a random number generator was used to determine the draw for the next seven WRDC races so that each driver had the opportunity to draw a first through eighth pick. Post positions were drawn following the draft ensuring that each driver starts from post one through eight in the competition. 

The first race post time for the WRDC card of harness racing is at 12:45 p.m. (MDT) / 2:45 p.m. (EDT), with the first WRDC race taking place in Race 4. The WRDC races will take place in Races 4 through 11.  

To view Saturday’s entries, click on one of the following links:   
Century Downs Racetrack and Casino - Saturday Entries || Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

Prior to Saturday's card, be sure to tune into the SC website on Friday, May 10 as we preview the WRDC card in our Road to the Nationals video handicapping series, hosted by SC's Dan Fisher and John Rallis, with special guests David Kelly and Josh Murphy.

(Standardbred Canada)