The final step ahead of the 2024 National Driving Championship (NDC) took place on Tuesday, July 2. 

Standardbred Canada (SC) held a conference call with the eight NDC participants to determine the horses they’ll sit behind during the competition, which is set to take place on Friday, July 5 at Hippodrome 3R.

With it being a draft format, all drivers had a choice among the group of horses available to them per race, upon their turn to select. All eight drivers will compete in a total of eight NDC races and will equally align themselves from every post position throughout the card.

The NDC drivers selected the horses they wanted in a fantasy-draft-style format, with each driver getting the opportunity to select first overall in one of the eight NDC races. Each driver had the opportunity to make a selection first through eighth during the draft, and the post position draw was held following the draft ensuring that each driver starts from post one through eight in the tournament.

The first race post time for the NDC card of harness racing is at 4 p.m. (EDT) with the first NDC race taking place in Race 2. The NDC races will take place in Races 2 through 9. 

To view Friday’s complete harness racing entries, click the following links:
Hippodrome 3R -- Friday Entries // Program Pages (courtesy of TrackIT)

Be sure to tune into the SC website on Wednesday, July 3 for a preview of the NDC card in the final Road to the Nationals episode of the video handicapping series hosted by SC's Dan Fisher and John Rallis, with special guest James MacDonald. 

(Standardbred Canada)