Standardbred Canada (SC) is excited to announce that the field of eight drivers to compete in the 2026 Western Regional Driving Championship (WRDC) has been finalized.

The 2026 Western Regional Driving Championship is set to take place on Saturday, May 23 at Century Downs Racetrack & Casino in Rocky View, Alta., and will be the second of four regional events to take place on the "Road to the Nationals," which will culminate at Clinton Raceway in Clinton, Ont. on Sunday, July 26.

The 2026 Western Regional Driving Championship participants are:

• Phil Giesbrecht
• Logan Gillis
• Mike Hennessy
• Kelly Hoerdt
• Dave Hudon
• Scott Knight
• Darryl Mason
• Nathan Sobey

This is the fourth time the Western Regional Driving Championship has been hosted in Alberta; Alberta also hosted the National Driving Championship at Century Mile in Edmonton in 2022.

"We are extremely excited to host another edition of the Western Regional Driving Championship," said Josh Murphy, Assistant Racing Manager at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino. "It’s always a great day for fans and bettors showcasing our region's top drivers. With so much on the line, the races are always exciting, making it a must-see event. It’s also a great opportunity to get some new eyes on our product who may have not had a chance to see our racing yet. Anytime we get to host any kind of driving championship, it’s always one of the highlights of the season and we can’t wait for this year's edition."

The 2026 Western Regional Driving Championship field includes Phil Giesbrecht, winner of the 2024 WRDC along with runner-up Mike Hennessy. They finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 2024 National Driving Championship.

Photo of the 2024 Western Regional Driving Championship winners presentation. Left to right: Standardbred Canada Director and former Chair Blair Corbeil, Mike Hennessy, Dave Kelly, Phil Giesbrecht, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association Executive Director Nancy Retzlaff, David Hudon, Blake Piwniuk, Scott Knight, Nathan Sobey and Kelly Hoerdt.

Drivers will receive points based on their finishing position. The first and second-place finishers from the eight-race competition will advance to the 2026 National Driving Championship. They will be joined by the two finalists from each of the other regional championships (Ontario, Quebec/Eastern Ontario and Atlantic). The winner of the 2026 National Driving Championship will be invited to represent Canada in the 2027 World Driving Championship in Canada, hosted by Standardbred Canada.

Invitations were extended to drivers based on racing statistics from the 2025 season and the first two months of 2026, along with their availability to compete in both the National Driving Championship and the 2027 World Driving Championship, and their ability to be a positive Canadian representative on an international stage. 

(Standardbred Canada Press Release)