"It's getting real now!"
Now that the drivers participating in the National Driving Championship have drafted their horses, the stage is set for Tuesday evening. Check out what's going on with the participants in Road to the NDC: Day 3.
Brandon Campbell
Well the countdown is on now; it always seemed so far away! Now that the draw and draft are done, it’s sinking in. It's getting real now! We are racing today and it looks like I have some good shots including the favourite in the 3yo Alberta bred filly stake going for $50,000. I have my work cut out for me, hope I can get her there. After the races, it’s shipping the horses home to the farm and getting ready to do it again tomorrow. I can’t wait to get this weekend over and get to Charlottetown!
Billy Davis Jr.
I’m happy with the drive I got out of the draft yesterday. My flight is tomorrow afternoon, so I think I’ll start packing around noon tomorrow! Today is just another day for me. Went to the gym this morning (don’t want to look like Jody!). My girlfriend Amy and I are going to look at a few houses later today, then off to Georgian Downs for some OSS Grassroots. Pretty excited about the trip, it will be nice to take a few days and enjoy life.
Ryan Ellis
Had a morning off from the track to come watch Danica jump. Also it was my yearling Ivy’s first lead line class. Back to Truro tonight to drive eight, I think, my last drives before Tuesday. I looked over the horses I drafted and am pretty happy with the selections!
Guy Gagnon
This afternoon, I will be at the arena for the Peewee Double Letter tryouts with my son. I’m never too busy for my son’s hockey and football games or my daughter’s dance competitions. If the sun comes out, we will be able to enjoy our pool and have a BBQ later on. At home, my wife is organizing the kids’ schedules. It looks like we will need to hire a taxi driver or two. They will not be coming with us on our trip because of other commitments. All week family and friends have been calling to wish me luck and to let me know they will be watching and cheering me on!
Jody Jamieson
Woke up this AM to my ol’ Dad ringing the phone off the hook to come to Mohawk to train my 2 year olds. Happy happy happy, Siara and Jett were already up! Not! Oh well, they’re up now. Nothing like a Saturday morning wake up call for the kiddies. Go to the ‘Hawk to train Im The Big Star and Make Some Luck who incidentally has his own Twitter account, @makesomeluck. You should give him a follow, he’s a cute little guy! Star hurt a tendon in March so she came home from Florida early and my loving wife nursed her back to health after a bone chip operation. Anyway, she trained in 2:03, last quarter in 28, so I’m thinking she might have to get a Twitter account too! Lucky trained good too. He came his last quarter in 26 flat, so him and I are no longer allowed to train together, just race! You can read about it on his Twitter account. I’m at Tim’s now getting some coffee for the kids and some do dos for Jett (Timbits). Shakai Hanover tonight in the Shes a Great Lady eliminations, should be good enough to advance to the final. Don’t forget to tell your friends about tonight’s VIP experience at Mohawk. You gotta be there to get it! I’ll be shaking hands and kissing babies at the entrance of the grandstand tonight along with some fellow drivers from 6:30-7:30. Hope to see you all there!
Sylvain LaCaille
Good morning ladies and gentlemen! It’s a beautiful morning, I got up and ate my breakfast and after that I’m going to train a couple and then work on the farm all day. After you’re gone for two days, there are a lot of things to do but a man has got to do what a man has got to do (I love it!). I’m going to let my crew sleep a little bit this morning. At fourteen years old and two days at the races, my daughter deserves it. Have a good day everyone!