Canada's James MacDonald has his assignments for the opening leg of the 2025 World Driving Championship (WDC) in New Zealand.
Three dashes will be contested during the opening day of the six-leg driving competition at Kaikoura on Saturday, Nov. 1. The track has 10 dashes carded, with the WDC races slotted in Races 5, 7 and 9. First post time is 7 p.m. (EDT).
- Race 5 - Mobile Trot - 1,900 metres
MacDonald drives Switch On, a five-year-old Bacardi Lindy gelding from post nine (second tier, behind post one) who is "solid since latest victory" according to the program. "Chances may depend on manners off the #1 in this."
- Race 7 - Mobile Trot - 1,900 metres
MacDonald gets the call on Holly Higlander, a six-year-old Creatine mare starting from the rail. "Sure to remain handy from the ace so must include."
- Race 9 - Mobile Pace - 1,900 metres
MacDonald goes from the rail to the outside with Caloriefree, a three-year-old Sweet Lou gelding who won his last start at a 2,000 metre distance. "Never out of second gear winning at [Akaroa]. Ultra tough and sure to serve it up again."
Full entries for Saturday's first leg are available here. SC will provide updates on how to watch Saturday's first leg when available.
The 2025 WDC will be held at various New Zealand racetracks, commencing with two days at Kaikoura and concluding with the New Zealand Cup Day at Addington Raceway. The complete racing schedule is as follows, with both Canadian and local time zone first post times included:
- First Leg (Kaikoura): Saturday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. EDT / Sunday, Nov. 2, 12 p.m. NZDT
- Second Leg (Kaikoura): Sunday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m. EST / Monday, Nov. 3, 12 p.m. NZDT
- Third Leg (Cambridge): Tuesday, Nov. 4, 11:30 p.m. EST / Wednesday, Nov. 5, 4:30 p.m. NZDT
- Fourth Leg (Addington): Thursday, Nov. 6, 11:30 p.m. EST / Friday, Nov. 7, 4:30 p.m. NZDT
- Fifth Leg (Winton): Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. EST / Sunday, Nov. 9, 12 p.m. NZDT
- Sixth and final leg (Addington; New Zealand Cup Day): Monday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. EST / Tuesday, Nov. 11, 12 p.m. NZDT
Two of the drivers — MacDonald (2017) and France's Pierre Vercruysse (2013) — competing in 2025 are previous World Driving Champions. The 10 competing drivers are as follows:
- Brett Beckwith (USA)
- Mats Djuse (Sweden)
- Gary Hall Jr. (Australia)
- James MacDonald (Canada)
- Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy)
- Michael Nimczyk (Germany)
- Blair Orange (New Zealand)
- Santtu Raitala (Finland)
- Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands)
- Pierre Vercruysse (France)
MacDonald will provide video recaps of all six competition legs in the 2025 WDC Report. Each report will be produced by Standardbred Canada (SC) and posted on standardbredcanada.ca following each leg of the championship.
(Standardbred Canada)