Hoerdt Declared Western Regional Champion

Kelly Hoerdt was declared the official winner of the Western Regional Driving Championship at Fraser Downs on Saturday.

Hoerdt and Bill Davis dead-heated for the title after completing the day with a pair of wins and a total of 62 points, but Hoerdt beat Davis for the top spot with two second-place finishes. The rules state that in the event of a tie for any position, the driver with the most number of winning drives in the Championship races shall be declared the winner; if still tied the greater number of second drives and so on until a winner is declared.

Both drivers will join the top two finishers from the Ontario Regional Driving Championship - Brad Forward and Paul MacDonell – in addition to the top two finishers from the Quebec Regional Driving Championship – Guy Gagnon and Daniel Potvin – and the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship – Gilles Barrieau and Marc Campbell - at the national competition at Fraser Downs on March 21, 2009.

Here is a recap of this afternoon's Western Regional from Fraser Downs:

Leg 1
Gerry Hudon rallied from out of the clouds with My Alibi, who swept from eighth to first en route to pulling off a 25-1 shocker in the opening leg of the competition. Hammers Bad Boy (Jim Marino) sat a pocket trip throughout and held for the runner-up spot while Illustrator (Kelly Hoerdt) closed to finish third. Time for the mile was 2:01.1.

Leg 2
Glenn Le Drew moved into a tie for second-place in the standings thanks to a gate-to-wire score with Auric Aura in the second leg of the competition. Le Drew and his heavily favoured charge easily fended off runner-up Red Star Yogi (Gerry Hudon) and third-place finisher Carwins C E O (Jim Marino) for the win.

Leg 3
Keith Clark teamed up with trainer Dave Hudon to get Imprezzive to the winner’s circle in the third leg of the competition. The gelding sat third for the half of the mile before driving to the lead and drawing off to win by a length in a time of 1:57 over Dal Reo Adieu (Kelly Hoerdt). Lunar TKO (Bill Davis) was third.

Leg 4
Bill Davis went coast-to-coast in leg four of the competition with Witty Scholar, a pacer from his own outfit. The gelding, who tripped the teletimer in 1:56, won as he pleased by a length over Joe Millionaire (Kelly Hoerdt). Keystone Waylon (Scott Knight) tagged along to finish third.

Leg 5
Jim Marino was seventh at the quarter pole with La Ocasey, who turned in a late rally to win in going away fashion in a sharp clocking of 1:57.3. Red Star Robust (Bill Davis) sat last to the half before storming home to finish second. Johnny Jojo (Glenn Le Drew) set the pace and faded to round out the top three.

Leg 6
Kelly Hoerdt took full advantage of a second over trip with Jessie James, who vaulted off cover and drew off to a convincing victory in a time of 1:58.4. The mare held off Winter Luck (Glenn Le Drew) and Arctic Life (Scott Knight), who was fourth-placed-third in the eight-horse affair.

Leg 7
Kelly Hoerdt notched his second consecutive victory in the competition, and he used last second heroics to secure the win with Whitesand Lord. The gelding rallied off cover en route to posting the half-length tally in 1:57.1. Red Star Dylan (Jim Marino) was second best and Barrel Racing (Keith Clark) grabbed the show dough.

Leg 8
Bill Davis played a game of “catch me if you can” with Swaled, who held his rivals at bay by a one-length margin in a time of 1:58.2. The gelding, who gave Davis the training and driving double in the competition, defeated Proudsonofscotland (Glenn Le Drew), who was third-placed second. Should Be Sleepin (Keith Clark) was second-placed-third after committing a pylon infraction.

Leaderboard
1. Kelly Hoerdt & Bill Davis (62 pts)
3. Jim Marino (57 pts)
4. Glenn Le Drew (54 pts)
5. Keith Clark (45 pts)
6. Gerry Hudon (43 pts)
7. Scott Knight (34 pts)
8. Darryl Mason (19 pts)

To view Saturday’s results, click here.