With eight of Canada's best drivers converging on Fraser Downs for a chance to represent our country in the World Driving Championship, the eyes of harness racing will be focusing out west on the National Driving
Championship.
As part of our Friday features, Trot Radio has increased content with two episodes. In the first segment, host Norm Borg talks about the NDC with 2008 O'Brien Award winner Paul MacDonell and Fraser Downs Race Secretary Jackson Wittup. The second segment features Norm and Standardbred Canada's Manager of Industry Marketing, Kathy Wade Vlaar.
| Episode 6 - Part 1, featuring Paul MacDonell and Jackson Wittup | Episode 6 - Part 2, featuring Kathy Wade Vlaar |
Thursday was an action packed day for the NDC drivers in Vancouver. From 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Fraser Downs hosted a welcome and media reception at the River Rock Resort from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Emcee Dan Jukich, the voice of Fraser Downs’ harness racing as well as the simulcast director introduced the eight competing drivers in the National Driving Championship to members of the local media.
Guests were shown a special video presentation featuring the drivers in action in the four regional championships that determined their berths to this year’s event. Drivers were presented with souvenir gifts from Fraser Downs and an official National Driving Championship jacket from Standardbred Canada.
Following the reception, the drivers were whisked away to downtown Vancouver and the Players Chophouse where they were hosted by Standardbred Canada for a welcome dinner.
Then it was off to a corporate box at GM Place to watch the Canucks take on the St. Louis Blues, with the home team shutting out the visitors 3-0.
For a photo gallery of yesterday's press conference and a few shots from the hockey game, visit the NDC Photo Gallery page.
Tom Wolski of Sport Of Kings TV was at the press conference and added local coverage for The Vancouver Province. That article is available by clicking here.
The SC website will offer a link to a live stream of Saturday's NDC races with action kicking off at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. First race post time on the 10-dash card is 1:15 p.m.
The NDC will be contested over eight of Fraser's races. The race office has carded the NDC dashes as Races 2 through 9.
NDC Hot Links: