The drivers for the 2014 Western Regional Driving Championship have been solidified with John Chappell securing the last spot in the competition after this weekend's harness racing cards at Fraser Downs.
Heading into the weekend, just two wins separated Chappell, Scott Knight and David Hudon for the third spot in the local win standings. Scoring a pair of victories on Sunday's card and pushing his meet total to 50, Chappell managed to maintain the slight edge over his rivals. With two wins of his own over the weekend, Knight pushed his total to 49. Hudon had one victory on Friday putting his total at 47.
Chappell steered Soft Spoken out of traffic down the stretch to a maiden-breaking victory in Sunday's second race for trainer/owner Allan Dawn. The four-year-old gelding won by just a neck over favourite Hosisahos in 1:59.1.
Driving his own trainee Rays Crown Royal in the fourth race, Chappell put a stop to the Western Baron's perfect nine-year-old win streak by pulling his four-year-old gelding from the pocket around the final turn and opening up three lengths en route to a 1:55.2 triumph.
Chappell will join meet leader Bill Davis (122 wins) and runner-up Jim Marino (107 wins) in the 2014 Western Regional Driving Championship on Saturday, April 26 at Fraser Downs. The B.C. representatives will also compete against Alberta's Brandon Campbell, Travis Cullen and Gerry Hudon, Saskatchewan's Richard Remillard and Manitoba's Don Howlett.
This is the first of four Regional Driving Championships that will determine the eight participants in Canada’s National Driving Championship, which will take place at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park on Tuesday, August 26. The winner of the NDC will then represent Canada in the World Driving Championship in Australia in February/March 2015.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.
chaps my sleeper pick to win
chaps my sleeper pick to win the driving challenge with his pace and rating savy