Brad Forward, Canada’s representative to the 2009 World Driving Championship for harness racing drivers will be presented with his official Canadian driving colours and helmet this Friday evening
at Western Fair Raceway in London, Ontario.
Forward, originally from Newfoundland and now a resident of Woodstock, ON will receive the Canadian colours and matching helmet from Standardbred Canada’s President/CEO Ted Smith and Western Fair’s General Manager/Director of Racing Ian Fleming in the ceremony. Forward will also be presented with a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Harper and a Good Luck banner that has been sent to racetracks across the country for fans to sign.
The presentation will take place trackside at 6:50 p.m. following an autograph session with racing fans in the track's main lobby. Western Fair Raceway will make a $100 donation to the Salvation Army in Brad’s name every time he wins, places or shows on the evening card as a “Pay It Forward” promotion.
Patrons are asked to wear red and white to show support for Canada’s rep and to participate in prize draws.
Forward earned the honour of representing his country with a victory in the 2009 National Driving Championship at Fraser Downs on March 21. The title came down to the last race and Forward’s nose victory clinched it.
The World Driving Championship takes place in Norway and starts on May 14. Ten drivers from around the world will compete in 20 races at 5 different tracks throughout the country. The driver who finishes with the highest point total will be crowned World Champion and take home a cheque in the amount of approximately $20,000 US.
Canadians have won the WDC on five separate occasions with Jody Jamieson the most recent winner in Finland in the 2001 World Driving Championship.
Forward enjoyed a career year last year driving horses to earnings in excess of $3.9 million and leading all Canadian drivers in the wins column with 582 trips to the winner’s circle. He also received the prestigious Lampman Cup Award as the Ontario Sires Stakes leading driver. Lifetime, Forward has guided 3,262 winners and horses to $19.4 million in purse earnings.
“It’s been an amazing ride to this point and I keep trying to calm myself down, reminding myself it’s still almost three weeks until we leave for Norway” Forward says. “Right from the time I clinched a spot in the Ontario regional last fall it’s been a high point in my life. Winning the National final last month in British Columbia was amazing. It’s just been an incredible build-up and in some senses it’ll be a relief to get to Norway and start driving horses.”
The driver marked his 38th birthday on the final day of March and indicates he’ll have quite a collection of family and supporters on the Norway junket.
“My parents still live just outside St. Johns, Newfoundland in a small town called The Goulds. They’re going with us since this could be a once in a lifetime experience” Forward says. “Having them there will mean the world to me since they’ve been my main pillar of support all my life.”