Standardbred Canada (SC) continues its The Road to the Nationals video series with Episode 2, offering fans additional insight and analysis ahead of the 2026 Regional Driving Championships (RDC).
The five-part series offers a preview of each Regional Driving Championship race card from a handicapping perspective, with the final installment highlighting the main event at Clinton Raceway in Clinton, Ont., on July 26, the host of the 2026 National Driving Championship (NDC).
Standardbred Canada’s The Road to the Nationals is produced by its Digital Communications team in collaboration with Industry Development. Video production is led by Jeff Porchak, Director of Digital Communications, and the series is hosted by John Rallis, associate editor of TROT Magazine. The series provides in-depth coverage and insight as competitors prepare for the nationals, featuring analysis, interviews and key storylines from across the sport.
In episode two, Rallis previews the upcoming Western Regional Driving Championship (WRDC) with special guest interviews featuring Kelly Hoerdt and Nathan Sobey. The episode combines handicapping analysis with candid conversation as competitors discuss strategy, preparation and the evolving draft format heading into this year’s event.
A two-time Regional Driving Championship winner, Hoerdt discussed the mindset he brings into another appearance in the competition, emphasizing consistency and trusting his normal approach behind the gate.
“Basically the same as always, drive your horse accordingly and don’t do anything different as I do in my day-to-day,” said Hoerdt. “Put horses in the right position, have good horses that day and get the right trips. Usually, calm and cool is what prevails in these competitions.”
Rallis also touched on Hoerdt’s previous success in the competition and the unique opportunity this year to compete with horses from his own stable, something he had not experienced in prior championships.
Hoerdt selected Mylittle Gingerman, a horse he trains, as one of his top draft choices, prompting discussion about whether familiarity creates added pressure or an advantage in the competition setting.
“Well, there is good and bad to it,” Hoerdt explained. “He was my first overall pick, to be honest. My other two that I ended up getting on were not my first overall picks in those races. There are some pretty outstanding horses in the other two races.”
Discussing Mylittle Gingerman further, Hoerdt noted the veteran pacer’s consistency and favourable draw while acknowledging the unpredictable nature of driver competitions.
“Anything can happen, and you never know, especially in driver competitions,” he said. “It’s funny how with some horses, a guy that’s never sat behind one will wake one up and all of a sudden they are going three seconds faster.”
Reflecting on the updated draft process, Hoerdt also praised the new format, which allows competitors to select horses after post positions are drawn.
“I think it’s a great step forward,” he said. “Not being pinned to one post position, having the pick of the best horses in every race...you already know where they draw, and that factors in.”
The interview also featured lighter moments as Hoerdt and Rallis exchanged playful hockey banter, with Hoerdt jokingly pivoting to support the Montreal Canadiens after his preferred team — the Edmonton Oilers — was eliminated, much to the dismay of Toronto Maple Leafs fan Rallis.
Rallis also sat down with Nathan Sobey as he prepared for his second appearance in the Regional Driving Championship. Sobey reflected on his previous experience in the competition and explained how the revised draft system provides drivers with greater clarity when evaluating their selections.
“I definitely like the draft better this time,” Sobey explained. “The horses have post positions before we pick them. Last time, my top picks all drew outside, which made it a little tougher. This time around, you could analyze things a little better, knowing where horses were going to be on the gate.”
Discussing his decision to select Rockin Roller as one of his top choices in the draft, Sobey credited the consistency of trainer Brandon Campbell’s stable and the horse’s recent form heading into the event.
“Brandon’s horses are usually very good,” said Sobey. “The barn is sharp, dropping out of the [$10,000 claimers], big mile last time out, so I think he deserves a shot.”
The episode also includes a heartfelt moment as Sobey reflects on the impact of longtime mentor and supporter Keith Clark, who passed away in 2024. Speaking about Clark’s influence on both his career and personal development, Sobey expressed gratitude for the opportunities he was given early in his career.
“Every day that you step in the barn or on the racetrack, there are always thoughts of that guy,” Sobey said. “A lot of the reason why my barn has taken the shape it has, and a lot of the power that I got, is because a guy like him gave me a chance.”
For an in-depth preview of the upcoming Regional Driving Championship action, click the play button on the video below.
Check out Rallis’ top picks for Saturday's race card.
Post time for Race 1 on Saturday’s WRDC card is 12:45 p.m. MDT (2:45 p.m. EDT). The first WRDC race is scheduled for Race 3 at approximately 1:30 p.m. MDT (3:30 p.m. EDT). The WRDC races will continue through Race 10. The eight drivers will participate in eight competition races. The 2026 WRDC competitors are:
- Phil Giesbrecht
- Logan Gillis
- Mike Hennessy
- Kelly Hoerdt
- James Jungquist
- Scott Knight
- Darryl Mason
- Nathan Sobey
The WRDC drivers selected their horses in a fantasy draft format. First, a random draw determined the selection order for the opening WRDC race. A random number generator was then used to determine the draft order for the remaining seven races, ensuring each driver received a first through eighth-place selection with each driver having the opportunity to select first overall in one of the eight WRDC races. Each driver was not required to drive from each post position.
Here is the order in which the WRDC drivers selected their horses.
Points for the WRDC will be awarded in each race according to the official order of finish: 15 points (1st), 10 (2nd), 7 (3rd), 5 (4th), 4 (5th), 3 (6th), 2 (7th), 1 (8th).
Live coverage of the WRDC will be available on the Standardbred Canada website at standardbredcanada.ca on Saturday afternoon. To view Saturday’s entries, click one of the following links: Century Downs Racetrack & Casino - Saturday Entries || Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
A reminder that the WRDC Online Contest closes on Saturday (May 23) at 11:45 a.m. MDT / 1:45 p.m. EDT.
(Standardbred Canada Press Release)