Standardbred Canada’s (SC) video series The Road to the Nationals is back for a second season, bringing fans a deeper analysis.
The five-part series offers a preview of each Regional Driving Championship (RDC) race card from a handicapping perspective, with the final installment highlighting the main event in Clinton, Ont., at Clinton Raceway, host of the 2026 National Driving Championship (NDC), on July 26.
Standardbred Canada’s The Road to the Nationals is produced by its Digital Communication 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 offers in-depth coverage and insight as competitors prepare for the Nationals, featuring analysis, interviews and key storylines from across the sport.
In Episode 1, Rallis previews the 2026 Ontario Regional Driving Championship (ORDC), set to take place at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Tuesday, May 5, with insight from special guest interviews. Speaking with Daryl Thiessen, who will be competing in the ORDC for the first time, Rallis explores his approach to building a lineup and overall race strategy. When asked whether post position plays a greater role than horsepower, Thiessen noted, “I kind of went more on the skillset of the horse than post positions.” He added, “It’s going to be a great night of racing, and I am looking forward to it.” In a lighter moment, Rallis asked whether drivers, often joked about as not being the strongest handicappers, might consider seeking outside advice when selecting their horses. Thiessen responded, “Oh, I wish I would have. The betting public is rarely wrong, so I always try to think about a race the way I think it’s going to go; it’s usually going to go the opposite.”
Rallis also sat down with Austin Sorrie, Canada’s leading reinsman by wins in 2025 and the current 2026 win leader, as he prepares for his second appearance in the ORDC. Building on his previous experience, Sorrie discusses how his approach has evolved heading into this year's event, placing a greater emphasis on consistency and point accumulation rather than aggressive, all-or-nothing drives. “I am more mature going into this event the second time,” he explained. “...It’s about getting top threes, driving my horse the best way I can to earn points and trying not to overdrive them.” With a deeper understanding of the format and strategy required to succeed, Sorrie enters the event focused on discipline, decision making and maximizing each drive.
For an in-depth preview of Tuesday night’s action, click the play button on the video below.
Check out Rallis’ top picks for Tuesday night’s race card.
Post time for the first race on Tuesday’s card of harness racing is 5:50 p.m. EDT, with the first ORDC race taking place in Race 3. The ORDC races will continue through Race 11.
The following field of nine drivers will compete in the ORDC:
- Tyler Borth
- Samuel Fillion
- Jody Jamieson
- Bob McClure
- Doug McNair
- Garrett Rooney
- Louis-Philippe Roy
- Austin Sorrie
- Daryl Thiessen
Here is the order in which the ORDC drivers selected their horses this past Friday.
Points for the ORDC 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 ORDC will be available on the Standardbred Canada website at standardbredcanada.ca on Tuesday night.
To view Tuesday’s entries, click on one of the following links: The Raceway at Western Fair District - Tuesday Entries || Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
(Standardbred Canada Press Release)