National Driving Championship Weekend is almost here, and fans travelling to Clinton Raceway will have plenty to look forward to from Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26.
The weekend will celebrate harness racing's past, present and future, featuring the inaugural Junior National Driving Championship, the National Driving Championship Driver Showcase, the 25th anniversary of Legends Day, celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the crowning of Canada's National Driving Champion.
From introducing young drivers to the national stage to crowning Canada's next National Driving Champion, the weekend showcases every generation of harness racing.
Get a preview of everything happening during National Driving Championship Weekend before joining Standardbred Canada at Clinton Raceway.
National Driving Championship Weekend officially begins on Friday evening as Standardbred Canada (SC) brings its virtual reality harness racing experience to Huron REACH's Weekend Roundup Open Horse Show & Educational Event, introducing new audiences to the excitement of harness racing.
That evening, Standardbred Canada will host a welcome reception at the Benmiller Inn, the official host hotel, where SC will welcome competitors, officials and guests from across the country. The evening will feature a private dinner and campfire, providing an opportunity for participants to reconnect with familiar faces and get to know one another before the weekend's events begin.
Saturday morning belongs to the next generation of harness racing as Standardbred Canada presents the inaugural Junior National Driving Championship.
Eighteen young drivers from across Canada will compete for the first national junior title, including 14 representatives from Ontario and four Maritime Minis drivers travelling from Atlantic Canada with their ponies. The competitors represent the Ontario Young Guns Racing Association and the Maritime Minis Racing Association. Throughout the day, competitors will take part in opening ceremonies, preliminary heats, a consolation race and a championship final, showcasing the future of the sport before fans from across the country.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. (EDT). Fans are encouraged to cheer on the competitors in person at Clinton Raceway or tune in to the live stream on the Standardbred Canada website.
A complete list of junior competitors is available here.
Throughout the day, fans are invited to meet both the Junior National Driving Championship competitors during a special meet-and-greet. Complimentary pizza will also be available while supplies last.
Following the Junior National Driving Championship, attention turns to the eight finalists who will compete in Sunday's National Driving Championship.
The National Driving Championship Driver Showcase will be streamed live from Cowbell Brewery, giving fans an opportunity to meet the competitors and hear their thoughts ahead of the championship.
Sunday is the centrepiece of National Driving Championship Weekend as Clinton Raceway hosts the 25th anniversary of its renowned Legends Day celebration.
In addition to welcoming fans trackside, Sunday's championship will receive national television coverage as Primetime Racing presents a live three-hour broadcast on Game+ Network beginning at 2 p.m. (EDT). The telecast will feature extensive National Driving Championship coverage, including interviews, features and live racing, giving viewers across Canada a front-row seat to the country's premier driving event.
Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. (EDT) with the Cowbell Brewery Patio Party, featuring live music and opportunities for fans to meet the National Driving Championship competitors before racing gets underway.
Legends Day drivers Doug Brown, Chris Christoforou, Steve Condren, Wally Hennessey, Carl Jamieson, Paul MacDonell and Mike Saftic will be available for autographs from 2-3 p.m. before taking to the track for the Legends Day Trot. They will be joined by fellow harness racing greats John Campbell, Bill O'Donnell, Trevor Ritchie, Dave Wall and Ron Waples, who will also be available to meet fans and sign autographs.
The afternoon's featured attraction will be the 2026 National Driving Championship, where eight drivers will compete over eight races for the national title and the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2027 World Driving Championship.
Competing in the 2026 National Driving Championship are:
- Tyler Borth (Ontario)
- Nick Boyd (Quebec/Eastern Ontario)
- Stephane Brosseau (Quebec/Eastern Ontario)
- Marc Campbell (Atlantic)
- Phil Giesbrecht (Western)
- Kelly Hoerdt (Western)
- Jody Jamieson (Ontario)
- Keith Legge (Atlantic)
Drivers will earn points based on their finishing positions in each championship race using the World Driving Championship scoring system (15-10-7-5-4-3-2-1). The driver with the highest point total after the final race will be crowned Canada's National Driving Champion.
The winner of the 2026 National Driving Championship will earn the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2027 World Driving Championship, which Standardbred Canada will host at racetracks across the country. Defending World Driving Champion James MacDonald has already secured an automatic berth, meaning the National Driving Championship winner will join MacDonald as Canada's representative on home soil.
Standardbred Canada encourages fans to attend in person or follow the weekend through its online coverage. Every major event throughout the weekend will be livestreamed, allowing fans across Canada and around the world to follow the action.
Weekend at a Glance
Friday, July 24
- Early Evening: Standardbred Canada Virtual Reality Experience at Huron REACH's Weekend Roundup Open Horse Show & Educational Event
- Evening: Welcome Reception (Private Event)
Saturday, July 25
- 10:45 a.m. (EDT): Junior National Driving Championship opening ceremonies
- 11 a.m. (EDT): Junior National Driving Championship heats begin
- Throughout the day: Meet-and-greet with junior competitors and National Driving Championship drivers; complimentary pizza while supplies last
- 6:30 p.m. (EDT): National Driving Championship Driver Showcase (Live stream on the Standardbred Canada website)
Sunday, July 26
- 11:30 a.m. (EDT): Legends Day festivities begin
- 1 p.m. (EDT): 2026 National Driving Championship (Live stream on the Standardbred Canada website)
- 2 p.m. (EDT): Primetime Racing's live three-hour national television broadcast begins on Game+ Network
Admission to the National Driving Championship event at Clinton Raceway is free.
Fans unable to attend in person can watch the Junior National Driving Championship, National Driving Championship Driver Showcase and National Driving Championship live on the Standardbred Canada website.
For additional information on National Driving Championship Weekend, including event schedules and championship details, visit the "National Driving Championship" page under the "Events" tab on the Standardbred Canada website at standardbredcanada.ca.
(Standardbred Canada Press Release)