Ontario drivers have won five of eight National Driving Championships (NDC). The province will look for its domination in the event to continue later this month with two drivers who have already shown that they know how to perform in driving championships.
Defending Ontario Regional Driving Championship (ORDC) winner Tyler Borth and two-time National and World Driving Champion, Jody Jamieson, will represent Ontario at the 2026 National Driving Championship on Sunday, July 26 at Clinton Raceway. Their paths to Clinton have been very different, but both arrive with unfinished business.
For Borth, the opportunity is another chance to finish what he started two years ago after narrowly missing the national title in his NDC debut.
For Jamieson, it's a return to the championship for the first time since 2014 — and an opportunity to earn a third National Driving Championship, another chance to represent Canada and potentially become the country's first three-time World Driving Champion.
Although still early in his driving championship career, Borth has made every opportunity count.
The Ingersoll, Ont. reinsman captured the Ontario Regional Driving Championship in 2024 in his first appearance in the event before following that victory with a runner-up finish at the 2024 National Driving Championship, finishing second only to James MacDonald, who would later go on to capture the 2025 World Driving Championship. Borth successfully defended his ORDC title this spring, making him a perfect two-for-two in ORDC appearances, and earning another opportunity at the NDC.
"I thought it was a great event," Borth said of this year's ORDC at The Raceway at Western Fair District. "Western Fair, that's my favourite track and where I got my first win. They did a great job putting it on, and I ended up winning, and it made it that much better.”
Observers may point to his continued success on half-mile tracks as an advantage entering the NDC; Borth believes familiarity with Clinton Raceway — and its horses — will benefit both Ontario representatives.
"It doesn't really matter to me what size the track is," he said. "I've made most of my career starts on a half-mile. I've also driven a lot at Clinton Raceway, as has Jody, and I think that will give Jody and I a little advantage, knowing Clinton [Raceway] and knowing the horses.”
For Borth, however, the stakes extend beyond national championship bragging rights. Representing Canada internationally would hit home for him.
"It would mean the world to me," he said. "Being presented with Canadian colours — that would be amazing. To be able to say you represented your country in a sport. My son is going to be two this month, and to be able to show him that his dad did something like that would mean a lot to me, too."
Tyler Borth on the front end with Royalty Girl during Ontario Regional Driving Championship action at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
If Borth is writing the early chapters of his driving championship résumé, Jamieson has already authored one of the finest in Canadian and international harness racing history.
Jamieson's only two appearances in the National Driving Championship resulted in victories in 2011 and 2014.
On five occasions, Jamieson has represented Canada at the World Driving Championship — in 2001 and 2011, he returned home as World Champion. Jamieson and James MacDonald join Rick Ebbinge of the Netherlands and Heinz Wewering of Germany with two World Driving Championship trophies each. Ulf Thorensen of Norway remains the all-time leader in WDC victories with four.
Now, after a 12-year absence from the NDC, the Guelph, Ont. driver has another opportunity to compete for the right to wear Canada's colours and a third World title.
"It has always been one of the highest honours a driver could have in their career — to represent their country as the sole representative," said Jamieson.
Should Jamieson win at Clinton, he would earn another opportunity to make history on the international stage and to compete in the event alongside a fellow Canadian.
"If I were to win this NDC [and advance to the WDC], I believe it may be the first time in history that two, two-time World Champions will have ever faced off against each other to try to win a third championship," he said. "There has been a three-time champion, but not two from the same country."
The National Driving Championship weekend will also be a family affair for the Jamiesons.
Jody's father, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer Carl Jamieson, will compete in the Legends Day Trot on the same day as the National Driving Championship. While Jody's youngest daughter, Siara, will participate in the inaugural Junior National Driving Championship. Three generations of Jamiesons will take to the track over the course of the weekend, all three with victory on their minds.
"I'm very excited about Clinton," said Jamieson. "My youngest daughter is in the Junior National Driving Championship, and we're all excited about that, as well as my dad being in the Legends Day Trot as a Hall of Famer. Of course, the work will begin on Sunday with the NDC and the opportunity to represent Canada again on the world stage."
Jody Jamieson gets up for the win with Summer Dancer in the final leg of the 2026 Ontario Regional Driving Championship at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
The Ontario pair will arrive in Clinton from different generations and with very different championship résumés.
Borth is seeking his first National Driving Championship after proving himself in regional competition and finishing runner-up in his NDC debut.
Jamieson returns with two national titles, two world titles and the opportunity to once again carry Canada's colours on the international stage.
One is chasing his first national crown.
The other is pursuing his third.
Together, they represent Ontario as two accomplished drivers who have already shown they thrive under the championship racing format.
Jamieson and Borth will be joined in Clinton on Sunday, July 26 by Phil Giesbrecht and Kelly Hoerdt (Western), Nick Boyd and Stéphane Brosseau (Quebec / Eastern Ontario), and Marc Campbell and Keith Legge (Atlantic).
(Standardbred Canada Press Release)