With the 2023 World Driving Championship (WDC) now underway, here is everything you need to know to follow the event and cheer on our Canadian driver, Doug McNair.
STANDARDBRED CANADA'S COVERAGE OF THE WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP
- Live video stream of the races on standardbredcanada.ca (when available from the tracks) so you won’t miss a second of the action.
- Real-time news stories to keep you updated on McNair's progress overseas.
- The WDC Report, sponsored by Ontario Racing, will feature short video updates from McNair after each leg of the WDC.
- Behind the Scenes of the WDC – see what the drivers are up to and what goes on behind the scenes when the drivers aren’t competing.
Don’t forget to follow Standardbred Canada’s website, Facebook page and @TrotInsider on Twitter for the latest WDC news and info. Keep this page handy for updates including links to entries, results and program pages for the upcoming WDC legs. The 2023 World Driving Championship website is available here.
WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Don’t forget...all the WDC legs take place in countries that are in a different time zone than Canada! Below you can see what time to check standardbredcanada.ca to watch the WDC races (when available).
Sunday, Aug. 13 – The Netherlands
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 5:10 p.m. (CEST) / 11:10 a.m. (ET)
WDC Races: 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 • click here for entries and click here for program pages
Recap: click here for the Day One recap and click here for the WDC Report from Aug. 13
Racetrack: Victoria Park Wolvega is the leading trotting racetrack in the Netherlands and it is considered as one of the most beautiful trotting tracks in Europe. Victoria Park Wolvega is home of the international Group II race Grote Prijs der Giganten that has been raced since 1971.
Tuesday, Aug. 15 - Germany
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 11:50 a.m. (CEST) / 5:50 a.m. (ET)
WDC Races: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 • click here for entries and click here for program pages of the WDC races
Recap: click here for the Day Two recap and click here for the WDC Report from Aug. 15
Racetrack: Trabrennbahn Gelsenkirchen, also known as GelsenTrabPark, was built in 1912 and is the largest harness racing track in Germany, with a capacity for 30,000 spectators. The highlight of the racing year is the Grosser Preis von Bild or the “Bild-Pokal” that has been raced since 1959.
Wednesday, Aug. 16 - Belgium
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 6:30 p.m. (CEST) / 12:30 p.m. (ET)
WDC Races: Races 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 • click here for entries and click here for program pages
Recap: click here for the Day Three recap and click here for the WDC Report from Aug. 16
Racetrack: Hippodrome de Wallonie in Mons, Belgium opened in 1999. It is multidisciplinary, hosting trotting and galloping races but also international jumping. It is a center of excellence dedicated to horses with the presence of two schools, an international school of farriery and a provincial school of horse trades. Since 2000, Hippodrome de Wallonie has been the home of the Group I race, Grand Prix de Wallonie.
Friday, Aug. 18 - Germany
Number of WDC races: 5
Post Time: 5 p.m. (CEST) / 11 a.m. (ET)
WDC Races: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 • click here for entries and click here for program pages
Recap: click here for the Day Four recap and click here for the WDC Report from Aug. 18.
Racetrack: Trabrennbahn Mariendorf in Berlin, Germany celebrated its opening more than a hundred years ago. It is a beautiful place with chestnut trees surrounding the 32 stables on the 24-hectare site. In 1915, the Deutches Traber-Derby took place for the first time at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf and in 1952 it became the permanent venue for the classic race.
THE DRIVERS
The 10 competing drivers and the country they will be representing appear below.
Driver - Country
Rick Ebbinge (defending champion) - The Netherlands
Rodney Gatt - Malta
Hanna Huygens - Belgium
Peter McMullen - Australia
Doug McNair - Canada
Michael Nimczyk - Germany
Blair Orange - New Zealand
Miodrag Pantić - Serbia
Santtu Raitala - Finland
Jordan Ross - United States
WDC SCORING
Points for the WDC are awarded in each heat according to the official order of finish. The winner of the race receives 17 points and then in descending order 12 points (2nd place); 9 (3); 7 (4); 6 (5); 5 (6); 4 (7); 3 (8); 2 (9); and 1 (10). The winning title is awarded to the driver with the highest number of points after all legs of the championship have been completed.