Clinton Raceway will close out its 2026 live racing season on Sunday, Sept.6, with one of its longest-standing traditions — the 46th Annual Gateway Casino Charity Driver's Challenge.
The popular season-ending event will bring together an impressive field of drivers, all competing for points and bragging rights while donating their driving fees to support the Royal Canadian Legion branches in Exeter, Seaforth, Clinton and Hensall.
This year's field features four of Clinton Raceway's top dash-winning drivers: Lorne House, Brady Galliers, Paul MacKenzie and National Driving Championship (NDC) champion Jody Jamieson. Joining them will be Nick Boyd, the leading driver from Kawartha Downs; 2025 Charity Driver's Challenge co-winner Travis Henry; Hanover Raceway's leading driver Jason Ryan; and top female driver Natasha Day.
"We couldn't ask for a better group of drivers to help us close out the season," said Jessica Carnochan, Marketing Manager at Clinton Raceway. "The Charity Driver's Challenge has become an important part of our season finale, bringing together some of the sport's best drivers while giving back to organizations that mean so much to our local communities."
A New Twist: The Driver Draft
For the first time, Clinton Raceway will put the drivers — rather than the horses — in control with a new draft format for the Challenge.
At the beginning of the call, Clinton Raceway will conduct a random draw to determine the order in which the drivers will make their selections.
Each driver, in draft order, will select one horse from each of the eight Challenge races. The selection process will take place race by race, beginning with the first Challenge race, followed by the second, third and so on through the eighth and final race.
"This new format is expected to add another layer of strategy, excitement and friendly competition as drivers weigh their choices and try to build the strongest possible lineup over the course of the afternoon," added Carnochan.
The excitement will begin well before the first race, with gates opening at 11 a.m. for the season-ending matinee.
Fans can enjoy live entertainment, a driver meet and greet, and the chance to take part in the Driver's Challenge Challenge.
One lucky fan will be paired with each of the eight Challenge drivers and will have the opportunity to earn cash based on their driver's performance, while the drivers compete to earn valuable Challenge points. It's a chance for fans to get in on the action and cheer on their driver from a whole new perspective.
Live harness racing gets underway at 1:30 p.m.
The 46th Annual Charity Driver's Challenge promises to be a fitting finale to Clinton Raceway's 2026 season — combining great racing, big personalities, a brand-new format and, most importantly, a day of giving back to the community.
Clinton Raceway's 2026 season finale takes place Sunday, Sept. 6. Gates open at 11:00 a.m., with live racing set to start at 1:30 p.m.
(Clinton Raceway)