Jason Hughes of Stratford, PE and Corey MacPherson of Vernon Bridge, PE will be heading to London, Ontario, this week to compete in the National Driving Championship (NDC) for harness racing at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Friday, October 14. The winner of the NDC will be Canada's representative in the 2017 World Driving Championship hosted in Canada next August.
Standardbred Canada co-ordinates four regional events across the country, and drivers had to earn their way into the NDC by finishing first or second at their Regional Driving Championship. Hughes earned his spot by winning the Atlantic Regional hosted at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at CDP on June 25 and MacPherson took the runner up spot.
The National Championship is an eight race event and drivers earn points based upon their finishing positions. Drivers will also have some input into the horses they drive as a hockey pool style "draft" will be done and drivers will choose their horses from horses entered.
This is a first time NDC appearance for both Hughes and MacPherson who warmed up for the big event via this past weekend's Atlantic Breeders Crown at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at CDP.
"It's a tough field," says Hughes of his seven competitors. "There are a lot of great drivers and I'm just hoping to be close to the front in most of the races so the other guys have to go around me."
Hughes has been driving and training horses since the early 90s, and his career has steadily been improving the past five seasons. Hughes has a 20 horse stable and also works full time as a Maintenance & Recreation Supervisor for the Town of Stratford, where he's been for 20 years. "I get to the barn very early in the morning and very late at night and I have a great help," says Hughes of juggling the two full time jobs. Hughes managed wins in an Atlantic Breeders Crown consolation and an Open Pace during this past weekend.
Corey MacPherson is into his 8th season of driving and is coming into the event in fine form. MacPherson had a win, third and fourth in Atlantic Breeders Crown finals and the previous weekend he took two divisions of the Joe O'Brien Stakes and two wins in the Lady Slipper.
There are also three other drivers with strong Island connections competing in the NDC. James MacDonald, son of Islanders Fred and Gail MacDonald (Fred is the editor of Atlantic Post Calls and Gail is the track photographer for Red Shores), and one of the Woodbine Entertainment Group Circuit's top drivers will be attempting to win the title. Brandon Campbell from Calgary, Alberta, and a top reinsman at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino is the son of former PEI horseman, Sanford Campbell. Brett MacDonald lived on the Island with his family for several years and drove in the matinee program.
Here is the complete field of drivers for the National Driving Championship: Brandon Campbell, of Calgary, AB; Guy Gagnon, of Gatineau, QC; Trevor Henry of Arthur, ON; Jason Hughes, of Stratford, PE; Brett MacDonald of Embrun, ON; James MacDonald, of Guelph, ON; Corey MacPherson, of Vernon Bridge, PE; and Jim Marino, of Surrey, BC.
BY THE NUMBERS
Jason Hughes
2016 589 drives 98 wins / 93 seconds / 97 thirds / $216,407 in purse earnings
Career 7307 drives 1120 wins/ 1060 seconds / 982 thirds / $1,938,895 in purse earnings
Corey MacPherson
2016 583 drives 115 wins / 89 seconds / 88 thirds / $296,330 in purse earnings
Career 4112 drives 646 wins / 607 seconds / 570 thirds / $1,163,967 in purse earnings
Lee Drake