from Standardbred Canada
Mississauga, ON —The United States’ Marcus Miller emerged with the early lead in the standings after driving a pair of winners during the 2017 World Driving Championship opener on Saturday (Aug. 12) at Century Downs Racetrack & Casino in Calgary, Alta. while Canada’s James MacDonald also doubled up to finish the five-race leg in second-place.
The North American reinsmen dominated the first of five WDC legs hosted by Standardbred Canada, with Miller accumulating 57 points and MacDonald earning 50 points while Australia’s Shane Graham put forth a consistent showing hitting the board in three of the races to secure third position in the standings, trailing MacDonald by just two points. Sweden’s Bjorn Goop was the other first leg winner and finished in fourth-place with 43 points.
“I’m very happy,” said Miller early on in the competition featuring 11 top international drivers. “There’s a lot of races to go yet so I’m just going to try to hang in there and keeping doing the same thing.”
Miller opened the 2017 World Driving Championship with a victory in the first race aboard 2-1 second choice Ashlynn Grace ($6.20) to take the early lead in the point standings. He secured a pocket trip with Ashlynn Grace, who started from the trailing tier in post 10, behind the inside leaver and found room between horses in the final turn to come through for the two-length victory, timed in 2:05.3 over the extended 1-1/16 mile distance.
The United States reinsman then sent 9-5 favourite Kavola ($5.60) three-wide from the outer flow approaching the third quarter mark to take over command in the third race and held off a wall of closers to win by one and a quarter lengths in 2:07.3.
“It’s unbelievable. I know everybody at home is watching,” said Miller of representing his country. “It’s something else, this is one of the most exciting times in my life as far as harness racing goes.”
MacDonald was victorious in the second and fifth races. In his first win, he cleared to command from post eight after the first quarter and held off the competition for the victory in 2:03.1 aboard Lucky Lucka ($19.70). His second victory came aboard Barossa Blue Genes ($6.70), tipping three-wide off cover approaching the third quarter mark and drawing clear in the stretch to win by two and a half lengths in 2:03.3.
“It’s a whole different ball game and I’ve never been involved in anything like this,” said MacDonald of the international tournament. “I’m really excited to be doing it and thankfully having a little bit of success.”
The drivers will head to MacDonald’s home track at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont. for the second WDC leg on Monday (Aug. 14).
“At Mohawk, I’ll know all 11 horses in the race and I’ll know their tendencies, not to say that’s what they’re going to do that given night, but I’ll have a little bit of information,” said MacDonald. “Every little bit you have ahead of someone else helps.”
Goop’s victory in the fourth race was his first in Canada as he made a power move in front of the grandstand sending Newport Min ($40.90) three-wide to the lead and then prevailed in a three-way photo finish in 2:07.1.
The opening WDC leg at Century Downs was the culmination of the First Annual Calgary Racing Festival. The week-long event, running through to Saturday, included an Industry Day, Mid-Summer Classic card, Charity Bowling and Charity Golf tournaments, and a Charity Gala.
After the next leg at Mohawk, the drivers will head to Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ont. on Aug. 15. The action then moves to Trois-Rivières, PQ. on Aug. 16, where Hippodrome 3R will host the fourth leg before the drivers head to Prince Edward Island’s Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park for the fifth and final leg of the Championship on Aug. 18, one of the major highlights of Old Home Week.
The reinsmen will earn points based on their finishing position in each race and the top point-earner at the end of the five-day competition will be declared the 2017 World Driving Champion and win $25,000 in prize money.
The World Driving Championship — along with the 25th anniversary edition of the World Trotting Conference, to be hosted in Charlottetown — are both held every two years and will coincide with the 250th Anniversary of horse racing in Canada, and Canada 150 celebrations.
WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP LEG #1 LEADERBOARD
Rank – Driver (Country) – Points
1. Marcus Miller (United States) – 57
2. James MacDonald (Canada) – 50
3. Shane Graham (Australia) – 48
4. Bjorn Goop (Sweden) – 43
5. Gerhard Mayr (Austria) – 38
6. Mika Forss (Finland) – 34
7. Dexter Dunn (ITA/New Zealand) – 29
8. Rik Depuydt (Belgium) – 25
9. Noel Baldacchino (Malta) – 24
10. Mark Purdon (New Zealand) – 21
11. Eirik Hoitomt (Norway) – 16
Editor’s Note: To see exclusive, behind-the-scenes reports with USA’s Marcus Miller during the World Driving Championship, hosted by Trotcast’s Ryan Macedonio, who is traveling with Miller across Canada, click here.
- Draw complete for First Leg of 2017 World Driving Championship (Wednesday, August 09, 2017)
Fields are now set for the first leg of the 2017 World Driving Championship, set for Saturday, August 12 at Century Downs in Balzac, Alberta.
- Draw complete for second leg of 2017 World Driving Championship (Thursday, August 10, 2017)
Fields are now set for the second leg of the 2017 World Driving Championship, set for Monday (Aug. 14) at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario. The Mohawk Racetrack leg consists of four races, with the WDC races slated for races two, three, five and six. Each race will feature 11-horse fields.
- Draw complete for third leg of 2017 World Driving Championship (Thursday, August 10, 2017)
Fields are now set for the third leg of the 2017 World Driving Championship (WDC), set for Tuesday (Aug. 15) at Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ontario.The Georgian Downs leg consists of five races, with the WDC races slated for races six, seven, eight, nine and 10. Each race will feature 11-horse fields.
- Draw complete for fourth leg of 2017 World Driving Championship (Friday, August 11, 2017)
Fields are now set for the fourth leg of the 2017 World Driving Championship, set for Wednesday (Aug. 16) at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
- Finland’s Mika Forss vaults to World Driving Championship lead (Tuesday, August 15, 2017)
Finland’s Mika Forss took the lead in the 2017 World Driving Championship standings with three straight victories in the second leg of the competition on Monday evening (Aug. 14) at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont.
- James MacDonald reclaims World Driving Championship lead (Wednesday, August 16, 2017)
Canadian driver James MacDonald propelled himself back to the top of the 2017 World Driving Championship standings, overtaking Finland’s Mika Forss after winning two of Tuesday night’s (Aug. 15) five tournament races at Georgian Downs in Innisfil, Ont.
- MacDonald extends lead in World Driving Championship (Thursday, August 17, 2017)
Canada’s James MacDonald padded his World Driving Championship (WDC) lead with a win, a second-place finish, and a third-place finish in four tournament races on Wednesday evening (August 16) at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, Québec.
- James MacDonald takes WDC title (Friday, August 18, 2017)
Canadian harness racing driver James MacDonald of Guelph, Ont., clinched the 2017 World Driving Championship and its $25,000 top prize Friday evening (Aug. 18) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park, Prince Edward Island.