Harness: Brett Beckwith excited for start of World Driving Championship this weekend

It was a little more than seven months ago that Brett Beckwith learned he was selected to represent the U.S. in the 2025 World Driving Championship in New Zealand. Now, it's time to go.

The WDC gets underway in New Zealand at noon on Sunday, Nov. 2, (which is 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the U.S.) with three races at the Kaikoura Trotting Club and returns to the same track at noon on Monday for another two races. From there, the WDC will visit Cambridge on Nov. 5, Addington on Nov. 7, and Winton on Nov. 9 before concluding with a single dash back at Addington on Nov. 11, New Zealand Cup Day.

"I'm looking forward to it," Beckwith said. "I'm getting pretty excited. Slightly nervous, but excited."

Beckwith will get his World Driving Championship started behind 4-year-old trotter Val Thorens (a gelding by Volstead) in Sunday's fifth race at Kaikoura, leaving from post five. In the seventh race, he will again start from post five, this time with 4-year-old trotting mare Judy J (What The Hill). Race nine will find Beckwith leaving from post seven with 3-year-old pacing filly Nasana (Bettor's Delight).

"I took a peek at the races," Beckwith said. "I saw who I was driving and looked at their form a little bit, but nothing too much yet. A lot of it in these races is going to be seeing how the horse feels and then relying on instincts and reaction time. I'm just going to try to put my horses in good positions and take it from there."

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The 22-year-old Beckwith received the 2024 Dan Patch Rising Star Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association after setting career highs for wins, with 608, and purses, with $6.27 million. He ranked third in victories among all drivers in North America, won the driving title at Saratoga and shared the honor at Plainridge Park.

This year, Beckwith has already surpassed last season's purse total, with $6.41 million, and ranks fourth in North America in wins, with 525. In August, he became the youngest driver to ever win the driving title for the Winter-Spring-Championship meet at the Meadowlands, and he leads the standings at Plainridge Park while sitting second at Saratoga.

Now, he will look to become the first U.S. representative to win the World Driving Championship since Dave Magee in 1995.

"Hopefully, I can bring back a win," Beckwith said.

For more about the opening round of the World Driving Championship, click here. Complete information regarding the WDC can be found at the website wdc25.nz.