Harness: Jody Jamieson wins 2026 National Driving Championship

Jody Jamieson will represent Canada in the 2027 World Driving Championship after winning the 2026 National Driving Championship (NDC), presented by Standardbred Canada, on Sunday, July 26 at Clinton Raceway in Clinton, Ont.

Advancing from a top-two finish in the Ontario Regional Driving Championship this past spring, Jamieson of Guelph, Ont., clinched his third NDC title by earning 60 points over the course of the afternoon's eight-race competition, finishing just ahead of Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional representative Stéphane Brosseau of L'Assomption Que., who ended with 56 points, and Atlantic Regional champion Marc Campbell of Orwell, P.E.I., with 54 points. The top three drivers each won two races. Jamieson also finished top three in three other legs. 

Jamieson jumped out to an early lead in the NDC standings with a victory in the opener courtesy of the popular Pat Bissett trainee Mels Legacy, and only gave up the lead briefly to Brosseau by a narrow one-point margin in leg three before re-taking the top spot. He led the rest of the day, although the competition was fierce with Brosseau and Ontario Regional champion Tyler Borth still in contention heading into the final race. His other victory was in leg five with favored No Plan Intended from the Terry Gallant stable.

"It came right down to the last race. That's how competitive it was today," said Jamieson, a three-time O'Brien Award-winning reinsman who has driven winners of more than 9,000 races and nearly $160 million in purses. "You know, we had a great group of guys from across the country, and it was just fun. I think we all had a great time this weekend.
"I couldn't be happier," added Jamieson, with family and supporters on hand in Clinton cheering him on. "I'm on cloud nine here right now."

Jamieson will be joined by fellow Canadian driver James MacDonald, the reigning two-time World Driving Champion, in the next international event, which will be hosted by Standardbred Canada at five racetracks across the country next summer.

"I didn't really ever think that I'd ever get another chance to represent Canada," said Jamieson, a two-time World Driving Champion himself with past victories on the international stage in 2001 and 2011. "I mean, look at the competition we had here today, and then you got to go up against a guy like James MacDonald, who's not only great, he's also lucky. He's the triple threat. But listen, I couldn't be happier. I'll be 50 in November, and I can't even believe I'm going to be 50. I feel like I'm 25 years old, and I'm as hungry as ever. So it just gets the competitive juices going again, and I'm looking so forward to this time next year for the worlds." 

Standardbred Canada officially unveiled the schedule for the 2027 World Driving Championship (WDC) during the sold-out NDC Driver Showcase on Saturday evening at Cowbell Brewing Co. in Blyth, Ont. The first leg will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2027 at Century Downs in Calgary, Alta., followed by the second leg on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2027 at The Track On 2 in Lacombe, Alta. The action will shift to Ontario at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville on Monday, Aug. 16, 2027. The next leg will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2027 at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivières, Que., before the competition culminates on Friday, Aug. 20, 2027 at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Borth and Western Regional representative Kelly Hoerdt each also made a winner's circle appearance during the NDC. Borth finished fourth with 50 points followed by Atlantic Regional rep Keith Legge (47), Hoerdt (39), Western Regional champion Phil Giesbrecht (36) and Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional champ Nick Boyd (34).

The NDC was held during Clinton Raceway's Legends Day, the track's signature event with festivities including the Legends Day Invitational Trot featuring a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame lineup of drivers: Doug Brown, Blair Burgess, Chris Christoforou, Steve Condren, Carl Jamieson (Jody's father), Paul MacDonell and Mike Saftic.

The $20,000 Legends Day Invitational Trot was won by Condren, driving 7-5 favorite My Buddy Sam for trainer Jennifer Pinkerton and co-owner/breeder Patricia Bailey. P C Peterbilt, driven by Saftic, finished 1-1/4 lengths behind in second and Tymal Riggs, with Christoforou, was third after challenging the popular pacesetter throughout the 1:57 2/5 track record mile for older trotters.

Additional Hall of Fame ambassadors John Campbell, Wally Hennessey, Bill O'Donnell, Trevor Ritchie, Dave Wall and Ron Waples were in attendance to meet fans and celebrate the Hall's 50th Anniversary.  

The day's events included an online auction and 50/50 draw, raising funds for the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.

NDC weekend in Clinton, Ont., also included the inaugural Junior National Driving Championship on Saturday morning, as the next generation of Canadian harness racing talent from the Maritime Minis Racing Association and the Ontario Young Guns Racing Association took to the track competing in elimination heats and finals. Adrianna Mongrain, driving her mini Hidden Delilah, won the junior championship title.

-edited release (Standardbred Canada)