On Sunday (June 26) Ryan Guy and Marie-Claude Auger will compete in the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship (QEORDC) at Hippodrome 3R to determine the two drivers who will be advancing to the National Driving Championship (NDC) to determine Canada’s representative to the 2023 World Driving Championship (WDC) in Italy.
No strangers to each other or their competition, QEORDC entrants Guy and Auger are both looking forward to an exciting day of racing at Hippodrome 3R.
Ryan Guy, victorious at Woodbine Mohawk Park
Guy is a first-time competitor in the QEORDC and will represent his hometown track, Rideau Carleton Raceway. Guy has a total of 180 lifetime wins with more than $1.2 million in career earnings. Auger is also a first-time competitor in the event and is also the first ever female driver to participate in a regional driving championship. Auger has racked up 521 wins in her career with earnings in excess of $2.6 million.
Marie-Claude Auger, winning at Rideau Carleton Raceway
Standardbred Canada asked Guy (RG) and Auger (MCA) several questions in advance of the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional. Auger’s replies appear in both English and French.
What were your thoughts when you got the call to participate in the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship? / Comment as tu réagi quand on t’a appris que tu allais participer au « Québec / Est de l’Ontario Championnat Régional des conducteurs » ?
MCA: I really thought it was a mistake or a funny joke. I did not realize until then that I was “One of the best”. / J’ai vraiment cru que c’était une erreur ou une blague. Je n’avais pas réalisé, jusque-là, que je faisais partie des meilleurs.
RG: Honestly, I was really excited to get the call and I am very grateful to be invited to this event. I never expected I’d get the call to participate, so when I did, it was a big surprise.
What are your thoughts on driving with the eight other drivers in the championship? / Comment tu te sens de conduire avec les sept autres conducteurs du championnat?
MCA: It’s not really different for me. I drive four days a week with all of them either in Rideau Carleton or in Trois-Rivieres. / Il n’y a pas vraiment de différence pour moi étant donné que je conduis déjà avec eux quatre fois par semaine que ce soit à Rideau Carleton ou Trois-Rivières.
RG: I think it’s going to be a great afternoon of racing; I drive with all the competing drivers on a weekly basis, but I’m looking forward to being a part of the day at Hippodrome 3R and competing with them on a different level.
How does it feel to have the opportunity to represent your track in the Regional Driving Championship and possibly represent Canada in the 2023 World Driving Championship in Italy? / Comment te sens tu d’avoir l’opportunité de représenter la piste de Rideau Carleton dans ce tournoi et de la possibilité de représenter le Canada en 2023 au Championnat Mondial des Conducteurs en Italie?
MCA: I am extremely proud to be considered “One of the best” and get this opportunity to represent my country. It’s very exciting. / Je suis extrêmement fière d’être considérée comme une des meilleurs et de possiblement avoir la chance de représenter mon pays. C’est très excitant.
RG: It feels great to represent Rideau Carleton Raceway, I never thought I’d get the opportunity to participate in a regional championship, but here we are! Just thinking about representing Canada in Italy is exciting, so it would be an absolute honour.
Do you think you have any advantage over the other drivers? / Penses-tu avoir certains avantages sur les autres conducteurs?
MCA: No. Everyone will drive to win. I know I will too. / Non. Nous allons tous conduire pour gagner. Je sais que c’est ce que je vais faire.
RG: No, I feel as if we all have and equal opportunity and chance to move on to the National. Anything is possible when the wings fold!
Are you doing anything to prepare for the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship? / As-tu une façon particulière de te préparer pour le QEORDC?
MCA: Not really. I am looking forward to getting to the track on Sunday. Of course, I looked at the horses that I will drive and tried to analyze how the races could go. But I am aware a race is a race. But, I will be ready. / Pas vraiment. J’ai regardé les chevaux que je dois conduire et aussi ceux de mes adversaires pour analyser comment la course peut se dérouler. Par contre, je sais qu’une course est une course et tout se dessine derrière la barrière. Mais, je serai prête!
RG: Nothing special, I am going to treat it like any other day of racing. I am just happy to take part and to get to do what I enjoy the most at this level.
Anything special that you are looking forward to about the Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship? / Y’a t-il quelque chose de spécial que tu t’attends pour le Championnat Régional des conducteurs de dimanche?
MCA: I look forward to sitting on the bike and seeing how my colleagues will react. If they will be “aggressive” or strategic. I have my own strategy in mind but we will see Sunday how it goes. / J’ai hâte d’être assise sur le sulky et regarder comment mes collègues vont réagir. Seront-ils plus agressifs or stratégiques. J’ai mon propre scénario en tête mais nous verrons dimanche comment ça se présentera.
RG: I am mainly looking forward to the experience in general, so anything else is a bonus. This will be my first time competing in a regional, so I can’t wait for the day!
First race post time for Sunday’s card of harness racing is 12:00 p.m. (EST). Guy and Auger will compete against Pascal Berube (3R), Nick Boyd (KD), Stephane Brosseau (3R), Samuel Fillion (3R), Guy Gagnon (RCR), and Stephane Pouliot (RCR) in the QEORDC.
There will be eight QEORDC races each with a seven-horse field and each driver will sit out one race. The QEORDC races will take place in Races 1 to 8. To view Sunday's entries, click on one of the following links: Hippodrome 3R - Sunday Entries || Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
Drivers will receive points based on their finishing position and the top two drivers from the eight-race competition will join six other drivers at the 2022 National Driving Championship (NDC) at Century Mile Racetrack in Edmonton, Alberta. The winner of the 2022 NDC will have the opportunity to represent Canada in the 2023 World Driving Championship in Italy.
SCORING
The Regional Driving Championships and the National Driving Championship will adapt the point system utilized in the World Driving Championship. Points will be awarded on the order of finish as follows:
Number of Starters 8:
15 (1), 10 (2), 7 (3), 5 (4), 4 (5), 3 (6), 2 (7), 1 (8).
Number of Starters 7 (Quebec Scoring Format):
14 (1), 9 (2), 6 (3), 4 (4), 3 (5), 2 (6), 1 (7).
In the event of a scratch, the driving rep drawn to a horse shall drive the ‘also eligible’ horse. In the event of a horse being scratched or where no horse is available, five (5) points shall be awarded to the driver concerned. If a horse is disqualified or a horse and driver fail to complete the race, they will receive one (1) point.
In the event of a dead heat for any placing in any race the points for the horses involved will be added together and divided equally among the drivers concerned (eg. If there’s a dead heat for third between two horses, the points for third and fourth place will be added and divided among the drivers).