Jamieson wins National Driving Championship as Clinton Raceway celebrates Canadian Harness Racing
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- 6 min read
By: Brittany McKay
Clinton Raceway was the centre the National Driving Championship action on Sunday, July 26, 2026. The venue welcomed eight of the country’s top drivers for the National Driving Championship, one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
The championship was held during a milestone weekend that celebrated the 25th anniversary of Legends Day and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, bringing together competitors, fans, industry leaders and racing supporters from across the country.
Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn officially welcomed visitors to the community, highlighting the significance of hosting a national event and showcasing the improvements made at Clinton Raceway.
"What a pleasure it is to host the Canadian National Driving Championship," Ginn said.
"This gives us an opportunity to showcase everything we have to offer, including our brand-new grandstands."
Ginn encouraged visitors to explore Central Huron throughout their stay, pointing to the community’s arena, new fire hall, OPP detachment and recreational facilities as examples of continued growth.
"We're pleased to welcome everyone from far and wide," he said.
"Enjoy your day and have safe travels home."
Huron–Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson echoed those sentiments, saying the championship proved that major sporting events can thrive in smaller communities.
"I would dare suggest that it's proof that big things can happen in small towns," Thompson said.
She also recognized the attendance of Huron–Bruce MP John Nater and highlighted the importance of hosting the National Driving Championship alongside two significant milestones in Canadian harness racing history.
"We all win because we're hosting the National Driving Championship, along with the 25th anniversary of Legends Day and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame," Thompson said.
"We're incredibly proud to say welcome to Clinton, welcome to Huron County."
Announcer Freddy “Sugar” Smith then introduced the championship field, describing the eight competitors as some of Canada’s finest drivers, each earning their place through regional championships held across the country.
Representing Ontario were two-time National Driving Champion and two-time World Driving Champion Jody Jamieson, along with 2024 National Driving Championship runner-up Tyler Borth.
Quebec and Eastern Ontario were represented by veteran driver Stéphane Brosseau, making his third national appearance, and first-time competitor Nick Boyd, who qualified after winning his regional championship.
Western Canada sent veteran reinsman Kelly Hoerdt, a driver with more than 3,000 career victories, along with back-to-back Western Regional Driving Champion Phil Giesbrecht. Atlantic Canada was represented by Prince Edward Island standout Marc Campbell, a former national runner-up, and newcomer Keith Legg, who earned his place after capturing the Atlantic Regional Driving Championship.
With the introductions complete, the stage was set for an afternoon of championship racing as Canada’s elite drivers competed for the national title and the opportunity to represent the country at the 2027 World Driving Championship.
Tyler Borth Enjoys Home-Province Support at National Championship
For Ontario driver Tyler Borth, competing at Clinton Raceway carried special meaning. Surrounded by family, friends and local supporters, Borth embraced the opportunity to race in front of a hometown crowd while competing against Canada’s best.
Borth, who finished runner-up at the 2024 National Driving Championship, said he was excited when he learned Clinton would host this year’s event.
"It's awesome to be here," Borth said.
"When I found out that the National Driving Championship was going to be in Clinton, I thought that was a great idea because it's always a great atmosphere here. They do a good job of getting lots of fans out."
Although the day did not begin exactly as planned, Borth remained optimistic after earning a strong result early in the competition.
"I didn't have the greatest start to the day as I wanted to," he said.
"But we got a second in that last race there, and I'm hoping I can keep building on it."
The warm, sunny conditions also provided a boost for competitors who know track conditions can play an important role in race strategy.
"It's a great day, weather-wise," he said.
"I find I'm not usually too good when it's muddy, so I'm glad that it's not raining."
When asking Borths go to music to get him race ready, Borth said his pre-race playlist includes classic hip-hop, with one song standing out.
"My pump-up song is 'My Life' by The Game, or any of the older rap music, I like to listen to."
With fans lining the rail and a strong local turnout creating Clinton Raceway’s trademark atmosphere, Borth said competing at the track remains one of the highlights of the Ontario harness racing calendar.
Christoforou Showcases the Heart Behind Harness Racing
While Canada’s top drivers battled for the championship title on the track, Emma Christoforou played an important role in helping showcase the passion and dedication behind harness racing.
Serving as parade marshal during the National Driving Championship and Legends Day festivities, Christoforou the post parade aboard her retired Standardbred, Painted Pony, giving fans a closer connection to the horses before each race.
"I'm the parade marshal today at Clinton for the National Driving Championship and Legends Day," she explained.
"My horse and I lead the post parade out. We look really pretty, we go and see the fans, fans are allowed to pet him, they can ask any questions they want, and if anything was to happen on the track, we're one of the first ones to the scene."
Christoforou said organizing an event of this size requires the dedication of many people working behind the scenes.
"Days like today are tough," she said.
"You've got drivers coming in from out West, out East, Quebec and Ontario. Everybody gives up their Sunday to come and do what we love."
She credited track staff, paddock officials and emergency crews for helping make the championship a success.
"The track guys at Clinton always do a great job keeping the track maintained," she said.
"We have paddock judges here, EMS here in case anybody needs them. There's a lot that goes into it, but it's not just days like today—it's every day. This is what we do, and this is what we love."
For Christoforou, the sport represents much more than competition.
"This isn't just a game for us. It's so much more," she said.
"A lot of people think it's about the money, but it's not. We do this because we love it. This is our lifestyle."
She also encouraged new fans to become involved in the sport.
"It's a tight-knit community, but we're always looking for more people to come in," she said.
"We're smaller than we once were, and we need to keep getting stronger and bigger so we can be even better than we were before."
A trainer and newly licensed driver herself, Christoforou said her favourite part of the sport is sharing the connection between people and horses.
"Just being able to interact with the fans and show them how much we actually care about this and how much we care for our horses—that's my favourite part," she said.
Painted Pony, her retired Standardbred racehorse, now serves as an ambassador for the sport.
"He wasn't the best racehorse, and you know what? That's okay," she said with a smile.
"There's a place for every single one of these horses, whether it's becoming a broodmare, a stallion, or somebody's riding horse. They're just the best breed there is."
Pickett Highlights the Work Behind Every Race
While drivers received much of the attention during the National Driving Championship, trainer Heather Pickett reminded fans that success begins long before horses enter the starting gate.
Working behind the scenes at Clinton Raceway, Pickett explained that trainers are responsible for preparing horses physically and mentally before handing control over to the driver.
"Our job is a little different from the drivers'," Pickett explained.
"We prepare the horses for the race as best we can, and then once we hand over the lines, it's all in the driver's control."
Preparation involves conditioning, planning and monitoring every detail leading up to race day. Weather can also influence performance, although Pickett said Standardbreds are often more resilient than people realize.
"The smoke obviously wouldn't be good for them, like we had a couple of weeks ago," she said. "Extreme heat or extreme cold can affect them, but most of the time, because a horse's oesophagus is so long, those temperatures don't bother them as much as they would us."
For Pickett, championship events are an opportunity to highlight the teamwork behind the sport.
"This is our job," she said. "This is the business. We've got to put on the show, so to speak."
Jamieson Wins National Driving Championship
After a full day of championship racing, Jody Jamieson emerged victorious at Clinton Raceway, capturing the 2026 National Driving Championship presented by Standardbred Canada.
Jamieson finished first in the standings with 60 points, earning the national title and the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2027 World Driving Championship.
Stéphane Brosseau finished runner-up with 56 points, while Marc Campbell claimed third place with 54 points in a tight knit competition.
The championship showcased the depth of talent in Canadian harness racing, with Jamieson using a series of consistent performances throughout the day to secure victory.
The event also reinforced Clinton Raceway’s reputation as one of Canada’s premier harness racing venues, bringing together top drivers, passionate fans and industry members for a celebration of the sport’s history, community and future.