Racing Queensland has unveiled the dates for the inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.
With the innovative slot racing series generating interest from around the globe, 10 of the world’s best harness drivers will go toe-to-toe at Albion Park on Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22, 2025.
Staged on the eve of the Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale, more than $250,000 in prize money will be up for grabs and will see slot holders selecting both drivers and horses across 20 action-packed races.
In total, nine $20,000 slots are presently available to purchase, with Ladbrokes filling the 10th and final slot.
Slot holders will receive points throughout the 20 races based on finishing position, with the slot holder/driver who accrues the most points declared the winner.
The overall Ultimate Driver and their slot holder will receive $100,000, with the winner of each race to receive $1,000 per race victory.
Applications for slots close on July 31, 2024.
RQ’s Senior Racing Manager - Harness David Brick said interest in the concept had been extremely heartening after being announced in the lead up to the Queensland Constellations.
“We have been thrilled by the response that it has generated across the globe,” Mr Brick said.
“While most people are familiar with slot races, we wanted to create a point of difference via the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship, and we think we have achieved that.
“It’s important that we get the right slot holders now and so we’re encouraging applications from those who are willing to promote the event, and the Queensland racing industry more broadly, through the concept.
“We’d love to see as many friends, family members or syndicates putting their hand up to participate in the inaugural event.”
Once the slot holders have been announced, they will be free to negotiate with leading drivers from Australia and overseas before selecting their respective horses from a draft.
Race fields for the series will be collated in the same as any other driver series (where trainers nominate their horses without a driver assigned), while all races will be penalty free.
The draft to partner drivers with horses will be conducted as a ‘snake order draft’, with slot holders able to choose any of the available horses left across the 20 races until all drivers/slot holders are assigned to a horse in each race.
Drivers must be an A-grade driver or equivalent, with the arrangement purely between the slot holder and the driver.
Click here for more information on the Ultimate Driver series.