Racing Queensland has announced the nine successful slot holders for the inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.
In total, 18 applications were received from Australasia and North America for the nine available slots, with Ladbrokes having already secured their place as the series’ naming rights sponsor.
A selection panel, which included representatives from RQ and the Albion Park Harness Racing Club, today unveiled the nine successful slot holders:
RQ’s Senior Racing Manager - Harness David Brick said strong interest in the concept has been felt across the globe.
“Since its unveiling, the Ultimate Driver Championship has gained significant momentum both in Australasia and abroad,” Mr Brick said.
“It’s encouraging to see a number of industry stakeholders come together to form syndicates in order to take part in the inaugural series.
“The nine slot holders will now turn their attention to locking in a driver by early 2025 to compete for over $250,000 in stakes.”
Ladbrokes recently announced that one of the world’s premier drivers, Dexter Dunn, was locked in to compete in their slot, making the trip to Australia from North America for the first time since he took out the 2018 Blacks A Fake Championship behind Let It Ride.
The 35-year-old notched up close to 2,300 wins in New Zealand and Australia before making the move to the United States to continue his career.
“Ladbrokes is excited to be sponsoring such an exciting new concept like the Ultimate Driver Championship, and from the start we wanted to help make it a truly international event,” Ladbrokes CEO Dean Shannon said.
“Dexter was the top priority for our slot. He’s had so much success in the U.S., but he’s also one of the greatest drivers New Zealand has seen and won lots of big races here in Australia too.
“It looks like the series will bring together some of the best drivers from all around the world.”
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.
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.
“This will be an incredible event – showcasing the best of harness racing horsemanship from around the globe”, APHRC Chair Greg Mitchell said.
“On and off the track, we will be putting on a show, with quality entertainment, great dining options and cold beverages as we endeavour to find the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver.”
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.