The stage is set for one of the biggest events on the harness racing calendar.

Nine of the top drivers in Atlantic Canada will compete today in the Atlantic regional driving championship, presented by Sign Craft, at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Saturday. 

Post time for the 13-dash program is 1 p.m.

“This is going to be quite a show,” said Tom Mullally, managing director at Red Shores. “We have the top drivers in the region, and I wish them the best of luck in making it to the national event.”

The “Race Day Show” will be carried to a world-wide audience on www.harnessracingpei.com. A betting location has also been set up at Summerside Raceway.

The event carries quite a talent pool of drivers. 

Marc Campbell, Gary Chappell and Kenny Arsenault will represent P.E.I., and Nova Scotia sends Danny Romo, Robert Laffin and Ryan Campbell.

The New Brunswick colours will be carried by former Canadian champion Gilles Barrieau and Todd Trites.

Shane Forward will represent Newfoundland and Labrador.

The win total among these drivers is a staggering 16,400.

The driving championship will begin on Race 2, and wrap up on Race 11. 

Each driver will leave from a different post position.

When the draw was completed on Tuesday, it seemed to favour Barrieau. 

But Chappell is pleased with the horses he drew.

A winner of 2,302 races lifetime, Chappell said he’ll be driving some fast horses.

“I got a shot,” said the top driver in Summerside in 2010. “They’re all good horses. I just have to get them in a position to win.”

Chappell will be behind Woodmere Rose, owned by Lynn Wall and Barry Folland of Kensington, in the first leg. 

The mare is listed as 3-to-1 on the morning-line odds, but has to leave from Post 8.

The Forward-driven Goldendreamkillean is listed as the favourite. 

Dusty Lane Jerry and Laffin are also top candidates.

The top two drivers from the nine-race competition will advance to the 2011 national driving championship, presented by RDMD Refrigeration, on May 7. 

The winner of the NDC will represent Canada at the 2011 world driving championship in the United States from July 31 to Aug. 5.

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Compiled by Lee Drake, manager 

of marketing and sales for Red 

Shores properties on P.E.I.