Drivers’ Holiday Challenge continues giving back to Western Fair’s local community
by Matthew Lomon
The season of giving at The Raceway at Western Fair District is officially underway, with the sixth annual Drivers’ Holiday Challenge returning to the London, ON oval on Tuesday (Dec. 9).
The night — rooted in community spirit, generosity, and good-natured competition — has been a smash-hit throughout its existence and is once again generating significant buzz in the leadup to its highly-anticipated renewal.
“We always look forward to the Drivers’ Holiday Challenge,” said Amy O’Toole, manager of equine programming at Western Fair. “With this being the sixth, we’ve donated over $50,000 total. It’s an event we’re very proud to host and expand on each year.
“For Western Fair, as a whole, getting involved with the community is a point of emphasis, meaning this is an event that not just the Raceway focuses on, but the entire Western Fair community. They all get involved with the donations and how we can make the event bigger and better.”
Mission accomplished.
The latest installment of the spirited challenge will see eight of Canada’s top drivers join forces to vie for national holiday bragging rights in support of Toys for Tots.
This year’s all-star roster of reinsman includes Phil Hudon and Daryl Thiessen teaming up to represent Western Canada, Garrett Rooney and Lorne House for Ontario, Austin Sorrie and Paul MacKenzie for The Maritimes, and Louis-Philippe Roy and Samuel Fillion carrying the banner for Quebec.
Although, imagining a fresh spin, as O’Toole shared, is only half the equation.
“We were brainstorming, Sugar [Doyle, track announcer], Greg [Blanchard, director of equine programming], and I,” O’Toole said. “We had thought about bringing people in from other areas, but you don’t want to increase costs for the event because we want to donate as much as we can.
“Having them represent where they’re from was our way of having different regions. I think it’s a fun twist, and people are excited about it. I know bragging rights are a big thing within the drivers, so I think they’re excited too.”
Top honors will go to the team who collects the most points across the DHC program.
Drivers will be rewarded 15 points for a win, with the subsequent finishing positions returning 10-7-5-4-3-2-1 in that order.
In the event of a scratch, the driver will automatically receive five points.
The highest scoring individual driver will also be recognized for their accomplishment.
With the title of Drivers’ Holiday Champion a coveted resume item, and the night’s proceeds going to a worthy cause, O’Toole lauded the drivers for their unwavering support year in and year out.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “When we ask the drivers, there’s never any hesitation. They enjoy being a part of it because they know the impact this night has beyond racing, and now that they’re representing their region, I think it will add even more because they want to make their home proud.
“Some of them have mentioned they’ll have a lot of people watching from where they’re from. That’s always nice to have more eyes on the event, too.”
Additional eyes are always a welcomed sight for an event, which between cash and toy donations, raised north of $10,000 for Toys for Tots last year.
As of two weeks ahead of this year’s edition, the team at Western Fair is already halfway there.
“I was talking to Kelley McNiven – she’s a big help with the event taking the lead on the donations,” O’Toole said. “She mentioned that we’ve already got close to $5,000 in donations between toys and cash. It means a lot to see everyone band together and the racing community come together when it matters.
“The holiday season is not the easiest time of year for everyone, but the amount of support and donations we get is incredible.”
Having Toys for Toys at the center of the Drivers’ Holiday Challenge gives Western Fair a chance to make a difference in its own backyard, literally.
The charity run by veterans and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces moves onto the grounds at Western Fair in December, inhabiting the J-AAR Expo, where the London Classic Yearling Sale is held.
For O’Toole, witnessing first-hand the sheer imprint and magnetic qualities of an initiative born in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated.
“It’s something that people want to participate in,” she said. “When you see that number, the $50,000, and take a step back to think about how many families we’ve reached with that money, and how many smiles we’ve put on kids’ faces, it’s a pretty good feeling. The Drivers’ Challenge itself is a big part of the event, but it’s more about the donations and giving back to the community.”
All of which is still going strong in 2025.
“We’re all very proud of it,” O’Toole said. “The event’s growing every year. People are getting more excited about it, and reaching out to me, asking how they can get involved with sponsorships and other contributions. It’s very rewarding.”
First post time for Western Fair’s Dec. 9 program, which coincides with Trifecta Tuesday at the Top of the Fair Dining Room, featuring a buffet-style dinner, racing and gaming vouchers, and special seniors’ pricing, is scheduled for 5:50 p.m.
Those interested in making a cash donation can do so through e-transfer to [email protected].
Collection boxes for toy donations are set up at Wilson’s Tack shop at The Raceway, Mare Flare at Flamboro Downs, Wilson’s Tack retail location in London, and around the Western Fair District (Top of the Fair, The Market, The Sports Centre).
