Goshen, Ky. – An elite field of seven drivers will head to the Hermitage Classic to take part in the 2015 USEF Single Horse Driving National Championship. Taking place October 16-18 at the historic Heritmage Farm in Goshen, Ky., the exciting championship will showcase competitors vying for top honors.

The 2013 and 2014 USEF Single Horse Driving National Champion Leslie Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) hopes to have a three-peat with Uminco, her own 2001 KWPN gelding. The duo is coming off a third-place finish in the CAI2* Single Horse division at the Kentucky Classic CDE and is ready to deliver at the Hermitage Classic.

Suzy Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) earned the 2014 Reserve Champion title and will be hot on Berndl’s heels at this year’s championship. With three Single Pony Championship titles (2004, 2008, and 2009) to her name, Stafford is poised to add to her resume. She and her own PVF Peace of Mind, a 2007 Morgan mare, began the year with a win in the CAI2* Single Horse division at Live Oak International. The pair heads to the championship having just won the CAI2* Single Horse division at the Kentucky Classic CDE.

Sterling Graburn (Paris, Ky.), the 2008 and 2012 USEF Single Horse Driving National Champion, has a new contender in Mannkato, his and Laura Corsentino’s 2001 Dutch Harness gelding, and has his sights set on reclaiming the National Championship title. The combination earned a second-place finish in the CAI2* Single Horse division at the Kentucky Classic CDE and are primed for success at the Hermitage Classic.

The championship gets underway with the dressage phase beginning at 10:50 a.m. ET on Friday, with the marathon phase taking place on Saturday and the cones phase on Sunday.

Find out more about the Hermitage Classic.