Canadian Harness Horse of the Year
O'Brien Award | |
---|---|
Awarded for | Canadian Harness Racing |
Country | Canada |
Presented by | Standardbred Canada |
First awarded | 1989 |
Website | www.standardbredcanada.ca |
Canadian Harness Horse of the Year is an annual award in the sport of harness racing in Canada. It is the most prestigious Canadian award among those given to a Standardbred horse. Part of the O'Brien Award program, named in honour of legendary Canadian driver / trainer Joe O'Brien, since 1989 Horse of the Year honours the top performing pacer or trotter in Canadian racing.[1] Operated by Standardbred Canada, its website states that "Every media person across Canada who covers harness racing on a regular basis receives a ballot, this includes writers for the various trade publications as well as those in print, radio and television. All Canadian race secretaries and track publicists also participate in the voting," and that "The voters' list is vigorously scrutinized each year with names added and deleted when necessary."[2]
Historical notes
Through 2015, Somebeachsomewhere is the only horse win the award twice.
Both Western Dreamer in 1997 and Blissfull Hall in 1999 won the U.S. Pacing Triple Crown.[3][4]
In 1996 and again in 2007 there was a tie.
Matt's Scooter (1989), Precious Bunny (1991), Artsplace (1992), Staying Together (1993), Real Desire (2002), Rainbow Blue (2004), Somebeachsomewhere (2008), Muscle Hill (2009), San Pail (2011) and JK She'salady (2014) also won American Harness Horse of the Year honours in the same year.
Past winners
Year |
Winner |
Gait |
Age |
Trainer |
Owner |
Breeder |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Forbidden Trade | T | 3 | |||
2018 | McWicked | P | 7 | |||
2017 | Hannelore Hanover | T | 5 | |||
2016 | Betting Line | P | 3 | Casie Coleman | Ross Warriner, Steve Calhoun, Christine Calhoun, Mac Nichol, Casie Coleman | Fair Winds Farm, Inc. |
2015 | State Treasurer | P | 6 | Dr. Ian Moore | Sally & Paul MacDonald | Brittany Farms |
2014 | JK Shesalady | P | 2 | Nancy Johansson | 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz) | 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz) |
2013 | Bee A Magician | T | 4 | Richard Norman | Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, Dave McDuffee | White Birch Farm |
2012 | Michaels Power | P | 3 | Casie Coleman | Jeffrey S. Snyder | Jeffrey S. Snyder |
2011 | San Pail | T | 7 | Rod Hughes | Glenn Van Camp & Rod Hughes | Glenn Van Camp |
2010 | Dreamfair Eternal | P | 6 | Pat Fletcher | John Lamers | John P. Lamers & Mary G. Lamers |
2009 | Muscle Hill | T | 3 | Gregory B. Peck | TLP Stable, Jerry Silva, Southwind Farm, Muscle Hill Racing | Winbak Farm |
2008 | Somebeachsomewhere | P | 3 | Brent MacGrath | Schooner Stables (B. MacGrath, B. & R. Petitpas, G. Pye, S. Rath, J.Bagnall, P. Dean) | Stephanie Smithrothaug |
2007 | Somebeachsomewhere | P | 2 | Brent MacGrath | Schooner Stables (B. MacGrath, B. & R. Petitpas, G. Pye, S. Rath, J.Bagnall, P. Dean) | Stephanie Smithrothaug |
2007 | Tell All | P | 3 | Blair Burgess | My Desire Stable | Tom Crouch |
2006 | Majestic Son | T | 3 | Mark Steacy | Majestic Son Stable | Peter Dennis & Mike Schertzer |
2005 | Admiral's Express | P | 9 | Mike Hales | Gary & Laurel Gust, Cheryl & Edward D. Sayfie | Pebble Creek Farm, Inc. |
2004 | Rainbow Blue | P | 3 | George Teague, Jr. | K&R Racing, LLC (Kevin & Ron Fry) & Teague, Inc. | Winbak Farm |
2003 | Eternal Camnation | P | 6 | Jeffrey Miller | Eternal Camnation Stable (Doc & Dorothy Miller) | Frederick W.Hertrich II |
2002 | Real Desire | P | 4 | Blair Burgess | Brittany Farms, R. Burgess, K. Olsson Burgess, Perretti Farms | Fair Island Farm |
2001 | Bettor's Delight | P | 3 | Scott McEneny | John B. Grant | Winbak Farm |
2000 | Yankee Paco | T | 3 | Douglas McIntosh | Harry Ivey & Dr. Tom Ivey | Yankeeland Farms, Inc. |
1999 | Blissfull Hall | P | 3 | Benjamin Wallace | Daniel Plouffe | Walnut Hall Limited |
1998 | Odies Fame | P | 2 | Harold Wellwood | Harold Wellwood & Dr. Norman Amoss | Glengate Farms |
1997 | Western Dreamer | P | 3 | William G. Robinson | Matthew, Patrick Jr., & Daniel Daly | Kentuckiana Farms |
1996 | Whenuwishuponastar | P | 2 | Robert McIntosh | R. McIntosh Stable, Seymour Grundy, Leo Beaudoin, David Kryway | New Destiny Stable |
1996 | Riyadh | P | 6 | William G. Robinson | R. Peter Heffering | Kentuckiana Farms |
1995 | Ellamony | P | 5 | Stephan Doyle | Charles A. Juravinski | Charles A. Juravinski |
1994 | Emilie Cas El | T | 2 | R. Dustin Jones | R. Dustin Jones & Wendell Cass | Angus Farm (Pierre Levesque) |
1993 | Staying Together | P | 4 | Robert McIntosh | Robert Hamather | Kentuckiana Farms |
1992 | Artsplace | P | 4 | Gene Riegle | George Segal & Brian Monieson | George Segal |
1991 | Precious Bunny | P | 3 | William G. Robinson | R. Peter Heffering | Alfred Ochsner, Jr., |
1990 | Town Pro | P | 3 | Stewart Firlotte | Pro Group Stable | J. Brian Webster & Ray Bednarz |
1989 | Matt's Scooter | P | 4 | Harry J. Poulton | Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles A. Juravinski | Max Gerson |
- † - tie
References
- ^ Woodbine Entertainment Group list of O'Brien award winners Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 27, 2016
- ^ Standardbred Canada article titled "About The O'Brien Awards" Retrieved September 4, 2016
- ^ Kentucky Horse Park profile of Western Dreamer Retrieved October 7, 2016
- ^ Hoof Beats magazine September 21, 2009 story on Blissfull Hall winning the Pacing Triple Crown Retrieved October 11, 2016