Canadian Harness Horse of the Year

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O'Brien Award
Awarded forCanadian Harness Racing
CountryCanada
Presented by
First awarded1989
Websitewww.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 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 , 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 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), (1993), (2002), Rainbow Blue (2004), Somebeachsomewhere (2008), Muscle Hill (2009), (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 P 7
2017 T 5
2016 P 3 Casie Coleman Ross Warriner, Steve Calhoun, Christine Calhoun, Mac Nichol, Casie Coleman Fair Winds Farm, Inc.
2015 P 6 Sally & Paul MacDonald
2014 JK Shesalady P 2 Nancy Johansson 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz) 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz)
2013 T 4 Richard Norman Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, Dave McDuffee White Birch Farm
2012 P 3 Jeffrey S. Snyder
2011 T 7 Rod Hughes Glenn Van Camp & Rod Hughes Glenn Van Camp
2010 P 6 Pat Fletcher John Lamers John P. Lamers & Mary G. Lamers
2009 Muscle Hill T 3 TLP Stable, Jerry Silva, Southwind Farm, Muscle Hill Racing
2008 Somebeachsomewhere P 3 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 P 3 My Desire Stable Tom Crouch
2006 T 3 Mark Steacy Majestic Son Stable Peter Dennis & Mike Schertzer
2005 P 9 Mike Hales Gary & Laurel Gust, Cheryl & Edward D. Sayfie Pebble Creek Farm, Inc.
2004 Rainbow Blue P 3 K&R Racing, LLC (Kevin & Ron Fry) & Teague, Inc. Winbak Farm
2003 P 6 Jeffrey Miller Eternal Camnation Stable (Doc & Dorothy Miller) Frederick W.Hertrich II
2002 P 4 Blair Burgess , R. Burgess, K. Olsson Burgess, Perretti Farms Fair Island Farm
2001 P 3 Scott McEneny John B. Grant Winbak Farm
2000 T 3 Douglas McIntosh Harry Ivey & Dr. Tom Ivey Yankeeland Farms, Inc.
1999 P 3 Benjamin Wallace Daniel Plouffe
1998 P 2 Harold Wellwood & Dr. Norman Amoss Glengate Farms
1997 Western Dreamer P 3 William G. Robinson Matthew, Patrick Jr., & Daniel Daly
1996 P 2 R. McIntosh Stable, Seymour Grundy, Leo Beaudoin, David Kryway New Destiny Stable
1996 P 6 William G. Robinson Kentuckiana Farms
1995 P 5 Stephan Doyle Charles A. Juravinski Charles A. Juravinski
1994 T 2 R. Dustin Jones R. Dustin Jones & Wendell Cass (Pierre Levesque)
1993 P 4 Robert McIntosh Robert Hamather Kentuckiana Farms
1992 Artsplace P 4 Gene Riegle & Brian Monieson George Segal
1991 Precious Bunny P 3 William G. Robinson R. Peter Heffering Alfred Ochsner, Jr.,
1990 P 3 Pro Group Stable J. Brian Webster & Ray Bednarz
1989 Matt's Scooter P 4 Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles A. Juravinski Max Gerson
  • † - tie

References[]

  1. ^ Woodbine Entertainment Group list of O'Brien award winners Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 27, 2016
  2. ^ Standardbred Canada article titled "About The O'Brien Awards" Retrieved September 4, 2016
  3. ^ Kentucky Horse Park profile of Western Dreamer Retrieved October 7, 2016
  4. ^ Hoof Beats magazine September 21, 2009 story on Blissfull Hall winning the Pacing Triple Crown Retrieved October 11, 2016
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