Just a reminder to all O’Brien Award voters that your completed ballots are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18 (ET).
A total of 89 ballots for the 2008 O'Brien Awards were sent out December 1. If you voted last year and have not received your ballot, please contact Kathy Wade Vlaar or Erin Braybrook in the Industry Marketing Department as soon as possible.
O’Brien Award voters are media people who cover harness racing on a regular basis across Canada, including writers for the various trade publications as well as those in print, radio and television. All Canadian race secretaries, track publicists and simulcast hosts also participate in the voting.
Finalists will be announced on Monday, December 22. Finalists are the top two vote earners in each category.
In the Armstrong Breeder of the Year category and the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship, the O’Brien Committee provides a shortlist of three candidates each for the voters to choose from.
For the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship, voters are asked to select one of the following three candidates:
• Kelly Hoerdt, 42, of Beaumont, AB
• John Kopas, 54, of Milton, ON
• Phil Pinkney, 71, of Central Onslow, NS
Kelly Hoerdt is a familiar face on the Alberta racing scene and is a successful trainer/driver. He is competing in the Western Regional Driving Championship at Fraser Downs.
John Kopas has family roots in harness racing and has a reputation for developing young horses, as witnessed by his success on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit this past season.
Phil Pinkney is a legend in the Maritimes and at age 71, still enjoys a very productive career as a trainer and driver. He is regarded as one of the top conditioners of young horses.
This year’s breeder choices are:
• William Andrew, of Calgary, AB
• Glengate Farms, of Campbellville, ON
• Robert Hamather, of Exeter, ON
William Andrew resides in Calgary, AB and has breeding operations based in Alberta and Prince Edward Island. Surrealist, a winner of over $100,000, led Andrews’ 62 starters who earned a total of $903,738.
Glengate Farms, based in Campbellville, ON, had 118 starters in 2008 that earned in excess of $3.8 million and included Art Official, a winner of $1.5 million.
Exeter-based Robert Hamather bred 23 starters with earnings of $1.2 million, including Tigerama, a winner of over $348,000.
The O’Brien Award winners will be announced and honoured at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga.