In 2016, Ontario Sired and Ontario Bred horses once again made history, both within the Ontario Sires Stakes program -- producing two new, all-time speed records, as well as just the third competitor to ever go undefeated through two seasons -- and beyond its borders, with, among others, a Little Brown Jug champion.
As it has done for over two decades, the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association is proud to recognize the leading money winners in the eight Ontario Sires Stakes divisions, along with the program’s leading driver and trainer.
This year, in lieu of hosting a banquet and presenting trophies, the SBOA has chosen to honour each division champion, and the SBOA Stakes champions, with donations to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society and the Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada.
Also receiving a donation in their honour are the recipients of four special annual awards. The Masterfeeds Awards are presented to a pair of outstanding broodmares, while the Chris Van Bussel Memorial Award and Lloyd Chisholm Achievement Award recognize people who have demonstrated ongoing leadership and service to Ontario’s harness racing industry.
Congratulations to all of the 2016 award winners!
Yaris Bayama - Two-year-old pacing filly (O’Brien Award finalist)
Sportswriter – Lucky Josie
2016 OSS record: 6 3-1-1, $216,600, 1:52.4s
2016 overall record: 10 5-1-2, $231,820, 1:52.4s
Owner/Breeder: Bayama Farms Inc., Saint-Andre-D’Argenteuil, QC
Trainer: Stephane Larocque • Driver: Sylvain Filion
Streakavana - Two-year-old pacing colt
Big Jim – Stonebridge Madona
2016 OSS record: 6 3-1-0, $179,750, 1:52.2s
2016 overall record: 7 4-1-0, $187,750, 1:52.2s
Breeder: Angie Stiller, Arva, ON
Owners: Brad Grant & Teresa Davidson, Milton, ON
Trainer: Scott McEneny • Driver: Sylvain Filion
Winter Sweet Frost - Two-year-old trotting filly
Kadabra – American Frost
2016 OSS record: 6 3-2-0, $244,000, 1:55.4s
2016 overall record: 11 3-3-2, $323,691, 1:55.4s
Owner/Breeder: Robert Key, Leechburg, Pennsylvania
Trainer: Paul Reid • Driver: Doug McNair
Mass Production - Two-year-old trotting colt (O’Brien Award winner)
Muscle Mass – All Time Favorite
2016 OSS record: 6 4-1-1, $273,400, 1:54.4s
2016 overall record: 9 5-1-1, $285,673, 1:54.4s
Breeder: Stan Klemencic, Trenton, ON
Owners: Rick Zeron Stables, Oakville; James Walker, Port Perry;
Bruno Dipoce, Wasaga Beach, ON; Rene Allard, Matamoras, PA
Trainer/Driver: Rick Zeron
L A Delight - Three-year-old pacing filly (O’Brien Award winner)
Bettors Delight – West Of L A
2016 OSS record: 6 6-0-0, $387,500, 1:50.3s
2016 overall record: 19 9-4-2, $787,898, 1:49.1f
Open stake wins: Nadia Lobell & Jugette. Only the third horse to go undefeated through two seasons of OSS competition
Owner/Breeders: Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., ON; C S X Stables, Liberty Center, OH
Trainer: Bob McIntosh • Drivers: Randy Waples & John Campbell
Betting Line - Three-year-old pacing colt (O’Brien Award winner)
Bettors Delight – Heathers Western
2016 OSS record: 5 5-0-0, $335,000, 1:49.3s
2016 overall record: 2016: 15 14-1-0, $1,698,096, 1:47.2f
Open stake wins: Somebeachsomewhere, North America Cup elim & final, Carl Milstein Memorial, Battle of Brandywine, Simcoe Stakes, Little Brown Jug heat & final
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm Inc., Cream Ridge, NJ
Owners: West Wins Stable, Cambridge; Christine Calhoun,
Chatham; Mac Nichol, Burlington, ON
Trainer: Casie Coleman • Drivers: Jonathan Drury & David Miller
Emoticon Hanover - Three-year-old trotting filly (O’Brien Award finalist)
Kadabra-Emmylou Who
2016 OSS record: 6 4-2-0, $335,000, 1:53.1s
2016 overall record: 15 7-4-2, $604,168, 1:53.1s
Open stake wins: Casual Breeze & Simcoe Stakes
Breeders: Linda Wellwood, St. George Brant; Tammy Aspden, Caistor Centre; Anne Shunock, Dorchester; & Diane Ingham, Mount Pleasant, ON
Owner: Determination, Montreal, QC
Trainer: Luc Blais • Driver: Sylvain Filion
Warrawee Roo - Three-year-old trotting colt
Majestic Son – Karoon
2016 OSS record: 5 2-1-0, $203,750, 1:53.3s
2016 overall record: 14 5-1-1, $246,421, 1:53.3s
Breeder: Warrawee Farm, Rockwood, ON
Owner: Determination, Montreal, QC
Trainer: Luc Blais • Driver: Sylvain Filion
Sylvain Filion - Lampman Cup winner (O’Brien Award winner)
2016 OSS statistics: 199 47-26-23-28-13; $2,171,210; 511 Lampman Cup points (fourth Lampman Cup title).
Leading drives: Yaris Bayama, Streakavana, Emoticon Hanover, Warrawee Roo, Tymal Peacemaker, Gerries Sport, Mayhem Seelster, Soiree Seelster, On A Sunny Day
Mark Steacy - Johnston Cup winner
2016 OSS statistics: 132 14-13-21-28-12; $603,540; 269 Johnston Cup points (first Johnston Cup title).
Stable stars: Forever Liza, Royal Charm, Sass, Dream Massive, Nocturnal Bluechip
Goodwill Hanover - SBOA Stake pacing filly champion
Big Jim – Go For Best
16 4-1-0, $204,719, 1:50s (set in the SBOA Final)
Breeders: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Hanover, PA
Owners: GLB Stable, Lakeview, NS
Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore • Driver: Chris Christoforou
Flowers N Songs - SBOA Stake trotting filly champion
Deweycheatumnhowe – Pleasures Song
33 11-6-6, $577,608, 1:53s (set in the SBOA Final)
Owner/Breeder: Robert Key, Leechburg, Pennsylvania
Trainer: Paul Reid • Driver: Doug McNair
Cabrini Hanover - Masterfeeds Outstanding Pacing Broodmare
(p, 2, 1:51s $1,473,729) - Western Ideal – Cathedra
Breeders: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Hanover, PA
Owners: David Willmot, King City & Clay Harland Horner, Toronto, ON
Dam of $1,175,468 winner Solar Sister (Mach Three), the 2015 OSS three-year-old pacing filly champion. In 2016, Solar Sister won the Sam “Chip” Noble III Memorial Pace and the Artiscape for aged pacing mares and is an O’Brien Award finalist. Cabrini Hanover is also the dam of $197,955 winner Wherethegirlsare (Somebeachsomewhere).
In The Mean Time - Masterfeeds Outstanding Trotting Broodmare
(3, 1:54.4m, $233,554) - Muscles Yankee - Soutaine Hanover
Breeders: David McDuffee, Delray Beach, Florida & Irving Liverman, Hampstead, QC
Dam of Gold Series winners Could It Be Magic ($222,656) and Magic Presto ($393,049) (both by Kadabra). Magic Presto was also victorious in the 2016 Goldsmith Maid and is an O’Brien Award finalist.
Doug Millard - Chris Van Bussel Memorial Award winner
The Chris Van Bussel Memorial Award was established in memory of the Seelster Farms founder to recognize persons of integrity who have been of service to both the SBOA and the greater harness racing industry, and in 2016 the SBOA is proud to present the award to Doug Millard.
During his long-time participation in the harness racing industry Doug Millard has owned everything from claimers to stakes horses, including the great trotting filly Elegantimage ($955,368). Millard’s Woodstock-based Chelemark nursery has also produced a number of impressive performers, most recently Elegantimage’s daughter Elegant Serenity, who retired in October with $511,173 in earnings.
A staunch supporter of the Ontario Sires Stakes, Millard has both bred and bought horses to race in the program, partnering with a variety of trainers from locally-based to Grand Circuit-focused. In addition, Millard has served the harness racing community as a member of the Woodbine Entertainment Group Board of Directors, sitting on the Standardbred Racing and Audit Committees.
Anthony MacDonald - Lloyd Chisholm Achievement Award winner
Established in honour of one of the founding fathers of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, the Lloyd Chisholm Achievement Award recognizes a member of the harness racing community for their ongoing meritorious service. The deserving 2016 award recipient is Anthony MacDonald.
Since 2012, trainer-driver MacDonald has served as an advocate for the harness racing industry, offering ideas and engaging in discussion on his popular Standardbred Canada blog. In 2015, the Guelph resident and his wife Amy launched fractional ownership venture The Stable in an effort to lower the cost and risk associated with yearling ownership and attract new owners to the industry. MacDonald has also hosted open houses at his training centre and participated in a variety of speaking engagements in an effort to raise awareness about The Stable and harness racing in Ontario.
(SBOA/Sandra Snyder)