Brad Forward is originally from Newfoundland, but has established himself as one of Ontario’s top drivers while racking up some huge numbers in the last few years. Last year marked the fifth consecutive year that Forward eclipsed $3 million in purse earnings.
It was a memorable year for the 37-year-old Woodstock, Ontario resident. After winning the Ontario Regional Driving Championship at Grand River Raceway in late 2008, Forward earned a spot in the 2009 National Driving Championship held in March at Fraser Downs. With 15 of his family members on hand to show their support, Forward clinched the driving title and earned the honour of representing Canada in the World Driving Championship held in Norway.
For the second consecutive year, Forward was the leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes program and the recipient of the prestigious Lampman Cup. Forward teamed up with Ontario Sires Stakes starters including Not Enough, Lyons Anitacol, Berndt Energy and Scotty Doesnt Know to amass over $1 million from the provincial program. He also guided the winners of two Grassroots Championships at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Forward primarily drives in Southwestern Ontario and is a regular catch-driver at London’s Western Fair Raceway and Windsor Raceway.
Jody Jamieson rewrote the record books in 2009 as he set a new single season Canadian win record of 787 and took on a staggering number of 3,322 drives to get the job done.
It was a career year for the 33-year-old Cambridge, Ontario resident as he guided horses to over $11 million in earnings, topping the charts for all Canadian drivers. The third generation horseman was also the leading dash winner in North America and finished in a dead heat with Dave Palone for Harness Tracks Of America’s Driver of the Year Award. Jamieson was the first Canadian driver ever to win this award while competing almost exclusively in Canadian races.
Last season was the fourth consecutive year Jamieson has been nominated as Canada’s Driver of the Year and he’s looking to add an O’Brien trophy to the one he earned in 2007. Some of Jamieson’s star performers for 2009 included O’Brien nominee Put On A Show, a winner of over $776,000 and 2008 O’Brien Award winner Federal Flex, who won $279,000 in ’09.
Jamieson hit another career milestone in 2009 when he drove his 5,000th career winner, Lucky In Lust, on December 2 at Flamboro Downs.
Who do you think will win? If you haven't voted yet, head over to the 2009 O'Brien poll.