The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame today announced some changes to its Board of Directors, Nomination and Election committees, as well as a change to the nomination and election parameters.

Following a call for nominations earlier this year to fill the position of Director representing Standardbred horsemen’s associations, the Board of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame recently voted Mr. William (Bill) Andrew to fill the vacancy.

Currently President of the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, Bill Andrew was inducted as a Builder to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. Originally from Clinton, Ont. and now a resident of Calgary, Alta., Andrew has been involved in harness racing since he purchased his first yearling in 1990. His focus shifted from racing to breeding in 2003 and since that time he has made a tremendous impact on the Canadian Standardbred industry, especially in Alberta and Prince Edward Island. Aside from being a leading breeder in those two provinces, Andrew has given much back to the racing industry he loves, through charitable projects and financial contributions. In 2015, Andrew was awarded Standardbred Canada’s coveted Cam Fella Award for meritorious service to the Canadian Standardbred industry.

Upon receipt of the news of the appointment Mr. Andrew stated: "It is an honour to be selected to join the Board of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. A walk through the Hall of Fame at Woodbine gives a sense of the deep history of horse racing in Canada and of those horses and individuals who have made horse racing an important and colourful part of the fabric of Canada."

At the same meeting, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Board of Directors approved the following changes to the Nomination and Election Committees.

Standardbred Nomination and Election Committees

Jack McNiven, 2007 CHRHF Standardbred Builder Inductee joins the Standardbred Election Committee filling the position previously held by the late Dr. Ted Clarke, 2015 CHRHF Standardbred Builder Inductee.

2019 Standardbred Driver Inductee Trevor Ritchie will join the Standardbred Election Committee filling the position previously held by Ken Hardy.

Thoroughbred Nomination and Election Committees

Irwin Driedger, Executive Director of the Jockeys’ Benefit Association of Canada joins the Thoroughbred Nomination Committee in the position previously held by Robert King, Jr.

Two changes were approved for the Thoroughbred Election Committee with Ontario-based Thoroughbred trainer Catherine Day-Phillips and British Columbia-based racetrack executive Darren MacDonald filling vacancies left by the departures of Robert King, Jr. and Dr. Tim Yatcak.

The Board and committee chairs extend their appreciation to those who have completed their service to the CHRHF as Nomination or Election Committee members and thank them for their time, expertise and commitment to the organization.

A complete list of all Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame committees and members can be found here.

Additionally, as part of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame’s continuing efforts to honour the most deserving people and horses who have made a significant contribution to Canadian Standardbred and Thoroughbred horse racing, a change has been made to nomination and election parameters to allow Nomination Committees to select either four or five categories for recognition in a given year, while still maintaining a total of five inductees per breed each year. Should four categories for induction be selected, one category will be identified to have two people or horses recognized. The purpose of this change is to provide the opportunity for categories with a large number of very worthy nominees to be utilized ensuring the strongest possible list of inductees be installed to the Hall in a timely fashion.

An announcement will be made in the coming weeks inviting public participation in the nomination of horses and people who have made a significant contribution to Canadian Standardbred and Thoroughbred horse racing, for induction to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2020.

At that time, nominations will be considered in the following categories:

• MALE HORSE: Stallions or geldings whose contribution to Canadian racing occurred in the past 20 years.

• FEMALE HORSE: Mares whose contribution to Canadian racing occurred in the past 20 years.

• VETERAN HORSE: Horses whose careers have been concluded for 20 years, but less than 50 years.

• PERSON: Trainers, Drivers, Jockeys.

• BUILDERS: Includes, but not limited to Breeders, Owners, Officials, and others.

• COMMUNICATORS: Includes, but not limited to writers, broadcasters, photographers, announcers.

• VETERAN PERSON: Trainers, Drivers, Jockeys whose careers have been concluded for 20 years, but less than 50 years.

Complete Nomination and Election Criteria can be viewed here.

We invite you to visit the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame located at the West Entrance of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Additional information about the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is available at www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com or by contacting [email protected] or 416-417-9404.

(CHRHF)