A total of 83 ballots for the 2009 O'Brien Awards are being sent out today

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The 83 people who will vote on the 2009 O'Brien Awards 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. Ballots are due back to SC by Thursday, December 17.

Standardbred Canada has an O’Brien Committee of eight individuals that determines the candidates for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship and the Armstrong Breeder of the Year Award.

Voters are asked to vote for one of the following candidates for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship:

• Per Henriksen, Norwood, ON trainer stats - driver stats)
• Gerry Hudon, Edmonton, AB trainer stats - driver stats)
• Rick Zeron, Oakville, ON (trainer stats - driver stats)

For the Armstrong Breeder of the Year, the committee has put forward the following candidates for the voters to choose from:

• William Andrew, Calgary, AB
• Charlambos Christoforou, Campbellville, ON
• Diane Ingham / Harry Rutherford, Mount Pleasant, ON

The finalists will be announced on Tuesday, December 22.

The O’Brien Award winners will be announced and honoured at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga.