With trainer Ben Baillargeon's seasonal earnings approaching $3 million -- which would be a career best -- 2020 is shaping up to be one of the horseman's most successful years to date. That good fortune in a year where things haven't gone as well for so many has prompted Baiilargeon and his family to pay it forward in hopes that others will follow suit.

The Baillargeon clan, AKA 'Team B' has announced that they are donating a portion of their seasonal earnings to a pair of support centres local to them in Guelph, Ont., and they're encouraging participants in the harness racing industry to also support local initiatives in need this holiday season.

'Team B' submitted the following release regarding the charitable endeavor.

Just shy of $3 million in purse earnings, 2020 is shaping up to be one of Benoit Baillargeon’s most successful years to date. But that is unfortunately not the reality for most people today.

For most, in fact, the year 2020 has become synonymous with disruption, isolation, fear, and sadly, death as a result of COVID-19. Countless people have lost their jobs and consequently, their homes, and the ability to put food on the table for themselves and their families. In many parts of the country, shelters and food banks have reported a drastic increase in people seeking their services, demonstrating both how fragile and how important the home is.

Although the Standardbred industry was forced into a three-month racing hiatus this late winter-early spring, tremendous efforts by industry leaders facilitated a quick transition to a new ‘normal’ that allowed harness racing to go on relatively unimpeded. Whereas most people outside of the industry had to adjust to working from home -- largely isolated from peers, friends, and family -- people in the racehorse industry were not subject to such measures. The ability to leave the house every day to come to the barn in the morning and the racetrack at night did not simply counter the isolation of the virus, it stymied both anxieties and the effects of loss of income. Although things have changed, and the effects of COVID-19 on the industry have yet to be fully understood, and the industry is coming to the year’s close on relatively solid ground.

It is in light of this that Ben and Guylaine have decided to “pay it forward” this holiday season by donating a portion of Team B’s earnings to the Guelph Food Bank and the Royal City Mission, both local support centres located in downtown Guelph. The Ontario Standardbred community is strong for how it cares and fundraises for its own when individuals and families need help, but this time the pleas for help are coming from outside, and Team B is asking you to join them in supporting local relief centres. Donations need not be big, it is the act after all that builds community.