Voting for the 2024 O’Brien Awards for fans and Standardbred Canada members is now open! The online voting will be available until Friday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. (EST).

Ballots have been sent to O’Brien Award voters across the country, including race secretaries, track announcers, track communications staff, harness racing journalists, and broadcasters.

To access the online voting package, click the following link: O'Briens Voter Documentation. Please review the eligibility criteria carefully.
Here’s what you need to know about the voting process:

1. Vote for a first and second-place horse in each divisional category.
2. Vote for a first and second-place person from the three candidates provided for:
   - O’Brien Award of Horsemanship
   - Armstrong Breeder of the Year
   - Future Star Award
3. Vote for a first, second, and third-place horse in the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year category.
4. Vote for a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth place person in the Trainer of the Year category (Points assigned will be 5/4/3/2/1 from first to fifth).
5. Vote for a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth place person in the Keith Waples Driver of the Year category (Points assigned will be 5/4/3/2/1 from first to fifth).

There will be a second round of voting for the Trainer and Driver categories. After the ballots are tallied, a shortlist of candidates will be compiled based on point totals from the first-round votes, creating a new ballot for the second round. Voters in Round 1 will receive a link for the second-round ballot no later than December 15 and will be asked to select a first- and second-place choice in these categories. 
 
The deadline for the second-round ballot is 12 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
 
All fan votes received will count as one vote towards the final results of the O’Brien Awards. There is a limit of one vote per person (based on IP address or email address). 
 
Votes will be tallied as follows:

• Horses/people receiving a first-place vote will receive two (2) points.
• Those receiving a second-place vote will receive one (1) point.
• The top two point earners in each category will be the finalists, with the number of first-place votes serving as a tiebreaker.

Voters are tasked with selecting the horses and individuals who MADE THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO CANADIAN HARNESS RACING IN 2024.
 
Eighteen O'Brien Awards will be presented for the 2024 racing season. Thirteen of these awards honour the premier horses from the past racing season, including the highly coveted Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year award. The horse awards are divided by age, sex, and gait. 
 
In addition, there are five awards for people:

• Driver of the Year
• Trainer of the Year
• Armstrong Bros. Farm Breeder of the Year
• O’Brien Award of Horsemanship
• Future Star Award

The Cam Fella Nominating Committee at Standardbred Canada determines the candidates for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship, the Armstrong Breeder of the Year Award, and the Future Star Award. 
 
Horsemanship:

• Guy Gagnon
• Carl Jamieson
• Paul Langille

Armstrong Breeder of the Year:

• Determination
• Millar Farms
• Seelster Farms Inc.

Future Star:

• Rebecca Kanak
• Todd Ratchford
• Brady Sweet

Finalists will be announced on Friday, Dec. 20. 
 
The 2024 O’Brien Award winners will be announced and honoured at the 2024 Awards Gala, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale in Mississauga, Ont. To reserve your tickets for the O'Brien Awards, please fill out the O'Brien Awards ticket reservation form and send it to Jade Regina at [email protected].