Ballots for the 2012 O'Brien Awards are being sent out today, with candidates for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship and the Armstrong Breeder of the Year Award also released.

The people who are entitled to vote on the 2012 O'Brien Awards include writers for the various trade publications and web sites, and media people who cover harness racing on a regular basis across Canada in print, radio or television. All Canadian race secretaries, track publicists and simulcast hosts also participate in the voting. Completed ballots are due back to SC by Friday, December 14.

Standardbred Canada has an O’Brien Committee 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:

- Marc Campbell, Winsloe, P.E.I.
- Darren Crowe, Lower Onslow, N.S.
- Kelly Hoerdt, Beaumont, Alta.

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

- William Andrew / Meridian Farm, Calgary, Alta.
- Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., Leamington, Ont. / Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Windsor, Ont.
- Warrawee Farms, Rockwood, Ont.

Finalists in each of the 16 categories will be announced on Wednesday, December 19.

The O’Brien Award winners will be announced and honoured at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ont.