Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce that it has created a new O’Brien Award category to honour a 'Rising Star' in Canadian harness racing.

The 'Rising Star Award' will be presented to an outstanding harness horse trainer or driver that demonstrates success in a given year, along with outstanding contributions and commitment to Canadian harness racing.

The criteria for determining eligible candidates are as follows:

• Must have made the majority of his/her starts in Canada in the year of consideration (over 50%)
• Does not have to be a Canadian citizen
• Cannot win this award more than once
• Cannot be over the age of 30 as of December 31 of the award year
• Must be within the first three full-time years of the person’s career as either a trainer or driver (whatever capacity the person is being considered for as the Rising Star)
• Full-time requirement for trainers is a minimum of 75 starts (per calendar year)
• Full-time requirement for drivers is a minimum of 150 starts (per calendar year)

Standardbred Canada is seeking your assistance to come up with a name for the award.

Please submit your suggestion for a name, via email, to [email protected], along with your name and address and a few sentences about why you feel this name is suitable for the award by August 15.

SC will develop a shortlist of names and conduct an online poll the week of August 26 to determine the name for the award. The person that submits the winning name will receive a $100 gift card for the racetrack of their choice.

This award will be presented for the 2013 racing season at the 25th edition of the O’Brien Awards on February 8, 2014 in Charlottetown, PEI.

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