The harness racing industry in New Brunswick has announced a major new award to be named in memory of one its most accomplished horse people, the late Earl Avery.

Earl Avery was a native of Knowlesville, N.B. who later moved to Woodstock to begin a legendary career in the sport back in the early 1920’s. He was the first member of the harness racing fraternity to be inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1976; the normal five-year waiting period after retirement being waived for the much-respected Avery.

Avery is the only horseman from New Brunswick to ever be elected to Horse Racing Hall of Fames in both Canada and the United States. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1977 and later the same year became the 25th person to be elected to the Living Hall of Fame of the Trotters in Goshen, New York.

It was a fitting culmination of a career that saw him win more than 4,000 races and $3.5 million in career earnings and establishing nine world records.

Avery became associated with arguably the greatest pacing horse in the history of harness racing when he convinced owner Norman Woolworth to purchase Meadow Skipper 50 years ago. Meadow Skipper went on to become a world champion race horse for Avery, pacing Lexington, Kentucky’s famed Red Mile in 1:55.1 in October 1963. He later developed into one of the most prolific stallions of the 20th century and his influences on breeding continue to be felt today.

The Earl Avery Award will be given annually to a horse, horse person or personality, or horse racing event that best represents the New Brunswick harness racing industry during the year which, by their performance, exemplifies the characteristics of the late Earl Avery and his achievements. The award would recognize successes within the province or could also honour an outstanding horse or horseperson and their accomplishments outside New Brunswick that brings recognition to the industry, both of which Avery himself did with distinction.

The recipient of the Earl Avery Award will also receive a cheque for $1,000 in the name of a recognized charity that they have chosen. The winner will have an opportunity to present the cheque to the charity on behalf of all horse people in New Brunswick.

The creation of the Earl Avery Award and the prize is a collaboration between Horse Racing New Brunswick and the Horseman’s Associations in Woodstock, Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton.

“This new award creates an opportunity to bring recognition to outstanding harness racing achievements in New Brunswick while also honouring an industry pioneer,” says Brent Briggs, administrator of the Earl Avery Award. “Besides being an outstanding horseman, Earl Avery was also a great ambassador of the New Brunswick industry for over 50 years. He was the inaugural winner of the Clem McCarthy Good Guy Award and received the Golden Service Award by fellow harness racing drivers for meritorious service and dedication to harness racing in the United States.”

Nominations for the 2013 award will be accepted from the general public and all horse people until January 15, 2014 with the winner to be announced on February 17, 2014. The inaugural presentation will be at the Fredericton Horseman’s Association Annual Awards Banquet and Wall of Fame ceremonies in the new year.

“As this year commemorates the 50th anniversary of Earl Avery’s world championship mile with Meadow Skipper, provincial representatives felt that it was the right time to pay homage to one of our own,” said Briggs. “I am sure he would have been proud to know that this award would recognize the successes of the local industry.

“I fully anticipate that the Earl Avery Award, with its distinguished namesake and the opportunity for the recipient to donate $1,000 to a deserving charity, will make it a coveted award in New Brunswick harness racing.”

Nominations can be sent by email to Brent Briggs.