An exciting 25th anniversary celebration of the O’Brien Awards and action packed O’Brien Award weekend in Charlottetown, P.E.I., starts Friday, February 7 and runs through Sunday, February 9, 2014.

The first official event for the weekend happened Thursday evening as Lieutenant Governor Frank Lewis hosted a reception at the Lieutenant Governor's home. Lewis welcomed Standardbred Canada board members and executive along with PEI's Minister of Finance Wes Sheridan. SC's President and CEO John Gallinger presented Lewis and his wife Dorothy with a framed print of two-time O'Brien Award winning Horse of the Year, Somebeachsomewhere.

The 2013 O’Brien Awards Gala is being hosted with the support of the PEI 2014 Fund as part of the 150th Anniversary celebration of the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference that led to the creation of our Nation.

The O’Brien Awards Gala is the highlight of the weekend which also features a special card of harness racing at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at CDP, an Island Kitchen Party, a Harness Racing Forum and Tour of the Island.

Here is a look at the event line up for the O’Brien weekend:

Friday, February 7

The Horses Live
Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at CDP

Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at CDP is proud to host a special live harness racing presentation with first race post time at 6:00 p.m.

Kitchen Party (9 p.m. – 12 a.m.)
EastLink Centre

The Island Kitchen Party will feature food stations showcasing some of the Island’s best products from P.E.I., live entertainment, O’Brien Memorabilia and more! This exciting event takes place in the EastLink Centre.

Saturday, February 8

Harness Racing Industry Forum (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at CDP - Grandstand

Join PEIHRIA's harness racing panel for an information session on today’s harness racing industry. Guests will include breeders, owners, trainers, drivers and racing executives.

Tour of PEI (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
A tour of historic Charlottetown and surrounding areas. Our motor coach, hosted by an Island tour guide, will begin with pick up at 9:30 a.m. at the Delta Prince Edward hotel followed by a second pick-up location at the main entrance of Red Shores Charlottetown at 9:45 a.m. Departure from Red Shores is 10 a.m. The Island tour includes stops at the famous Cows Cream Factory and Gift Shop, factory outlets Reebok, Paderno and Rockport Shoes. At approximately 11:15 a.m., guests will travel to the new PEI Brewing Company for a tour of this state of the art facility.

O’Brien Awards Gala (6 p.m. – 1 a.m.)

• Cocktail Reception – 6:00 p.m. –- 7:00 p.m. Harbourview Room

• Dinner & Awards Presentation – 7:00 p.m. –- 10:30 p.m. Palmer Pope Ballroom

• Dance – 10:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. -- Palmer Pope Ballroom

The 25th edition of the O’Brien Awards will be held at the Delta Prince Edward & Prince Edward Island Convention Centre.

The inaugural edition of the O'Brien Awards was presented in 1989. The Awards were named after the late Joe O'Brien as a permanent testimony to the unmatched skills of this legendary horseman. "Little Joe" was born in Alberton, P.E.I., on June 25, 1917, and was regarded as one of the premier all-round horsemen in the sport.

(Photos courtesy Gail MacDonald)