Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2014 Media Excellence Awards.

The Media Excellence Awards program is aimed at honouring those who have, through one piece of exceptional work, covered Canadian harness racing in a manner that is extraordinary and of broad national appeal. 2014 marks the seventh year for this program.

The finalists in the Outstanding Written Work category are Dave Briggs for his story, 'Desperate Situations', published in the October 2014 issue of Hoof Beats magazine and Sydney Weaver for her story, 'The Magic of Christmas' published on May 4, 2014 on Harnesslink.

'Desperate Situations' is a feature that provides a snapshot of the human face on the Ontario slots crisis and takes a look into the lives of breeders Dr. Pat and Anna Meyers (Emerald Ridge Farm), former Woodbine Entertainment Group executive Bruce Murray, training centre owner Jason Libby and caretaker Bob Coole to see how the end of the Slots at Racetracks Program impacted their lives. Dave Briggs was a winner of this award in 2008.

In 'The Magic of Christmas', Sydney Weaver writes about how longtime horse owner Cesar Kowalski, made her wish for a horse for Christmas come true. On Christmas Day in 2012, Kowalski gave part ownership of pacing mare Sydney Seelster (aka Pinky) to Sydney Weaver as a Christmas gift.

Horse Racing Alberta’s Public Service Announcement, 'There’s A Horse For Everyone' and Woodbine Entertainment’s 2014 Pepsi North America Cup broadcast in HD are the two finalists in the Outstanding Video, Film or Broadcast category.

There’s A Horse For Everyone was produced by Jeff Robillard and Mike Little and was broadcast on CTV Alberta from September, 2014 until November 30, 2014. Horse Racing Alberta won Media Excellence Awards in 2008 and 2009.

WEG’s 2014 Pepsi North America Cup show was broadcast on TSN television network on Saturday, June 14 from 10:00 – 10:30 p.m. The show was produced by Robin Platts and directed by Kris Platts of WEG’s Broadcast Department. The special broadcast aired in high-definition and featured live race coverage of the Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts along with a feature on friends and partners, Bill Cass and John Craig. Woodbine Entertainment’s Broadcast Department will be looking for their fifth consecutive award in this category.

Clive Cohen’s silhouette photo of three horses racing at Mohawk and Cherie Paskaruk’s shot of a trainer jogging a horse on a wintery morning at Fraser Downs are the finalists in the Outstanding Photography category.

Cohen’s photo was taken on October 2, 2014 on a very foggy night. Cohen, who won the Photography award in 2013, was standing in the infield shooting towards the grandstand. This shot is the 4th race as the field goes past the finish line (just as the starting car leaves the field) the first time.

Paskaruk’s shot of Sandra Roberts jogging Alverna was taken early in the morning on Tuesday, February 15, 2014, at Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino, where the track and barns were under a blanket of snow.

To see a list of past winners of the Media Excellence Awards, click here.

The winners will be announced at the O’Brien Awards Gala on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Centre.