Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the Outstanding Groom Award, sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
This award was introduced in 2015 and recognizes grooms who put their horses first, treat them with kindness and outstanding care, regardless of the horse or its ability, in addition to having a strong work ethic and being a good sportsman.
Submissions were received and considered for grooms from across the country.
Congratulations to the 2019 finalists, Rachel Dupuis of Rockwood, Ont., and Amber Guse of London, Ont.
Rachel Dupuis has been working in the Standardbred industry for over 25 years, looking after dozens of horses in her husband, Matt’s stable.
Her incredible dedication to her work alongside her passion for the animal are qualities which make her stand out and are part of her industry reputation, along with a friendly hello and smile for everyone she sees when she’s paddocking on race nights.
“Rachel puts her horses first, and works day and night, even when it’s not convenient, to ensure her horses are healthy, happy, and comfortable,” wrote her nominator.
Some of the horses that have benefitted from her care include: PL Jericho, PL Jill, St James Gate and Mise O Jeu.
Rachel’s unfailing resilience in tough times and extraordinary dedication to her horses and the sport make her an outstanding groom.
Amber has worked as a caretaker for over 20 years, committing herself to the horses day in and day out for practically her entire life. At the impressionable age of 10, she started working alongside her Mom, Patti McGillivary, caring for horses, until she was old enough to get her groom’s license and began to paddock and groom for other trainers.
For the past eight years, she has been employed by the Steve Bossence Stable in Dorchester, Ont., and prior to that she worked for trainers Mark Horner and Jason Libby.
Some of the horses under Amber’s care in the past year included: Nebraska Jack, Jims Great and Raising Royalty. She also owns and grooms Stonebridge Loyal, a horse she has leased since April 2019.
Amber is a detail oriented, meticulous, and extremely organized person who puts the horses first. Organization skills are a mandatory quality for the Mother of three children, who puts in long days at the barn and also paddocks at night. Horses come to race fit and healthy and Amber jokes that she treats her horses at the same level as her children.
According to her nominator, “you can walk the entire length of any race paddock in Ontario, and you will never see a horse that looks as good as one that Amber cares for.”
Previous winners of the Outstanding Groom Award include:
2018: Scott Lecain & Trevor Forgie, co-winners
2017: Chantel Gillis
2016: Teesha Symes
2015: Cindy Acton
Standardbred Canada received many worthy submissions and would like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate an outstanding groom.