Further to yesterday’s announcement of finalists for the 2008 O’Brien Awards, Standardbred Canada has today announced that Secrets Nephew is the winner of the O’Brien Award in the Older Pacing Horse category.
An oversight was made with respect to the O’Brien Award eligibility policy and it was determined that the other finalist, Tigerama contravenes this policy. “It is up to us to ensure that this policy is enforced," stated Ted Smith, president of Standardbred Canada, “we regret that an error was made but it is our responsibility to rectify this situation.”
Secrets Nephew, a winner of over $411,000 and 11 races is owned by his trainer Lyle MacArthur, St. George and Frank Grandinetti of Amherst, New York. The six-year-old son of Camluck raced every one of his 31 starts in Canada and had 27 top three finishes.
Tigerama is ineligible for an O’Brien Award based on the O’Brien Award Eligibility Policy which reads as follows:
An O’Brien Award will not be presented to any individual or entity who has served, or is currently serving, a penalty for a continuous period of 180 days or more during the calendar year. If the penalty continues through any part of the following calendar year, said individual is also ineligible for an O’Brien Award in the second year of the penalty.
Further, any horses trained by such individuals are ineligible for O’Brien Award consideration during that calendar year. If the trainer’s penalty continues through any part of the following calendar year, said horses are also ineligible for an O’Brien Award in the second year of the trainer’s suspension.
Any horse that receives a positive test for a Class I, II, or III drug during the calendar year, or at any time prior to the presentation of the Awards, is not eligible for any O’Brien Award.
Outstanding appeals and/or stays do not alter the conditions of eligibility for O’Brien Award Consideration.
Tigerama was trained by William Elliott from January 1 through April 26, 2008. The Ontario Racing Commission issued William Elliott a fine of $40,000 and a suspension on June 26, 2008 for a period of 10 years as a result of the presence of darbepoeitin-alpha (DPO) found in the blood sample of Michelles Power taken on August 29, 2007.
Although Tigerama received enough votes to make him one of two finalists, SC has determined that since Tigerama was trained by William Elliott during this calendar year, that he is ineligible for an O’Brien Award.
Secrets Nephew received more votes than any other horse in the category, including the ineligible Tigerama. His connections will be presented with the O’Brien trophy at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 31, 2008.
Secret's Nephew has been my
Secret's Nephew has been my favourite horse for 3 years, long before his ascension to the top. I am thrilled for Lyle and the Nephew! It looks like one of my other faves, Ramegade Bruiser may give him some competition this year.
with all due respect to lyle
with all due respect to lyle and his connections,they did an awsome job,they have always had good horses,and the are great horse men,he drove secrets nephew smart all year..tigerama got bad post positions all year and was over driven a lot of the time..i cant remember him getting too many good trips..
In reply to with all due respect to lyle by Anonymous (not verified)
so u r telling me secrets
so u r telling me secrets nephew got the rail every start? i don't remember that!
Congratulations to Larry,
Congratulations to Larry, Lyle & Secret. All your hard work paid off. I am SO PROUD of all of you!
So with Tigerama being
So with Tigerama being ineligible for the award...Does that mean Tigerama's owner/ Breeder is also disqualified?
I know how Lyle loves this
I know how Lyle loves this horse. The horse loves him back and gives his all for him. Nice win Lyle and Secret
Congratulations to you
Congratulations to you Secrets Nephew you deserved it!
See you next year.
Best Regards
Silent Swing
Congrats to Secret! Who was
Congrats to Secret! Who was the legitimate runner up??? Swing?
PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE WINNER
PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE WINNER AND DONT BRING UP DIRTY LAUNDY ABOUT OTHER HORSES, THERE IS NO NEED TO.
Secrets Nephew would have
Secrets Nephew would have won the award anyway but you can't take anything away from Tigerama . He was really solid and he didn't get a whole lot of pole position help and to have his name associated with someone who tarnished the game is a real shame. The poor horse doesn't know what your doing to him, it's the bad connections that deserve the dishonor not Tigerama. The dq was fair but you can't dispute, tigerama has been a great horse. nuff said
What a well deserved honor
What a well deserved honor for Secret's Nephew and all his connections. Just a shame that any hint of scandal had to taint the award--he deserved to trounce a legitimate contender.
Secrets Nephew deserved to
Secrets Nephew deserved to win anyway. It's to bad that Tigerama had to be disqualified because of a dishonest trainer.
Secret Nephew is a deserving
Secret Nephew is a deserving winner! I thought Silent Swing should have been the runner up as he made more money than Tigerama in 6 less starts while taking on the best of the best. Congrats to Lyle.
Great job done by all on
Great job done by all on this one. Congratulations to all involved with this horse and to SC for doing the right thing, he would have won anyway.
Now if we could get them to
Now if we could get them to do this in the states, that would be great! Congrats to Lyle and Secret's Nephew!!!
I'd also like to
I'd also like to congratulate the MacArthur family and Secrets Nephew. "Secret" was certainly no secret to the racing fans, and is a most deserving winner.
As a voter for the O'Briens, I think ineligible horses and people should be scratched from the lists sent to voters.
Obviously someone voted for Tigerama, apparently not knowing their vote(s) would be wasted. Had an ineligible horse not been on the list, those vote(s) would have been cast on a 'legitimate' contender.
In this particular division, Secrets Nephew would probably have become a more overwhelming winner ... but in a closer battle, needlessly wasted ballots COULD cost a horse or person the O'Brien Award.
Secret was far the best
Secret was far the best anyway. This should also mean Glengate wins breeder of the year, right?
This horse was awesome- many
This horse was awesome- many big, big miles. congrats to him and to Lyle- they deserve it !!!
Secret's Nephew was nothing
Secret's Nephew was nothing less than an iron horse week in week out, he went some very big trips- he deserves the honour and he was a pleasure to watch. Congrats Secret and Lyle MacArthur- well done!!!
Kudos to SC for doing what's right.
What a deserving recipient.
What a deserving recipient. Lyle MacArthur stable has done a fantastic job managing Secret Nephew's career. Great honour to a deserving horseman!!!!!!
So that should give Glengate
So that should give Glengate Farms a LOCK on Breeder of the Year, no?
RULE OR NO RULE , SECRETS
RULE OR NO RULE , SECRETS NEPHEW WOULD HAVE WON THIS BY A MILE...CONGRATS TO ALL INVOLVED WITH THIS FANTASTIC HORSE.
Way to Go to The MacArthur
Way to Go to The MacArthur family! Secret and Madonna, what GREAT horses. You deserve the BEST!!
if i could have one horse in
if i could have one horse in my barn, this guy would be my pick ... (now that "Beach" is retired) ... Tough as nails, week in and week out !