Fred MacDonald On O'Briens: 'Mark Was Robbed'

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Published: December 24, 2010 10:51 am EST

Citing extremely strong 2010 numbers, Fred MacDonald, the father of two-time O'Brien Award-winning reinsman Mark MacDonald, has penned an op-ed column in which he states that his son has been "robbed" of the award this time around and that "the statistics don't lie."

A total of 74 individuals voted on the O'Brien Awards this year. The voters are media people that cover harness racing on a regular basis across Canada; including writers for the various trade publications and websites, as well as those in print, radio and television. All Canadian race secretaries, track publicists and simulcast hosts also participate in the voting.

After the results of the voting for Canada's 2010 Driver of the Year were tallied, it was revealed that pilots Randy Waples and Scott Zeron received the majority of the nods for the year-end honour.

In regard to Waples, Fred wrote in his column in The Guardian that, 'Waples had a great season as well. He won the Breeders Crown with aged mare Dreamfair Eternal as she dominated the Open Mares throughout the season. He won the $600,000 Maple Leaf trot with sensational San Pail, and the $539,000 Valley Victory trot with Blue Porsche. In addition, during OSS Super Final night at Woodbine, he won two $300,000 events on the same card, including one with trot standout Text Me.'

In regard to Zeron, Fred wrote, 'Zeron led all drivers in the country with 592 wins and a career-high $4.3 million in earnings. Zeron, the son of veteran driver Rick Zeron, campaigned mostly on the 'B' circuit, including Western Fair, Flamboro and Georgian Raceway. He posted 27 wins on the tough Woodbine/Mohawk Circuit. His most important win of the campaign came in the $50,000 Gold Cup and Saucer at Charlottetown with Part Shark, the youngest to ever win the event.'

In regard to Mark MacDonald, Fred wrote, 'Mark’s major wins: $1.5-million North America Cup, the richest race in North America, with Sportswriter in 1:48:3; the $800,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, the richest race for three-year-old fillies with Western Silk, the $240,000 Jugette at Delaware, Ohio, with Western Silk, a rarity for an Ontario-bred; the $100,000 Senior Jug with Lucky Man p, 1:49:2 World Record, the Eternal Camnation Stakes, all three $100,000-plus legs in one night with Idyllic, Pretty Katherine and Mater Deo.'

To view up-to-date 2010 driver standings, click here.

In his piece, MacDonald explained that he believes Standardbred Canada should in the future implement a weighted system where points are given for the magnitude of racing accomplishments throughout the year.

Also, in regard to a recent SC Web Poll entitled, With Canada's top 10 money-winning drivers listed alphabetically, who is your choice to win the O'Brien Award for drivers?, Fred wrote, ' In future, when Standardbred Canada releases its web poll perhaps it should indicate the major accomplishments of each driver to refresh the memory of those voting. Winning on the 'B' Ontario circuit is one thing, winning the biggest races in North America as Mark did against John Campbell, Ron Pierce, Tim Tetrick and Paul MacDonell and other world class drivers, that’s quite another matter.'

To read Fred's op-ed piece, click here.

(With files from The Guardian)

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