"This time, I really won the award."
After winning the 2018 O'Brien Award of Horsemanship by default after his fellow finalist was disqualified, Guy Gagnon can truly appreciate his 2024 O'Brien Award of Horsemanship.
And much like how they don't write the margin of victory on a winner's paycheque, there's no vote difference on the plaque Gagnon will affix to his second bust of Joe O'Brien.
When Standardbred Canada released the voting results for the 2024 O'Brien Awards, the O'Brien Award of Horsemanship was in fact the closest category. Gagnon defeated Hall of Famer Carl Jamieson by a single vote. And that O'Brien Award is a significant feat for a trainer and driver who primarily plies his trade in the Ottawa-Quebec region.
"It just shows that you can win [an O'Brien Award] anywhere," noted Gagnon. "You just have to work hard and have success. But I will say that I have a good team with me and I couldn't win it alone."
With a dominant season at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Gagnon was once again among the top trainers at the Ottawa, Ont. oval. Stable stars I Ama Rocket, The Light Speed and All Wrapped Up ruled the national capital region's Preferred ranks and Gagnon developed multiple stakes-placed youngsters, such as Jenny Longlegs and Wild Dream Men. He finished the season with a personal best 100 training wins and his stable earning more than $600,000 for the second time in his career. His UTRS was one of the highest of his career (0.434) in a season with more than 250 starts.
In an interview with Standardbred Canada's Jeff Porchak, Gagnon talks about the people that support him behind the scenes, what race sits atop his bucket list, and why just attending the O'Brien Awards is a special night in and of itself. The interview is the fifth in a series of interviews sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta.
(Standardbred Canada; photos courtesy New Image Media and Bente Nielsen)