Standardbred Canada has released the breakdown of the voting for the 2019 O'Brien Awards. The ceremony took place Saturday, February 1, 2020, at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario.
The complete breakdown of the official voting appears below. Thirty-eight voters from across the country and along with one Fan Ballot (put together based on the most number of first and second place votes in the Fan voting) comprised the voting. Voters included trade media who cover harness racing on a regular basis for publications or websites, race secretaries, track publicists, simulcast hosts and track announcers.
Voters made a first and second selection in each category, except for Horse of the Year, where they were asked to vote for only one horse. First place votes were worth two (2) points and second place votes were worth one (1) point.
In the event of a tie, the horse or person with the most first place votes was the winner. If both horses / people had the same number of first place votes, then the horse or person with the most second place votes was declared the winner. If there were also an equal number of second place votes, then a tie was declared.
A unanimous score was 78 points.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Alicorn – 59
Reflect With Me – 53
Karma Seelster – 3
Probert – 1
Snow Shark – 1
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts
Tall Dark Stranger – 75
Capt Midnight – 36
Tattoo Artist – 5
Wind Blown – 1
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Sunny Dee – 53
Boadicea – 41
Tall Drink Hanover – 15
Lady Neigh Neigh – 2
So Much More - 2
No Vote – 2
Beauty On The Beach – 1
Rockin Mystery – 1
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts
Century Farroh – 63
Captain Crunch – 40
Kneedeep N Custard – 5
Outlawgrabbingears – 3
Stag Party – 2
No Vote – 2
B Stoney – 1
Best In Show – 1
Older Pacing Mares
Caviart Ally – 65
Double A Mint – 30
Kendall Seelster – 11
Seaswift Joy N – 4
Kissin In The Sand – 3
Cousin Mary – 2
Youaremycandygirl – 1
No Vote – 1
Older Pacing Horses
McWicked – 39
Lather Up – 23
Courtly Choice – 21
Jimmy Freight – 9
American History – 9
Easy Lover Hanover – 6
Physicallyinclined – 6
This Is The Plan – 2
East End – 1
Western Fame – 1
Future Star Award
Dave Kelly – 59
Austin Sorrie – 33
Kyle Bossence – 19
No Vote – 6
O’Brien Award of Horsemanship
Gilles Barrieau – 57
Mario Baillargeon – 32
Rod Hennessy – 28
Armstrong Breeder of the Year
Libfeld / Katz – 48
Robert McIntosh Stable Inc. – 40
Seelster Farms – 29
Driver of the Year
Louis-Philippe Roy – 48
Bob McClure – 29
Sylvain Filion – 23
Robert Shepherd – 3
Yannick Gingras – 2
Dave Kelly – 2
Colin Kelly – 2
Dexter Dunn – 2
Marc Campbell – 2
Andrew McCarthy – 1
No Vote – 3
Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Dip Me Hanover – 37
Wine Rack Hanover – 28
Jula Shes Magic – 23
Warrawee Vicky – 22
Panem – 3
Jula Champagne – 1
Sheer Energy – 1
She Rocks Kemp – 1
Whose Blues – 1
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts
H P Royal Theo – 51* (winner as he had more first place votes)
Port Perry – 51
Moon Bridge – 7
Synergy – 4
Mabou Ridge – 1
Lovedbythemasses – 1
Magic Bob – 1
Threefiftytwo – 1
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Evident Beauty – 36*
Only Take Cash – 36* (same number of first & second place votes)
Haveoneforme – 22
Brighteyes M – 16
The Ice Dutchess – 5
Sisters Promise – 1
Splurge On Me – 1
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Forbidden Trade – 76
Pilot Discretion – 22
All Wrapped Up – 7
Only For Justice – 4
Swandre The Giant – 2
Smart As Hill – 2
Gettin Messi – 1
Knight Angel – 1
Southwind Avenger – 1
No Vote – 1
Older Trotting Mares
Atlanta – 71
Emoticon Hanover – 37
PL Jill – 4
Hannelore Hanover – 2
Hey Livvy – 2
Cindy Lynn – 1
Older Trotting Horses
Musical Rhythm – 57
Lindy The Great – 22
Free Willy Hanover – 17
B Yoyo – 11
Willyorwonthe – 5
No Vote – 3
Muscles For Life – 1
Cue Hall – 1
Horse Of The Year (Only one (1) vote per person; 39 voters) Points followed by number of votes.
Forbidden Trade – 23
Tall Dark Stranger – 7
Atlanta – 3
McWicked – 3
Caviart Ally – 1
Century Farroh – 1
Lather Up – 1
Trainer of the Year
Richard Moreau – 45
Luc Blais – 31
Carmen Auciello – 17
Kelly Hoerdt – 6
Dr. Ian Moore – 5
Ben Baillargeon – 5
Gilles Barrieau – 3
Robert McIntosh – 3
Casie Coleman – 1
Blake MacIntosh – 1