Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce the winners of the bursaries for the 2008 Atlantic Provinces Bursary program.
Matthew Armstrong, 20, of Rothesay, New Brunswick, David Kelly, 18 of Sydney, Nova Scotia and Allison Montgomery, 18, of Borden Carleton, PEI will each receive a $1,600 bursary towards their post secondary education for 2008-2009.
Harness racing goes back five generations in the Armstrong family. Matthew Armstrong has been active in the industry working with the horses alongside his father, selling Atlantic Post Calls at the track and assisting with race presentations. He's owned groomed and trained horses and is currently in his second year at NBCC Miramichic in the Police Foundations program.
David Kelly has been around horses since he was old enough to walk, helping his uncles, grandfathers and his Dad. In the past year he's trained a small stable of horses and is now enrolled in his first year at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the pre-vet program.
Allison Montgomery has been hands on in the industry, grooming, paddocking and jogging and in 2007 was named Prince County Horsemen's Club Horsewoman of the Year. Allison is in her first year at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the pre-vet program.
The bursaries were awarded based on participation in the industry, academics and financial need. Applicants were also required to submit an essay addressing "how the industry needs to market harness racing to youth."
This program is supported and funded by various organizations from the Atlantic Provinces and Standardbred Canada.
Partners from the Atlantic Provinces include the Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association, the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association, the New Brunswick Horse Racing Industry Association, the Fredericton Harness Horseman's Association, the Moncton Horseman's Association, Saint John Exhibition Association, Saint John Harness Horsemen's Association, and the 'Horsepersons' Benevolent Fund,' a fund created by the Maritime Provinces Harness Racing Commissions Race Officials.
Presentations to the successful applicants will be made at their local racetrack closest to their home.
Standardbred Canada and all of the partners from the Atlantic Provinces would like to extend their thanks to all of the students who submitted applications for bursaries.