Tickets for the 2014 O’Brien Awards, scheduled for Saturday, February 7 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Centre in Mississauga, Ont., are now on sale. Canada’s harness racing champions will be announced at the Black Tie Gala which will feature a ‘fire and ice’ theme.
Tickets are $200 each and may be purchased by contacting SC’s Industry Marketing Department at 905-858-3060.
Each year Standardbred Canada produces a four-colour souvenir program for the O’Brien Awards. Full-page, four-colour ads are available for purchase in the program at a cost of $600 plus HST.
The program is distributed to everyone attending the O’Brien Black Tie Gala. Traditionally, ads are purchased by racetracks, industry associations, suppliers to congratulate nominees on their outstanding seasons, and owners of the nominees to thank the voters and/or team of people involved in their horse’s success. The deadline for reserving space in the O’Brien program is Friday, January 9. To book an ad, please contact Kathy Wade Vlaar at [email protected] or 905-858-3060 (Ext. 207), or Andrea Bertucci at [email protected] or 905-858-3060 (Ext. 213).
There is a special O’Brien room rate of $122 available at the Delta for a limited number of rooms. To make a reservation, you can contact the hotel at 1-800-422-8238 prior to January 19, and ask for the O’Brien Awards rate.
TASTE TESTER WINNER!
Last month the Fan Club sought out a ‘food aficionado’ to help select the four-course meal that will be served at next month’s O’Brien Awards.
The winner has been chosen after careful review of submissions sent in by numerous ‘foodies.’ Congratulations to Reverend Mark McLennan of Woodstock, Ont., who will be this year’s official O’Brien Awards Taste Tester.
Reverend McLennan has a knack for cooking and admits he does most of the work in the kitchen at home. He’s gained much exposure to cuisine from across the country while travelling as a minister, and currently is the senior minister at Knox Presbyterian Church in Woodstock.
Aside from his dedicated work with the Presbyterian Church, Reverend McLennan also has ties to the industry. “My father was involved for a while in the ‘90s and Hall of Famer Dr. John Findley has been a lifelong friend,” McLennan said.
Reverend McLennan enjoys dishes that are not too complicated or fussy and says the key to great success in the kitchen is good quality, simple food.
At the taste testing, the Delta’s Award winning chef, Andrew Nelson, will be showcasing a selection of soups, salads, entrees and desserts for the team to taste, savour and critique with the ultimate goal of selecting the meal for the 2014 O’Brien Awards.
For more information on the O’Brien Awards, click here.