Canadian Harness Horse of the Year

Canadian Harness Horse of the Year is an annual award in the sport of harness racing in Canada. It is the most prestigious Canadian award among those given to a Standardbred horse. Part of the O'Brien Award program, named in honour of legendary Canadian driver / trainer Joe O'Brien, since 1989 Horse of the Year honours the top performing pacer or trotter in Canadian racing.[1] Operated by Standardbred Canada, its website states that "Every media person across Canada who covers harness racing on a regular basis receives a ballot, this includes writers for the various trade publications as well as those in print, radio and television. All Canadian race secretaries and track publicists also participate in the voting," and that "The voters' list is vigorously scrutinized each year with names added and deleted when necessary."[2]

O'Brien Award
Awarded forCanadian Harness Racing
CountryCanada
Presented byStandardbred Canada
First awarded1989
Websitewww.standardbredcanada.ca

Historical notes

Through 2015, Somebeachsomewhere is the only horse win the award twice.

Both Western Dreamer in 1997 and Blissfull Hall in 1999 won the U.S. Pacing Triple Crown.[3][4]

In 1996 and again in 2007 there was a tie.

Matt's Scooter (1989), Precious Bunny (1991), Artsplace (1992), Staying Together (1993), Real Desire (2002), Rainbow Blue (2004), Somebeachsomewhere (2008), Muscle Hill (2009), San Pail (2011) and JK She'salady (2014) also won American Harness Horse of the Year honours in the same year.

Past winners
Year
 Winner
 Gait
 Age
 Trainer
 Owner
 Breeder
2019 Forbidden Trade T 3
2018 McWicked P 7
2017 Hannelore Hanover T 5
2016 Betting Line P 3 Casie Coleman Ross Warriner, Steve Calhoun, Christine Calhoun, Mac Nichol, Casie Coleman Fair Winds Farm, Inc.
2015 State Treasurer P 6 Dr. Ian Moore Sally & Paul MacDonald Brittany Farms
2014 JK Shesalady P 2 Nancy Johansson 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz) 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz)
2013 Bee A Magician T 4 Richard Norman Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, Dave McDuffee White Birch Farm
2012 Michaels Power P 3 Casie Coleman Jeffrey S. Snyder Jeffrey S. Snyder
2011 San Pail T 7 Rod Hughes Glenn Van Camp & Rod Hughes Glenn Van Camp
2010 Dreamfair Eternal P 6 Pat Fletcher John Lamers John P. Lamers & Mary G. Lamers
2009 Muscle Hill T 3 Gregory B. Peck TLP Stable, Jerry Silva, Southwind Farm, Muscle Hill Racing Winbak Farm
2008 Somebeachsomewhere P 3 Brent MacGrath Schooner Stables (B. MacGrath, B. & R. Petitpas, G. Pye, S. Rath, J.Bagnall, P. Dean) Stephanie Smithrothaug
2007 Somebeachsomewhere P 2 Brent MacGrath Schooner Stables (B. MacGrath, B. & R. Petitpas, G. Pye, S. Rath, J.Bagnall, P. Dean) Stephanie Smithrothaug
2007 Tell All P 3 Blair Burgess My Desire Stable Tom Crouch
2006 Majestic Son T 3 Mark Steacy Majestic Son Stable Peter Dennis & Mike Schertzer
2005 Admiral's Express P 9 Mike Hales Gary & Laurel Gust, Cheryl & Edward D. Sayfie Pebble Creek Farm, Inc.
2004 Rainbow Blue P 3 George Teague, Jr. K&R Racing, LLC (Kevin & Ron Fry) & Teague, Inc. Winbak Farm
2003 Eternal Camnation P 6 Jeffrey Miller Eternal Camnation Stable (Doc & Dorothy Miller) Frederick W.Hertrich II
2002 Real Desire P 4 Blair Burgess Brittany Farms, R. Burgess, K. Olsson Burgess, Perretti Farms Fair Island Farm
2001 Bettor's Delight P 3 Scott McEneny John B. Grant Winbak Farm
2000 Yankee Paco T 3 Douglas McIntosh Harry Ivey & Dr. Tom Ivey Yankeeland Farms, Inc.
1999 Blissfull Hall P 3 Benjamin Wallace Daniel Plouffe Walnut Hall Limited
1998 Odies Fame P 2 Harold Wellwood Harold Wellwood & Dr. Norman Amoss Glengate Farms
1997 Western Dreamer P 3 William G. Robinson Matthew, Patrick Jr., & Daniel Daly Kentuckiana Farms
1996 Whenuwishuponastar P 2 Robert McIntosh R. McIntosh Stable, Seymour Grundy, Leo Beaudoin, David Kryway New Destiny Stable
1996 Riyadh P 6 William G. Robinson R. Peter Heffering Kentuckiana Farms
1995 Ellamony P 5 Stephan Doyle Charles A. Juravinski Charles A. Juravinski
1994 Emilie Cas El T 2 R. Dustin Jones R. Dustin Jones & Wendell Cass Angus Farm (Pierre Levesque)
1993 Staying Together P 4 Robert McIntosh Robert Hamather Kentuckiana Farms
1992 Artsplace P 4 Gene Riegle George Segal & Brian Monieson George Segal
1991 Precious Bunny P 3 William G. Robinson R. Peter Heffering Alfred Ochsner, Jr.,
1990 Town Pro P 3 Stewart Firlotte Pro Group Stable J. Brian Webster & Ray Bednarz
1989 Matt's Scooter P 4 Harry J. Poulton Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles A. Juravinski Max Gerson
  • † - tie

References
  1. Woodbine Entertainment Group list of O'Brien award winners Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 27, 2016
  2. Standardbred Canada article titled "About The O'Brien Awards" Retrieved September 4, 2016
  3. Kentucky Horse Park profile of Western Dreamer Retrieved October 7, 2016
  4. Hoof Beats magazine September 21, 2009 story on Blissfull Hall winning the Pacing Triple Crown Retrieved October 11, 2016
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