Canadian Harness Horse of the Year

Last updated
Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year
Sport Harness racing
Awarded forHorse that made the greatest contribution to Canadian racing
CountryCanada
Presented byStandardbred Canada
History
First award1989
First winner Matt's Scooter
Most recent Bulldog Hanover

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, the Horse of the Year award honours the top performing pacer or trotter in Canadian racing. [1] In 2018, Standardbred Canada renamed the award to the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year to honour the late champion, who passed away earlier that year. [2] 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." [3]

Contents

Historical notes

Through 2022, 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. [4] [5]

In 1996 and again in 2007 there was a tie.

Past winners

^Also named United States Harness Horse of the Year
Member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
*Member of the United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame
Year
Winner
Gait
Age
Trainer
Owner
Breeder
2022 Bulldog Hanover ^†P4Jack DarlingJack Darling Stables, Brad GrantHanover Shoe Farms
2021Desperate ManP3Kathy CecchinKathy Cecchin, Paul Cecchin, Nicole Davies, Paul DaviesWinbak Farm
2020Century FarrohP4Dr. Ian MooreRatchford Stable NSCentury Spring Farms
2019 Forbidden Trade T3Luc BlaisDeterminationSteve H. Stewart
2018 McWicked ^†*P7Casie ColemanSSG StablesAndray Farm
2017 Hannelore Hanover ^*T5Ron BurkeBurke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva StablesHanover Shoe Farms
2016 Betting Line P3Casie ColemanRoss Warriner, Steve Calhoun, Christine Calhoun, Mac Nichol, Casie ColemanFair Winds Farm, Inc.
2015 State Treasurer P 6 Dr. Ian Moore Sally & Paul MacDonald Brittany Farms
2014 JK Shesalady ^P2Nancy Johansson3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz)3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, & Steven Katz)
2013 Bee A Magician ^* T 4Richard NormanMel Hartman, Herb Liverman, Dave McDuffeeWhite Birch Farm
2012 Michaels Power P3 Casie Coleman Jeffrey S. Snyder Jeffrey S. Snyder
2011 San Pail ^†T7Rod HughesGlenn Van Camp & Rod HughesGlenn Van Camp
2010 Dreamfair EternalP6Pat FletcherJohn LamersJohn P. Lamers & Mary G. Lamers
2009 Muscle Hill ^*T3 Gregory B. Peck TLP Stable, Jerry Silva, Southwind Farm, Muscle Hill Racing Winbak Farm
2008 Somebeachsomewhere ^†* (2)P3 Brent MacGrath Schooner Stables (B. MacGrath, B. & R. Petitpas, G. Pye, S. Rath, J.Bagnall, P. Dean)Stephanie Smithrothaug
2007Somebeachsomewhere †*P2Brent MacGrathSchooner Stables (B. MacGrath, B. & R. Petitpas, G. Pye, S. Rath, J.Bagnall, P. Dean)Stephanie Smithrothaug
Tell All P3 Blair Burgess My Desire StableTom Crouch
2006 Majestic SonT3Mark SteacyMajestic Son StablePeter Dennis & Mike Schertzer
2005 Admiral's ExpressP9Mike HalesGary & Laurel Gust, Cheryl & Edward D. SayfiePebble Creek Farm, Inc.
2004 Rainbow Blue ^*P3 George Teague, Jr. K&R Racing, LLC (Kevin & Ron Fry) & Teague, Inc.Winbak Farm
2003 Eternal CamnationP6Jeffrey MillerEternal Camnation Stable (Doc & Dorothy Miller)Frederick W.Hertrich II
2002 Real Desire ^†*P4Blair Burgess Brittany Farms, R. Burgess, K. Olsson Burgess, Perretti FarmsFair Island Farm
2001 Bettor's DelightP3Scott McEnenyJohn B. GrantWinbak Farm
2000 Yankee Paco T3Douglas McIntoshHarry Ivey & Dr. Tom IveyYankeeland Farms, Inc.
1999 Blissfull HallP3Benjamin WallaceDaniel Plouffe Walnut Hall Limited
1998 Odies FameP2 Harold Wellwood Harold Wellwood & Dr. Norman AmossGlengate Farms
1997 Western Dreamer P3 William G. Robinson Matthew, Patrick Jr., & Daniel Daly Kentuckiana Farms
1996 Whenuwishuponastar P2 Robert McIntosh R. McIntosh Stable, Seymour Grundy, Leo Beaudoin, David KrywayNew Destiny Stable
Riyadh P6 William G. Robinson R. Peter Heffering Kentuckiana Farms
1995 EllamonyP5Stephan DoyleCharles A. JuravinskiCharles A. Juravinski
1994 Emilie Cas El T2R. Dustin JonesR. Dustin Jones & Wendell Cass Angus Farm (Pierre Levesque)
1993 Staying Together ^†P4Robert McIntoshRobert HamatherKentuckiana Farms
1992 Artsplace ^†*P4 Gene Riegle George Segal & Brian MoniesonGeorge Segal
1991 Precious Bunny ^†*P3William G. RobinsonR. Peter HefferingAlfred Ochsner, Jr.,
1990 Town ProP3 Stewart Firlotte Pro Group StableJ. Brian Webster & Ray Bednarz
1989 Matt's Scooter ^†*P4 Harry J. Poulton Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles A. JuravinskiMax Gerson

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References

  1. Woodbine Entertainment Group list of O'Brien award winners Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 27, 2016
  2. "Horse Of The Year Award Named In Honour Of Somebeachsomewhere". Standardbred Canada. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  3. Standardbred Canada article titled "About The O'Brien Awards" Retrieved September 4, 2016
  4. Kentucky Horse Park profile of Western Dreamer Retrieved October 7, 2016
  5. Hoof Beats magazine September 21, 2009 story on Blissfull Hall winning the Pacing Triple Crown Retrieved October 11, 2016