MISSISSAUGA – Five nominees from across Wellington County are in the running to win the 2019 O’Brien Standardbred Canada awards.
Trainer of the Year
Richard Moreau of Puslinch is up for the Trainer of the Year award. Moreau has won the title of Canada’s Trainer of the Year for the past five consecutive years.
Driver of the Year
Bob McClure of Elora is a finalist for Canada’s Driver of the Year award. He has driven more winners than any other driver in Canada over the past two seasons.
McClure is up against Louis-Philippe Roy living in Guelph for the title. Back in 2016 Roy won the Future Star Award at the Standardbred Canada awards.
Future Star
The 2019 list of finalists for the Future Star Award includes Kyle Bossence from Arthur. Bossence has trained 41 winners and horses to earnings exceeding $231,000 while competing primarily at Flamboro Downs, Georgian Downs and The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Breeder of the Year
Warrawee Farm, a boutique breeder in Rockwood, is one finalist competing for the Armstrong Breeder of the Year award.
In 2018 the farm bred horses that earned more than $1.3 million including Warrawee Ubeaut who became the fastest freshman pacer in the history of the sport with an impressive 1:48.3 victory in the International Stallion Stakes at the Red Mile.
The 30th anniversary
This year marks the 30th edition of the O’Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O’Brien, an outstanding horseman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
The winners are to be announced at the annual O’Brien Awards Black Tie Gala.
It will be held on Feb. 2 at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale hotel in Mississauga.
