Standardbred Canada announced the finalists for the 2017 O’Brien Awards in December, which honour Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season.
The winners will be announced at the annual O’Brien Awards Black Tie Gala on Feb. 3 at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale hotel in Mississauga.
This will mark the 29th 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.
Driver of Year
In the driver of the year category, Doug McNair and Louis-Philippe Roy are the two finalists.
McNair, a resident of Guelph, was a finalist for this award in 2013. He tops the charts in earnings for drivers in Canada with almost $5.9 million in purse money, while driving 315 winners postward (as of Dec. 19). He enjoyed a career year and is the regular driver for O’Brien Award finalists Stay Hungry, Bettors Up, The Joy Luck Club and Sandbetweenurtoes.
Louis-Philippe Roy, of Mont-Joli, Que., is also nominated for driver of the year.
Trainer of the Year
Richard Moreau is looking to add to his trophy collection with another O’Brien Award in the Trainer of the Year category. He is up against fellow nominee Gregg McNair, who is looking to clinch his first national title.
Richard Moreau, of Puslinch, is the defending trainer of the year and is looking to take home his fifth consecutive O’Brien bronze. Moreau, who trains O’Brien finalist Sandbetweenurtoes, leads all Canadian trainers in the wins column with 269 wins to his credit and over $3.6 million in earnings.
Gregg McNair, of Guelph, is enjoying a productive 2017 campaign with 63 winners and over $1.6 million in purse earnings recorded in Canada. McNair trains and co-owns O’Brien finalist The Joy Luck Club.
Full list
For a full list of O’Brien Award winner visit http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/News/12-20-17/2017-o-brien-award-finalists-announced.html.
