CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The O'Brien Awards will have a different look in 2021 with the usual awards gala unable to go ahead due to public health restrictions in place because of COVID-19.
Generally held in Toronto in late January or early February, the O’Brien Awards honour the best in Canadian harness racing from the past season. With no physical event taking place and all the festivities being held virtually on Standardbredcanada.ca and Standardbred Canada’s Facebook page, Red Shores in Charlottetown took a new approach and will hold a viewing party.
The awards are set for Sunday evening, and Red Shores has sold out the Top Of The Park at a reduced capacity due to COVID-19 guidelines. This will be the only O’Brien Awards celebration in Canada as some provinces are currently in lockdown.
It is fitting that P.E.I. leads the way with the O’Brien awards being named after legendary Alberton horseman Joe O’Brien.
The crowd at the Top Of The Park will have lots to cheer about Sunday with a plethora of Island flavour nominated.
Summerside native Dr. Ian Moore has three horses up for awards with two-year-old pacing colt Lawless Shadow, three-year-old pacing colt Tattoo Artist and aged pacing horse Century Farroh.
So Much More is the first O’Brien award finalist to be foaled on P.E.I., as that daughter of Big Jim is up for the aged pacing mare award for her Ontario connections.
The future star award, celebrating the best rising talent in the nation, is 100 per cent going to be from P.E.I. this year. Montague native Austin Sorrie is up for the award after being the runner-up last year. The nominee against him is Rachel Andrew of Miltonvale Park. Both Sorrie and Andrew currently reside and race in Ontario.
Current Island resident Gilles Barrieau, a native of New Brunswick, is up for his third O’Brien award for horsemanship after winning the award last year. A perennial leading-percentage driver and trainer nationally, Barrieau is the leading dash-winning driver at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park so far in 2021, a spot in the standings he has incredibly never occupied at the capital oval.
The virtual gala will begin on Standardbredcanada.ca at 6:30 p.m. AST Sunday with the red-carpet show. Video greetings will play at 7:30 p.m. followed by the virtual awards show running 8-9:30 p.m.
P.E.I. Scene
The P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association has added a new feature to its website with the breeder’s corner. Go to peiharnessracing.ca/breeders-corner for information about government projects and initiatives to aid the Island breeding sector.
Nick’ Picks
Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park:
Race 1 – Rave Review
Race 2 – Montysgonemarble
Race 3 – Elm Grove Nanci
Race 4 – Doc Darryl
Race 5 – Collective Wisdom
Race 6 – Woodmere Soul
Race 7 – Warrawee Ulla
Race 8 – Woodmere Skyroller
Race 9 - Babbling
Race 10 – Pacific Delight
Race 11 – Bugsy Maguire
Race 12 - Mantario
Nicholas Oakes' column appears in The Guardian each Friday. He can be reached at [email protected].
