The 2021 O’Brien Awards which honours Canada’s best in harness racing was held recently and many across Wellington County and area are taking home some of the honours.
Among them includes James MacDonald of Guelph who grabbed his first O’Brien as the Keith Waples Driver of the Year.
MacDonald soared in winnings for 2021, driving horses to capture more than $7.5 million in earnings. The Prince Edward Island native was on top for Canadian driving charts for wins and earnings over the season and was the winner of the Lampman Cup as the Ontario Sires Stakes leading driving
Arthur native, Kyle Bossence shined for the county as the 2021 Future Star winner.
In 2021 he snagged 69 wins from 316 starters with total earnings go well beyond $440,000. Bossence was the lead dash-winning trainer at the Grand River Raceway and posted triples at the Elora Oval on September 20th and 27th with Partyintheshadows as one of his top performers with a four race win streak at Grand River.
Bossence also took the lead in all trainer at The Raceway at Western Fair in both wins and earnings.
Other notable winners include Millar Farms, taking home three awards such as Armstrong Breeder of the Year. Desperate Man, who won both the division and the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year title and Richard Moreau, taking his 9th consecutive trophy as Trainer of the Year.
A full list of the winners can be found from StandardBredCanada.ca
