Chantilly a big winner at harness racing's O'Brien Awards
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Chantilly and her connections took centre stage at the 36th O'Brien Awards on Saturday, as the Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year was also named the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year.
Standardbred Canada announced the winners of the 2024 O'Brien Awards, honouring Canada's best in harness racing over the past season, during a black-tie gala in Mississauga, Ont.
The event marked the 36th edition of the O'Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O'Brien, an outstanding horseman from Prince Edward Island and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.Chantilly became just the fifth two-year-old — and only the third pacing filly — to be named Canada's Horse of the Year, joining the likes of Emilie Cas El, Whenuwishuponastar, Somebeachsomewhere and JK Shesalady.
Chantilly's breeder and owner, Millar Farms, earned its third Armstrong Breeder of the Year award and was also recognized as the leading owner at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The celebrations continued for her connections, with Nick Gallucci securing his first Trainer of the Year title and James MacDonald collecting his fourth consecutive Keith Waples Driver of the Year award.
Continuing his dominance, James MacDonald became the first driver to win the Keith Waples Driver of the Year award four years in a row since Doug Brown (1993-1996). In 2024, MacDonald set a career-high as he drove horses to purse earnings totalling $12,329,313, becoming the first Canadian-based driver to surpass $12 million in a single season.
He also drove winners of more than 400 races for the third consecutive year (444 in total) and was the regular driver of four O'Brien Award winners — Chantilly, Its A Love Thing, Willys Home Run and Monalishi.
MacDonald's remarkable season included stakes victories in the Meadowlands Pace, Cane Pace, Peaceful Way, Fan Hanover and Shes A Great Lady in addition to two Breeders Crown finals.Nick Gallucci received the O'Brien Award for Trainer of the Year, his first individual O'Brien after being nominated previously in 2021 and being a finalist for the Future Star award a decade ago.
The Stouffville, Ont. resident had a standout season anchored by the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year, Chantilly, former O'Brien Award winners Silver Label and Prohibition Legal, and two-year-old stakes winner Allstar Maniac. His stable earned $1,822,167, the second-highest total of his career, with a UTRS of .396, also the second-best of his career.
Gallucci's season was highlighted by Chantilly's victory in the $532,000 Shes A Great Lady Stakes, the largest purse he has won to date, along with wins in multiple Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series divisions and Mid-Season Finals. He also maintained an impressive strike rate, winning more than 26 per cent of the time he entered a horse.
Millar Farms, owned by George Millar, has been recognized for the third time with the Armstrong Breeder of the Year award. In 2024, horses bred by Millar Farms won 106 races and earned $2,208,681.
The Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year, Chantilly, led the Stouffville, Ont. farm's progeny for the season with $761,000 in earnings, along with three other earners exceeding $100,000, including former O'Brien Award winners Prohibition Legal and Silver Label.Guy Gagnon, who won the O'Brien Award of Horsemanship in 2018, received this award once again in 2024.
With a dominant season at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Gagnon was once again among the top trainers at the Ottawa, Ont. oval. Stable stars I Ama Rocket, The Light Speed and All Wrapped Up ruled the national capital region's Preferred ranks.
Gagnon developed multiple stakes-placed youngsters, such as Jenny Longlegs and Wild Dream Men. He finished the season with a personal best 100 training wins and his stable earning more than $600,000 for the second time in his career. His UTRS was one of the highest of his career (0.434) in a season with more than 250 starts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2025.
The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Hailee Steinfeld Says Her Wedding Dress 'Stunned' New Husband Josh Allen as She Shares Details on Her 3 Bridal Looks
Hailee Steinfeld has shared new details on the three bridal looks she wore for her May 31 wedding to Josh Allen In the Wedding Issue of her Beau Society newsletter, the actress talked about her Tamara Ralph ceremony dress, which "stunned" her husband "I've never felt more like myself and more beautiful," she wroteHailee Steinfeld's wedding wardrobe was a dream. Not many details of the actress' wedding to NHL player Josh Allen have been revealed since the two said "I do" on May 31 — until now. On June 13, Steinfeld released the Wedding Issue of her Beau Society newsletter in which she detailed the romantic happenings at her and Allen's nuptials in Santa Barbara, Calif. In the post, the Sinners star, 28, also wrote about her three bridal looks, including the ceremony gown that took her husband's breath away. "Okay, Josh says we have to talk about my dress now because I 'stunned' him when I got to the altar," wrote Steinfeld, adding of the look: "It's easily the most perfect gown I've ever put on my body." Steinfeld, who was styled by Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, walked down the aisle in a tailored Tamara Ralph strapless gown, which featured a sculpted neckline and a circular train. She accessorized with a French Chantilly lace veil, Mikimoto pearl earrings and opera gloves "so delicate you can actually see my nail shape through the fabric (shout out Tom Bachik [Steinfeld's nail artist]). Although she pulled off the elegant design effortlessly, Steinfeld revealed that she and the team were on the "tightest timeline" when designing the dress. "Six weeks before the wedding, my mom and I flew to Paris straight from the Sinners premiere in London for the fitting. I really had to lean into the whole 'trust the process' thing and thank God for Rob, Mariel, Tamara, and her team for pulling it all together in time." However, the end result couldn't be more perfect. "On our wedding day, when I put on this dress, I actually lost my breath. I've never felt more like myself and more beautiful," wrote Steinfeld. She also revealed that Allen, 29, wore a custom Tom Ford tuxedo. "Josh looked like the man of every dream I've ever had," she wrote. "RIP me." The dress code for the wedding ceremony was all-black black-tie, which Steinfeld felt was "very classic and bold." Tamara Ralph also dressed Steinfeld for her welcome and after parties. The opening look, which catered to the "vibrant elegance" elegance dress code, was comprised of a white sculpted gown with a bodice draped in strung beads. Complementing it were a silky blazer with statement shoulder pads and pearl drop earrings. Her finale look was fun, festive and a lot more embellished with its sparkly adornments, feather trimming and low-cut back. She also changed into glittery ankle-strap stilettos to match the vibe. By the end of the celebrations (the night capped at 3 a.m.), all of the couple's friends jumped in a pool in their dresses and tuxes, shared Steinfeld, who joked that she didn't partake because of all the feathers. Yet, each look was "perfect" for their respective occasions, she added. Further down in the newsletter, Steinfeld wrote about how her and Allen's honeymoon plans went following their "perfect" wedding weekend. "The next day, Josh and I ran off into the sunset to our honeymoon (more on that later?). Now we're back, and it's been a whole 13 days of being married, and we'll be staying on this high forever!" Allen has mostly kept mum about newlywed life, but he did make a rare comment on their relationship not long after they tied the knot. When asked about his accomplishments at a June 10 press conference, the Buffalo Bills quarterback said his most memorable milestone has been "none other than marrying my best friend.' 'She makes everything easier. I don't really focus on the other stuff, that was the most important decision I'll make in my life, and I made the right one,' he told reporters, per TMZ Steinfeld and Allen were first linked in May 2023 and debuted their relationship on Instagram in July 2024. They announced their engagement back in November. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cyclist with rare condition breaks record for cycling length of UK and back
A cyclist who lost her ability to walk as a teenager after being diagnosed with a debilitating illness has broken the world record for cycling the length of the UK and back. Sarah Ruggins, a Canadian wealth manager living in Gloucestershire, cycled 2,700 km (1,677 miles) from John O'Groats to Land's End and back again in five days 11 hours and 14 minutes. The 37-year-old, who started cycling only two and a half years ago, covered 500km (310 miles) a day surviving on just over four hours of sleep throughout the entire challenge. Ms Ruggins' astounding cycle has beaten the men's record of five days 18 hours three minutes, held by James MacDonald since 2017 – by six hours and 43 minutes. She has also beaten the former women's record of 10 days and five hours – held by Louise Harris since 2023 – by four days 17 hours and 40 minutes. 'This ride was a celebration of life and it was a gift to myself and hopefully a gift to others who need motivation,' Ms Ruggins told the PA news agency. 'It's taught me to believe in myself, and it's taught me that women have a place in the upper echelons of sports, not just as women, but across all genders. 'I'm one of the first women to break a men's endurance record. So it shows that we can take up space in the sport, and we need to be taken seriously.' Ms Ruggins, who grew up in Montreal in Canada, was a promising track athlete as a teenager and had ambitions of representing Canada in the Olympics. However, at 16 years old her dreams were cut short after she was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome, which caused her to lose the ability to walk and move her hands without support. 'My Olympic dream and everything I thought my life was going to be basically just evaporated overnight, and it took many years of rehabilitation to get my movement back,' said Ms Ruggins. 'I started exploring athletics again, but I found with my new body I couldn't really run so I turned to cycling.' Ms Ruggins, who moved to the UK 10 years ago, initially began training to break the Land's End to John O'Groats running record. However, after discovering that her body was not strong enough to run after her illness she decided to attempt it with two wheels instead. In 2023, she purchased her first bicycle and with under six months of cycling experience, she took on the Transcontinental Race – a self-supported 4,000 km (2,485 miles) ride across Europe. Ms Ruggins, who discovered her talent for endurance sports, said the John O'Groats to Land's End challenge allowed her to confront her two greatest fears: failing publicly and requiring the help of others. 'I really wanted to make an impact and use my story to help others,' she said. 'For me, even when the ride got really painful, it was a celebration, because it was my choice to do this, coming at it from a place of strength. 'I just really wanted to share through this project that your life can change unexpectedly but it means you just need to pivot and find something new that brings you joy.' Ms Ruggins used this record attempt to raise money for The Bike Project and Bikes for Refugees, two organisations that use cycling to support people rebuilding their lives in the UK. To learn more about Ms Ruggins' challenge and to donate to her fundraiser please visit:
Business Insider
04-05-2025
- Business Insider
I made the dessert Meghan Markle named after her daughter. It's perfect for Mother's Day.
Meghan Markle has a new banana pudding recipe named after her daughter, Princess Lilibet. It features a twist on the Southern dessert with macerated strawberries and crumbled vanilla wafers. I made the beautiful and delicious dessert and think it's perfect for Mother's Day. I recently spent a weekend living like Meghan Markle, trying out nearly a dozen cooking and hosting projects from her new Netflix show, "With Love, Meghan." I made bouquets, designed floral ice cubes, and decorated avocado toast with flower sprinkles from Meghan's line of As Ever products. But my favorite part of the weekend was whipping up the Duchess of Sussex's recipe for Chantilly Lili, a delicious banana pudding that wowed my boyfriend and friends. Here's how to make it. Meghan Markle named the Chantilly Lili dessert after her daughter, Princess Lilibet. The recipe, shared on The New York Times, is inspired by a banana pudding that Meghan's grandmother used to make. "Grandma Jeanette would have used instant," Meghan told the Times as she whipped up the homemade vanilla pudding for the base. "But she would have loved this." Meghan's recipe offers a few twists on the classic Southern dessert. She adds strawberries macerated with lemon zest and juice, and opts for finely crushed vanilla wafers instead of the whole cookies. "I know some people will be upset that I took out the wafers, but I like them crumbled on top," she added. Meghan's recipe, which serves six, features homemade pudding and Chantilly cream, plus bananas and strawberries. I made the vanilla pudding the day before I planned to serve Meghan's dessert. The pudding needs to chill for at least two hours, but you can keep it in the fridge for up to two days before serving. I let mine sit overnight. Per the recipe, I began by adding the cornstarch and ¼ cup of whole milk into a small bowl. I whisked my ingredients together until the mixture was smooth. I added the sugar, yolks, and remaining milk in a saucepan, then threw in the cornstarch mixture. I separated the eggs over a bowl, popping the yolks into the saucepan before adding the sugar and 1 ¾ cups of milk. I whisked the cornstarch mixture again, then whisked it into the saucepan. I set my saucepan over medium heat, whisking it continuously while waiting for the pudding to thicken. Meghan says this step will take about five to seven minutes. You'll know it's ready when the pudding starts to bubble. My pudding began to bubble at the five-minute mark. I allowed the pudding to boil gently while whisking for another two minutes. After two more minutes of whisking, I transferred the mixture to a bowl and added the remaining ingredients. I whisked in the butter, vanilla, and salt, continuing to mix until the butter had melted. Then, I covered my pudding and placed it in the fridge to chill overnight. Meghan's recipe recommends pressing plastic wrap directly against the surface of the pudding while you allow it to chill. The following day, I prepared my strawberries about half an hour before serving. I sliced all my strawberries and threw them into a bowl with the tablespoon of sugar, gently stirring them together. I zested half a lemon over the strawberries and squeezed some of its juice on top. The recipe specifies using a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, but I just eyeballed it. After mixing everything together, Meghan recommends tasting the strawberries to see if they need more sugar. I added a sprinkle more for extra sweetness and set the bowl to the side for 30 minutes. This process, known as maceration, allows the strawberries to soften and sweeten — just make sure to keep them at room temperature. While my strawberries were macerating, I began making the Chantilly cream. I added the heavy cream to a bowl and whisked until soft peaks formed. Meghan says you can do this by hand or with an electric mixer. I opted for the latter. Once I saw the soft peaks, I added the sugar and vanilla, then continued to whisk until medium peaks formed in the whipped cream. I took my chilled pudding out of the fridge and whisked it until the texture was smooth and airy. I added a spoonful of pudding into each of my six serving glasses. I used an ice-cream scooper for this step, making sure to spread the pudding so the bottom was covered in every glass. I cut my banana into thin slices and equally distributed the pieces across my serving glasses. I placed some of the macerated strawberries on top of the new pudding layer, making sure not to include the leftover juices. The recipe says you should use about two-thirds of the strawberries for this step. I covered the strawberries with my remaining pudding, then added the fresh Chantilly cream. I topped each serving cup with the remaining strawberries, sprinkled on some crumbs from my vanilla wafers, and added a mint leaf for garnish. Meghan's dessert definitely looks impressive. The bright bursts of color from the strawberries and mint garnish give the dessert a cheerful feel, and the overall presentation is quite elegant. It's a dessert that would fit right in at a fancy brunch but doesn't require expensive ingredients. I would make Meghan's Chantilly Lili again. These lovely little cups are so delicious. The vanilla pudding is light and airy, with just the right amount of sweetness, and the macerated strawberries give a pop of zing to add depth and interest. I ended up topping mine with more cookie crumbs and might try this again with a few whole wafers for extra crunch, but overall, I was really impressed with Meghan's dessert. If you're looking for a recipe that will make your mom feel special on Mother's Day, Meghan's Chantilly Lili definitely takes the cake — or should I say pudding. And if you're looking for more inspiration, try Ina Garten's easy breakfast cake (my mom's personal favorite).
