Oct 28, 2004

Ontario Racing Commission Honoured with 2004 Frederick L. Van Lennep Memorial Award

October 28, 2004 -On Breeders Crown night at Woodbine Racetrack, members of the Ontario Racing Commission accepted the 2004 Frederick L. Van Lennep Memorial Achievement Award. Presenting the award on behalf of the Hambletonian was Dr. Glen Brown, and Tom Charters, President and CEO of the Hambletonian Society.

The Ontario Racing Commission received the honour for its efforts to improve the image and integrity of racing. In their press release announcing the award, the Breeders Crown Committee said, “The commission, under the chairmanship of Stanley Sadinsky initially and carried on since August 2003 by his successor Lynda Tanaka, has taken a pro-active role in contributing to the public and industry's confidence in the sport in Ontario. That influence is being felt throughout North America by their vigorous oversight of racing in the province, especially in the area of policing and adjudication of issues relating to prohibitive substances and conduct unbecoming to the industry.”

The Van Lennep Award is given to recognize “extraordinary contribution by an individual or organization to the Standardbred industry” in honour of Frederick L. Van Lennep. The late Van Lennep was a visionary figure in the industry, as well as a vital advocate in the advancement and promotion of harness racing. He was a seminal influence in the creation of the Breeders Crown and one of the biggest proponents of the divisional championship series.

Aside from fostering the Breeders Crown program, Van Lennep and his wife Frances Dodge built Castleton Farms into one of the premier breeding and racing operations of the era. Van Lennep was also an avid amateur driver, on the board of the Lexington Trot Breeders Assoc., a racetrack owner, U.S.T.A. director, HTA director and considered the father of Florida's pari-mutuel harness racing.

Additionally, Van Lennep helped create the American Horse Council and the Gluck Equine Research Center. He was a leader and tireless promoter of the sport he loved, and the award that bears his name is a tremendous reflection on those who've earned it.

Past winners of the Van Lennep Memorial Achievement Award are The Red Mile Ownership, Norma Campbell, Joe DeFrank, Niatross, Carol Cramer, the Meadowlands Racetrack, the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, The Ontario Jockey Club, Moira Fanning, Tom Charters, Bob Rosburg, Jr., Bud Hatfield, John Simpson Sr., Lou Guida, Norman Woolworth, Castleton Farms, and ESPN.