The SBOA Awards honour the breeders of the top money-winning horses in each of the eight Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) divisions, the top trainer (Johnston Cup) and driver (Lampman Cup) in the OSS, the breeders of the SBOA stakes winners, the Masterfeeds Award winner and the winners of both the Lloyd Chisholm and Chris Van Bussel Memorial Awards.

On January 17, 2009 the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association honoured the best of 2008 at an awards banquet and auction at the Delta Hotel in Guelph, Ont.

Here are tonight's winners:

2 Year Old Filly Pace – St Lads Popcorn

2 Year Old Colt Pace - Nebupanezzar

2 Year Old Filly Trot - Elusive Desire

2 Year Old Colt Trot - Pointe Of Honour

3 Year Old Filly Pace - Voelz Hanover

3 Year Old Colt Pace - Keystone Horatio

3 Year Old Filly Trot - Whatta Hotty

3 Year Old Colt Trot - Define The World

SBOA Stake – Pace - Im Just Special

SBOA Stake – Trot - Bella Dolce

Masterfeeds Award - Somebeachsomewhere

Lampman Cup - Brad Forward

Johnston Cup - Robert McIntosh

Chris Van Bussell Memorial Award - Dr. Moira Gunn

(Presented to persons of integrity who have served SBOA and industry)

Gunn is a deserving recipient due to her leadership in equine reproduction, stallion management, embryo transfers and freezing and hard to breed mares.

Lloyd Chisholm Achievement Award - Mike Hamilton

(Presented for meritorious service)

Hamilton expels the same qualities as Lloyd Chisholm as he dedicates most of his time to the promotion of the Standardbred racing - whether it be on TV or in his travels. His support of the SBOA Mentoring Program has been exceptional as he is a true mentor for the nine people that he is guiding through first time horse ownership. Through his blog, etc. he has brought a tremendous amount of exposure to the program as well.

Photos of the event from Iron Horse Photo are available here.