Communicators

Dave Briggs

2025 Standardbred Communicator Inductee Dave Briggs has devoted more than 30 years to horse racing journalism, earning a well-deserved reputation for integrity, professionalism, and unwavering support of the sport. The Windsor, Ontario native studied communications at the University of Windsor and later earned a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario. […]

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Frank Salive

Communicator Frank Salive’s legendary career in the announcer’s booth spanned over three decades and he was aptly nicknamed “The Voice of Canadian Standardbred Racing” by admiring racing fans and horse people. The Leamington native competed as a World-Class Junior A hockey goalie, playing with the Peterborough Petes from 1972 to 1975, under the late, great

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Dave Landry

Standardbred Communicator   Considering how much Dave Landry struggled to keep his equine photography business afloat in the two years that followed the cancellation of Ontario’s Slots at Racetracks Program (SARP), he said he finds it particularly gratifying to be among the 2018 inductees to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. “From 2013 to

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Dan Loiselle

Thoroughbred Communicator   “…and that’s that.” The terse “goodbye” concluded  the exceptional career of Woodbine race announcer Dan Loiselle as he summed up the order of finish of the Lady Angela Stakes on May 31, 2015. His farewell call brought to a close of almost five decades of describing both Standardbred and Thoroughbred races, one

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Curtis Stock

Communicator If there was ever a time to dedicate an award to a reporter for the most creative, passionate and dedicated pursuit of Thoroughbred horse racing it should perhaps be simply called “The Stock Trophy”. No reporter of horse racing has ever dominated the Sovereign Awards in the various categories for feature writing and outstanding

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Bruce Johnston

Communicator In 1976, Bruce Johnston of Aylmer, Ontario, acquired The Canadian Sportsman, ‘the oldest turf journal in America’ and devoted it to the betterment of harness racing.  His editorial policy was to promote harness racing and to suggest proposals, such as those that resulted in improvements to the Ontario Sires Stakes format in 1991. Under

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Daryl Wells, Sr.

Thoroughbred On June 12, 1956, race announcer Daryl Wells focused his binoculars on the starting gate to call his first ever thoroughbred race at the New Woodbine in Rexdale, a northern suburb of Toronto. “They’re off,” said Wells in his distinct, cultured voice. It would be his trademark call for the next thirty years, as

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James E. Bannon

Thoroughbred Communicator   During an charismatic career, which has accorded him induction into two Halls of Fame, a Gemini Award in 2010 as Canada’s best sports analyst, numerous accolades for his work as an educator and humanitarian, one of North America’s leading handicappers and TV commentators, and his dedicated involvement in Woodbine’s chaplaincy program, Jim Bannon,

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Harry Eisen

Standardbred Communicator   Harry Eisen covered harness racing on a full time basis for the London Free Press for 22 of his 40 years at the Southwestern Ontario newspaper. He was the recipient of the Canadian Trotting Association’s first winner for their media award for contributions to the industry in 1983. Eisen described his association with

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