Saturday, Jan. 29, Canadian harness racing champions were salutes it's 2016 O'Brien Awards-Dinner revealing its Horse of the Year, Driver of the Year etc. at a classy black tie event in Mississauga, Ont. This year's theme is the 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada."

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Late next month, the annual highlight event of the Winter banquet season is set for Sunday, Feb. 26 at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada with the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Night of Champions honoring the 2016 Dan Patch Awards winners. For ticket and lodging and the roster of award winners, all information is available on website: www.ushwa.org .

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The last full week in February will be a big one for Houston, Del. horseman, George Teague. He will receive several honors in Las Vegas. Harness Horsemen International (HHI) will honor Teague with HHI's major award, "The Dominic Frinzi Person of the Year."Teague will be honored for his support of the sport by graciously allowing the public to meet and greet his great pacer, 2015 Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit. Several times during 2016, Teague went all out to help promote harness racing at major events. Then on Sunday, Feb. 26, the U.S.Harness Writers Association (USHWA) will honor Teague with two awards. He is the first person honored for a second time as its "Good Guy" award winner. More important, Team Teague gets the sport's second highest honor, The Stan Bergstein Proximity Award or service to the sport. For ticket and hotel arrangements consult: www.ushwa.org .

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Currently' Vintage Babe owns the longest win streak at the track, a winner of six starts in a row. Officer Blue Chip racing in the Jason Lynch Stable has a five-race win streak in progress. One streak that was ended belonged to Enhance Your Mind who had won five in-a-row and 7 of her last 8 races before the streak was snapped in the $20,000 Mares Open pace, last Wednesday (1/25).

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Vic Kirby, who has led the leading driver standing in dash wins, has a challenge at hand from red-hot defending champion Corey Callahan who is now one win behind. Kirby has 86 wins, Callahan 85. Yannick Gingras is third with 74 winners Tony Morgan has moved into Fourth place with 59 wind. Vacationing Tim Tetrick with 56 wins completes the top 5.

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Jim King has a big lead in the leading trainer stats. Defending champ Dylan Davis has moved in to second with 32 wins, Joe Hundertpund and Leigh Rayman are tied for third place with 27 with Josh Green fifth with 24 winners,.

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PEOPLE ARE CRAZY, WESTERN YOUNG GUN  LEAD MONDAY FEATURES

DOVER, Del…People Are Crazy, in the 9th race; Westerm Young Gun in the 12th are both winners last time out, and attempt to keep their winning ways in the     Monday, double-feature $9,000 paces at Dover Downs on Jan. 30. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

In the first nine-horse field, People Are Crazy, owned by Robin and Jay Bresure, was a 1:52.3 winner for Vic Kirby and starts from post 1. Alongside, Cavalli Pazzi Stables’ Casino Bags Carlo with Vince Copeland, has been second in his last two. The one to fear is Kovach Stables’ veteran Feel Like A Fool driven by Corey Callahan.…

RBH Venture’s Ideal Magic.finally gets and inside post with Vic Kirby in the bike. New York Town N mskes his Dover debut with Pat Berry at the controls. Jen Bongiorno’s Gratian Hanover has been sharp with a second and a win recently ad will be in the hands of Tony Morgan. Not to be overlooked are contenders Arty Foster’s Sentencing Memo with Russ Foster from post 9 in the second tier and Bettors Glass with Jonathan Roberts driving for JFE Enterprises and Triple D Stables from outside post 8.

In the other co-feature, Forrest Bartlett’s Western Young Gun (George Dennis) was a wire-to-wire winner last Monday. Bill Meers and Janine McIlvain’s Tim Out I’m Tired (Ross Wolfenden) Denise Dixon’s steady Ken Kam (Foster) and owner,trainer driver Ross Wolfenden’s In Treatment and Shellysblockbuster (Jim Morand) racing for Don Reed and trainer George Wagner, have been racing well.

Robbins Nest Farm’s GallicBeach (Callaan) gets a big post chance and now gets the rail. Owner-trainer Bob Steveson’s Singing Saint (Morgan) is returning to top form.  The other starters are Gary Simpson and Eric Good’s I’ll Call U Later (Allan Davis) and Heather Malone’s DCs Better Life (Art Stafford Jr.).   

On Tuesday, s line in the $20,000 Mares Open pace feature race.

Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing and NFL three-game wagering is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight. There is no charge for parking and admission. Early reservations are suggested for the acclaimed Winner’s Circle Buffet Restaurant and for those planning to stay at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.

Marv Bachrad