Sylvia Hanover, the three-year-old pacing filly of the year, made a captivating impression at the highly anticipated 2023 O'Brien Awards in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Trainer Shawn Steacy's long-cherished dream came to fruition as Sylvia Hanover clinched the prestigious Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year accolade. Building on her remarkable debut season, Sylvia Hanover's sophomore campaign proved to be equally exceptional, if not better. With an impressive record of 10 wins and two seconds in 13 starts, this daughter of Always B Miki-Shyaway amassed a staggering $839,375 in seasonal earnings. Trained by Ontario-based duo Shawn and Mark Steacy and owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Quebec, Sylvia Hanover's 2023 triumphs were nothing short of sensational, often punctuated by nail-biting finishes. Notable victories include the Fan Hanover, Mistletoe Shalee, Tompkins-Geers, Shady Daisy, Simcoe, Bluegrass (setting a lifetime mark of 1:48.1), and Glen Garnsey, culminating in a spectacular triumph at the Breeders Crown.
Reflecting on Sylvia Hanover's indelible contributions to Canadian harness racing, Steacy pondered her standing among the sport's all-time greatest fillies. Acknowledging the magnitude of such a comparison, he cautiously assessed Sylvia Hanover's potential to join the ranks of esteemed horses like Eternal Camnation. Steacy asserted that Sylvia Hanover's performance places her on the cusp of greatness and warrants inclusion in conversations about the sport's most illustrious contenders. Looking ahead, Steacy highlighted the cruciality of Sylvia Hanover's upcoming aged campaign, expressing optimism that her continued success at four years old could solidify her status as one of the greatest or even the greatest of all time.
Following the glamorous O'Brien Awards Black Tie Gala, Steacy engaged in a interview with Standardbred Canada's John Rallis and Jeff Porchak, sharing his thoughts on the extraordinary filly, reminiscing about the most memorable moments of the season, and acknowledging the invaluable contributions of his family and driver, Bob McClure. Steacy also provided an update on Sylvia Hanover's progress and unveiled the plans for her highly anticipated aged campaign.