Dave Briggs, one of horse racing’s most respected and decorated writers, has been named as one of the distinguished inductees to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2025.
Briggs (shown, Dave Landry photo), selected in the Communicator category, has covered horse racing with integrity and unwavering commitment for over 30 years and in doing so earned rightful status as a well-respected figure and proud supporter of the sport.
The latest honour, in what is a lengthy list of accolades and acknowledgment of his contributions to the industry, is a meaningful one for the Port Stanley, ON resident.
“It’s surreal and mind-numbing and humbling all at once,” said Briggs. “At a time when many of us have a heightened sense of what it means to be Canadian, I am deeply honoured. All I ever wanted to do was articulate how much the people in this sport love their horses and the game. That it led to this is truly wild and unexpected.”
But no doubt deserving for the man inducted into the Communicators' Corner of the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2018.
Briggs, who worked for The Canadian Sportsman for 19 years before it ceased publication in 2013, currently serves as the Editor of Harness Racing Update and Communications and Content Specialist for Ontario Racing.
Over the years, Briggs has won nearly 30 national and international awards, including a record 12 United States Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) John Hervey Awards and four Standardbred Canada O’Brien Media Excellence Awards.
He was named the Tom White Media Award winner for 2023 by the Little Brown Jug and the Delaware County Fair. He also has earned two World Trotting Conference Media Awards, an Ontario Equestrian Publication Award, and a Dan Patch Media Award.
The former editor of Canadian Thoroughbred also has won two Sovereign Awards.
Briggs will continue to spotlight the sport and its horse people through his role at Ontario Racing.
“My entire career has been built on a passion for Ontario horse racing and the nearly 23,000 people that work in the industry in the province," he said when he joined Ontario Racing in February. “I’m looking forward to helping promote all that makes Ontario one of the greatest horse racing jurisdictions in the world.”
Gordon Thain, Executive Director, Ontario Racing, lauded Briggs for his impact on the industry.
“Congratulations to Dave, his wife Laura, and their children, on what is a fitting acknowledgment of his outstanding service to our great sport,” said Thain. “On behalf of everyone at Ontario Racing, we thank you for all that you do for our equine athletes and devoted horse people.”
Briggs joins the following in the 2025 Class of inductees to be formally inducted on Aug. 6:
Standardbred
Brad Grant – Builder
Kent Oakes – Builder
Muscle Mass – Male Horse
John Bax – Trainer
Yankee Paco – Veteran
Thoroughbred
Ivan Dalos – Builder
Marketing Mix – Female Horse
Perry Winters – Jockey
Ghostzapper – Male Horse
Mike Doyle – Trainer
Storm Bird – Veteran
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