Harnesslink’s Barnsdale is an O’Brien Award finalist

Harnesslink’s Nicholas Barnsdale is one of two finalists for Canadian harness racing’s O’Brien Media Excellence Award in the Outstanding Written Work category. To say that was a proud dad moment for me is the understatement of 2024 so far.

The younger Barnsdale was nominated for this Harnesslink story on young driver Jeff Hunt. The other deserving finalist is industry stalwart Chris Lomon who submitted this story about farrier Felix Marion.

Known more commonly by his nickname “Ace” to most in the harness racing industry, Barnsdale looks to follow in my footsteps on the heels of my 2020 O’Brien win for my story on publicist/communicator Bill Galvin. Lomon was also a finalist that year.

I am proud of Nicholas every day of every year because of who he is and how he treats people and presents himself always in a kind, and professional manner. I see myself in him in some ways, such as work ethic and the passion he has for things that he really loves like harness racing, the Buffalo Bills (I know, I know…my fault!), Premier League football, chess, and most importantly, his friends and family.

I don’t need him to be up for awards for my pride to shine through, but I am very happy to see that his hard work and talent are being recognized. I don’t hold a grudge admitting that he is a better writer than me. In fact, it makes me happy and proud!

Ace’s journey into harness racing started at a very young age like mine. My dad dragged me to the best track ever, Greenwood Raceway every weekend basically from birth. There was even a long-standing rumor that I was born behind the Greenwood tote board.

As often happens, it didn’t take long before I was “hooked” and harness racing, once its in your blood, never leaves. My son’s journey into harness racing was the same. He was introduced at a very young age. I can remember him calling the racehorses the “go gos!” from his stroller. It wasn’t long before he was that kid at the rail asking driver for whips. (Thank you, Mark Macdonald, for never saying no. He could probably return a few to you now!).

Ace would soon be tagging along with me on road trips to the Little Brown Jug, Breeders Crown and Hambletonian, kept out of school to go on these “educational” trips. His interest in writing connected with harness racing when I brought him to the 2018 Hambletonian. There he wrote a story for Peter Gross’s Downthestretch Newspaper about Lawmaker, a Hambletonian entrant sent out by the fledgling (at that time) The Stable.

From there, he did a required internship while in college providing content for Harnesslink. After graduating with a degree from the Humber College School of Journalism, Barnsdale started a full-time position with Harnesslink in June 2022. He is currently the Editorial Manager and Canadian Correspondent.

I’m obviously biased, but I see every day (and night) the effort that Ace puts out and his attention to detail to make sure Harnesslink consistently produces and shares interesting content of the highest quality. It’s great to be in the finals, but as Adrian said to Rocky from her hospital bed, the new goal is: “Win!”

Here is a full list of the Media Excellence finalists.

The winners will be announced at the O’Brien Awards Gala on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Delta by Marriott Prince Edwards in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink