Ontario racing

Horse racing is an honourable sport that is steeped in tradition; built by generations of hardworking and passionate individuals and families. It's an industry that brings people together from all walks of life, and is critically dependent on everyone's contribution to its stability and success. While this diversity of roles and shared passion is racing's greatest strength, it exists within a very complex and challenging business environment that results in constant pressure to plan, adapt, and aggressively fight to secure our future. At Woodbine Entertainment, we own and operate two...

Edited Press Release Purchasing two in-foal broodmares at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale doubled the size of Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds' broodmare band. The mares Tiptoe and Turning Point were the latest step in Colin Davis's methodical entrance into the racing game. Davis, a resident of Cobourg, Ont., is new to racehorse breeding and ownership, but familiar with the equine stars of the sport. Growing up, he attended races at Kawartha Downs and in the last decade has owned multiple off-track Thoroughbreds. As Davis went looking for more information...

Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program's (TIP) Mare Purchase Program (MPP) is back in time for the upcoming breeding stock sales, with a total budget of $800,000. The MPP provides Ontario residents, who purchase an in-foal mare at a recognized public auction outside of Ontario, a rebate of 50% of the purchase price up to $25,000 CAD. There is a maximum distribution of $75,000 CAD for any one individual, partnership, corporation or other ownership group. The MPP is operated on a first come, first served basis, and in order to qualify...

Thoroughbred owners with Ontario-breds competing in the claiming ranks at Woodbine or Fort Erie can check the Thoroughbred Improvement Program website for a list of sales credits eligible to be used on a yearling at the Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, Wednesday, Aug. 31. The sales credits currently on the website include those earned through Aug. 23 and the list will be updated Aug. 29 to include the results from Woodbine through Sunday, Aug. 28. The sales credits will be posted on each sales barn during yearling previews. On sale day,...

Ontario Racing (OR) confirmed that John Hayes will step down as its Independent Chair, after leading the organization since March of 2018. "Horse racing is a unique partnership between all participants including owners, breeders, horsepeople and racetracks," said Hayes. "If one of the cogs is experiencing an issue, the other gears will not work as well. Building strong relationships with these partners and trusting those relationships allowed us to achieve our goals and overcome challenges in these past four years." The Long-Term Funding was among initiatives established under Hayes. Katherine...

Trainer Robert Gerl has been suspended 20 years and fined $100,000 after two horses under his care tested positive for ostarine, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced Tuesday. The drug acts much like anabolic steroids in that it is used to create anabolic activity and enhance muscle growth by directly stimulating androgen receptors. A non-therapeutic substance, it has not been approved for human use or consumption in the U.S., or in any other country. The AGCO alleges that two horses trained by Gerl, Arafat (War On Gaza)...

Edited Ontario Racing press release Susan Foreman got outbid in a hot market at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year, but found a mare to bring home to her Ontario farm from among the sale's RNAs, purchasing Unostrike (Macho Uno) privately for $25,000 after the 12-year-old failed to meet her reserve in the sales ring the previous day. While half of the mare's purchase price was paid for by Ontario Racing's Mare Purchase Program, the acquisition was made even better when Unostrike's half-brother Rich Strike (Keen Ice) upset the...

A total of C$1 million will be distributed to Ontario breeders in 2022, owing to enhancements made by Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee in its Mare Purchase and Recruitment Programs for the 2021-2022 sales season. Focusing on the Mare Purchase Program (MPP), the TIP Committee increased the maximum credit available to C$75,000 from C$50,000, lowered the minimum purchase price from US$15,000 to US$10,000 and removed the $100,000 maximum purchase price restriction. We made changes to the Mare Programs to make them less restrictive, but never in our wildest...

Ontario purse funds from races already canceled or expected to be canceled in April and May because of COVID-19 restrictions will be redistributed to the owners of Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and Quarter Horses in the form of a monthly stipend that requires an application process, the Ontario Racing task force announced late Thursday. "These funds were already committed to the industry through the funding agreement for live horse racing between Ontario Racing and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)," an Ontario Racing press release stated. "In order to be eligible...

The HBPA of Ontario released a statement Monday speaking out against the abuse of clenbuterol, saying that it has passed a motion "supportive of stopping the abuse of the medication clenbuterol" and is requesting the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario "take immediate action thereupon." The statement comes on the heels of Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse calling for a ban of the drug last week in the TDN. The statement continued: "We feel that all owners and trainers deserve a level playing field...

Woodbine Entertainment is increasing purses for its overnight and Ontario bonus programs effective for this year's Thoroughbred season which begins Saturday, Apr. 18, the company announced Tuesday. "Woodbine is committed to attracting and retaining top quality horses in support of a strong racing program," said Jessica Buckley, Senior Vice President of Thoroughbred and Standardbred Racing for Woodbine Entertainment. "We are pleased to offer enhanced overnight purses for some conditions as well as significant bonus increases for the Ontario Sired and Ontario Bred programs that will benefit the local horse racing...

Ontario Racing (OR) announced its $5.89 million Thoroughbred Horse Improvement Program (TIP) Breeders Awards package for 2020-21, including a new Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence program. Rewarding breeders of Ontario-bred horses at Woodbine and Fort Erie, the distribution is based on first, second and third-place finishes in most classes, including Grade I races. Additionally, a new $200,000 Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence program awards prizes to the breeders of the top three highest earning Ontario-Sired horses worldwide. A total of $50,000 each is being offered in the 2-year-old colt/gelding, 2-year-old...