Ontario racing

Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course is scheduled to return to racing several weeks ahead of schedule following the completion of a comprehensive renovation, the track announced Monday. Originally set for Sept. 1, racing will now return to the course Saturday, Aug. 8 pending the successful completion of final evaluations. A single allowance race will be contested that day over the surface to begin. The course closed immediately after the 2025 King's Plate and progressed through the project on schedule. The extensive renovation focused on the backstretch section of the turf...

One of the largest investments to Ontario racing in recent years, in the form of significant purse increases for the 2026 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine, were announced Monday by Woodbine Entertainment, the Ontario HBPA, and Ontario Racing. The enhancements consist of an additional $35-million in annual funding for the horse racing industry passed in late June as part of the fifth amendment to the Long-Term Funding Agreement with the government of Ontario. Of the new funding, $10-million has been allocated to Ontario's Thoroughbred racing sector with $5-million being invested through...

Over $10 million will be infused into the Ontario Thoroughbred horse racing industry as part of the regional government's plan in Canada to increase support to protect agriculture and rural jobs across the province, Ontario Racing said via a press release on Thursday. The organization's representative board of directors voted to direct 83 percent of the additional funds toward Ontario's breeding sector and racing participants. Highlights of how the additional funding will be allocated this year specific to the Thoroughbred industry include: An increase of $5 million for the Thoroughbred...

In an effort to protect agriculture and rural jobs across Ontario, the Ontario government will contribute additional funding of $35 million annually for the next five years to the Ontario horse racing industry, Ontario Racing announced Thursday. Nearly 18,000 Ontarians work in the horse racing sector. The funding increase will be used to create a more competitive racing industry, protect jobs, and address inflation. "This funding will support generational family businesses--including thousands of horse people, breeders, and their staff that have invested personal capital," said Ontario Racing's Independent Chair Andrew...

Ontario breeders were celebrated Wednesday night at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club in Toronto for the 42nd annual Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) awards. Nearly four dozen Ontario breeders produced 51 horses who won a combined 67 stakes races in 2025. Dom Romeo of Terra Racing Stables was honored as the Mint Julep Cup recipient for his lifetime contribution and dedication to the breeding industry, prompting a standing ovation. "I started racing in the '70s," said Romeo. "We claimed a horse [Two Times Henry] from Conn Smythe. So, you know...

The 2026 race dates for four Ontario racetracks--Woodbine Racetrack, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Fort Erie Race Track and Ajax Downs--have been approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), it was announced Wednesday. The number of racing days per track:   Woodbine Racetrack (Thoroughbred) - 128   Woodbine Mohawk Park (Standardbred) - 222 (for all of 2026 counting dates already allocated from Jan. 1 through Mar. 31, 2026.   Fort Erie Race Track (Thoroughbred) - 34   Ajax Downs (Quarter Horse)...

The Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS-Ontario) has been approved as a member of Ontario Racing, effective immediately. The CTHS-Ontario will represent the province's Thoroughbred breeders at Ontario Racing, a not-for-profit group that serves as the voice of the province's horse racing industry. "We are pleased the CTHS will represent Ontario's Thoroughbred horse breeders at the Ontario Racing table," said Andrew Gaughan, the Ontario Racing Independent Chair. "Thoroughbred breeders not only have a substantial investment in the province's world-class horse racing industry, they also play a critical...

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...