from the Ontario Racing Commission

Toronto, ON — Ontario Horse Racing is pleased to announce that in the 2015 calendar year, Ontario sired Standardbred 2-year-olds racing in Ontario will receive a projected C$700,000 in new purse bonuses distributed as a 20 percent bonus on overnight races plus a five percent purse bonus on Ontario Sires Stakes earnings.

The proposal, which was brought forward by the Standardbred Advisory Group, was approved by the ORC Board this week. Elmer Buchanan, ORC Chair, said, “It is encouraging to see innovative ideas brought forward by the industry, especially those ideas that demonstrate a strong commitment to the breeding sector.”

OHR wishes to thank the Standardbred Advisory Group for their leadership in developing the incentive designed to benefit Ontario owners and breeders.

“Ontario sired” is defined as a foal sired by a stallion that is recognized as an Ontario sire by the Standardbred Improvement Program in the year of conception.

Year after year Ontario breeders produce leading performers, trotters and pacers. Most recent successes are trotting mare Bee A Magician and pacing horse Somebeachsomewhere, who absolutely dominated in their Ontario Sires Stakes races as well as the elite Grand Circuit races. Virtually all of the sport’s most coveted races have been won by an Ontario-sired performer.

For further information on this new incentive, contact: Karen Hauver, OSS Administrative Coordinator, 519.369.3545, records@ontariosiresstakes.com.

Ontario Horse Racing is a division of the Ontario Racing Commission and, as the Program Administrator for Ontario’s Horse Improvement Program, is responsible for the development and implementation of all Program elements, designed to recognize excellence for Ontario bred and Ontario sired horses racing in their home province.