by Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association

With the continued strength of the Ontario Sires Stakesprogram and the C$2 million owners’ bonus beginning in 2017, Ontario-sired coltsand fillies will once again be hot commodities at the fall yearling sales.

Between the Grassroots Series and Gold Series, the OntarioSires Stakes (OSS) program will pay out an estimated C$13 million in 2017. In2016 horses in each Grassroots division raced for C$18,000, while Gold Seriescompetitors in each leg split C$210,000 between divisions. Post season actionwill see the Grassroots contenders compete in C$20,000 semi-finals and a C$50,000Championship for each age-sex-gait category, while the Gold Series Super finalsgo postward for C$250,000.

“The OSS program continues to offer owners a great avenue to maximize theearning potential of their OSS eligible 2- and 3-year-olds,” said WalterParkinson, president of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA). The incentive to buy Ontario-sired and/or Ontario-bred yearlings has neverbeen better. Without leaving the province to race,owners will be eligible to earn a pro rata portion of a C$2 million owners’bonus, based on their earnings in overnight races.”

Starting in 2017 owners of Ontario-sired or Ontario-bred 2-and 3-year-olds will share in the C$2 million purse bonus. Owners of horsesthat are both Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred will receive double the bonus.

In addition to the clear benefits of racing in Ontario,throughout 2016 Ontario Sired horses once again demonstrated their ability tocompete on the North American stage. The 3-year-old pacing colt Betting Linecaptured his Somebeachsomewhere division, the North America Cup, Carl MilsteinMemorial and Battle of the Brandywine, in addition to four Gold Series legs,and 3-year-old pacing filly L A Delight won the Nadia Lobell.Also, 3-year-old trotting fillies Caprice Hill and Emoticon Hanover swept theirCasual Breeze and Simcoe divisions, while Celebrity Eventsy won herHambletonian Oaks elimination and the Moni Maker, while Flowers N Songs capturedthe Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial.

The 2016 older pacing maredivision has been dominated by Ontario Sires Stakes graduates Lady Shadow andSolar Sister. Lady Shadow claimed victory in the Golden Girls and Lady Liberty,while Solar Sister captured the Sam ‘Chip’ Noble III Memorial Pace and theArtiscape. Both mares, in addition to Betting Line, Caprice Hill and L ADelight, surpassed the million dollar mark in Canadian earnings in 2016.

“Ontario Sired horses continue to excel in Grand Circuit action on bothsides of the border,” said Parkinson, “Continually proving the quality of theOntario-sired product.”

Buyers hoping to acquire one ofnext season’s Ontario Sired superstars can find them at the following yearlingsales:

The Canadian Yearling Sale:Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016

Forest City Yearling Sale:Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016

Lexington Selected YearlingSale: Oct. 4 to 8, 2016

The Black Book – Harrisburg:Nov. 7 to 11, 2016