Why race in Ontario?
Maximum racing opportunities
Ontario offers one of the most vibrant harness racing jurisdictions in the world. The province features live Standardbred racing seven days a week, year-round. Counting all three racing breeds, Ontario supports more than 23,000 full-time equivalent jobs and generating over $1.2 billion in economic activity. Horse racing is the third largest agricultural industry in Ontario.
Three levels of competition
Ontario offers three levels of Standardbred racing to suit your stable – grassroots, signature and premier. That means horses of all ability levels have the opportunity to race.
Twelve racetracks
Ontario offers more Standardbred racetracks than any jurisdiction in North America. There are 12 Standardbred tracks and eight of them are located within a 200 km radius in Southwestern Ontario. The province is also home to one of the best harness racetrack in the world – Woodbine Mohawk Park – which offers year-round racing. Ontario features everything from smaller half-mile and five-eighths mile tracks up to the seven-eighths mile oval at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Guaranteed, competitive purses
Ontario offers a guaranteed purse structure. Purses are supported by a
Long Term Funding Agreement (LTFA) with the province that began in 2019 and provides up to $120 million per year for 19 years to the Ontario horse racing industry (shared between the three racing breeds). In the most recent fiscal year, the LTFA provided more than $42 million, total, for purses at 12 Ontario standardbred tracks. That’s just part of the total purses available at harness tracks.
Thriving Ontario breeding program that supports racing
Ontario breeders produce some of the best Standardbreds in the world, which is essential to supporting the province’s robust racing ecosystem. The highly-successful
Ontario Sires Stakes program has brought some of the sport’s leading stallions to the province. Ontario is also home to a strong
Ontario Resident Mare Program that offers some $2.5 million in rewards for the breeders of Ontario-bred horses.
Plenty of training centres and veterinarian services
There are more than 10 training centres servicing the Ontario harness racing industry, many with available stalls. Ontario also is home to a long list of large animal veterinarians that serve the industry, as well as the world-renowned
Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre at the University of Guelph.
World-class trainers
Ontario is home to a long list of world-class Standardbred trainers providing horse owners with a variety of excellent options for helping your horse get to the winner’s circle.
Equine Aftercare
Since 1996, the
Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society has provided industry-leading adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario.
Important information
Find an Ontario Racetrack
Woodbine Mohawk Park horsepeople information page – 905-854-7805 (race office)
Ontario race dates
Central Ontario Standardbred Association – 905-854-2672
Standardbred Canada race conditions
Ontario Sires Stakes program
Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association
Find a training centre
Baycairn Training Centre, Freelton, ON – Philip Desroche (902-856-0167)
Cerro Stables Training Centre, London, ON – 519-455-4189
Classy Lane Stables, Puslinch, ON – Ross Buurma (519-897-2058), Lisa Buurma (519-577-9198)
Clinton Raceway – 519-482-5270
Dorchester Downs Training Centre, Dorchester, ON – Greg Blanchard (226-210-4827)
First Line Training Centre, Campbellville, ON – Joe Stutzman (905-876-6711)
Golden Horseshoe Lanes, Flamborough, ON – 905-302-5321
Ideal Training Centre, Acton, ON
Manestreet Stables, Rockwood, ON – 519-827-6943
Shamrock Training Centre, Cambridge, ON – 519-658-9706
Stephensons Training Centre, Flamboro, ON – 289-788-6033