January 27, 2021 – Ontario Racing is pleased to notify industry participants that pending final approval, Standardbred horsepeople will have the opportunity to access certain purse funds that remain available under the Funding Agreement with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as a result of the suspension of live racing in the province due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These funds were already committed to the industry through the Funding Agreement for Live Horse Racing between Ontario Racing and OLG. Application/declaration forms to apply for equine benefit payments will be available from Ontario Racing in the coming days.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Racing created a task force, as it did during the spring lockdown, to address the financial impacts to Standardbred horse racing in Ontario.
Eligibility Requirements
For horsepeople to be eligible for financial payments pursuant to this program, the Standardbred COVID-19 Task Force has determined that horses must meet the criteria outlined below to be eligible to receive an equine benefit payment for the period of December 2020 and/or January 2021:
December Payment - $300 per horse:
Horses must have a charted line, verifiable by third party information, between the dates of October 23rd and December 23
rd. No application will be required for the December payment.
January - $1,000 per horse:
Horses, 3 years old and older who have started at an Ontario racetrack between June 5, 2020 and December 23, 2020 (verifiable 3rd party charted line), or unraced 3 & 4 year olds who were preparing to race,
currently stabled in Ontario and under the care of an AGCO licensed trainer
All horses
must remain stabled in Ontario and are currently under the care of an AGCO licensed trainer. The January payment will be for horses identified through a declaration/application of horses who were eligible/intending to race in 2021.
Notes:
* All payments received must be used for the care and maintenance of Standardbred horses noted on the submitted application (further details to be communicated).
* Once racing resumes in Ontario, horses who have received benefits under this program MUST make their first start at an Ontario Standardbred racetrack.
* Ontario Racing reserves the right to request additional information to ensure all criteria has been met. Those receiving benefits under the program could be subject to an audit by Ontario Racing. Failure to meet the criteria will result in all amounts being repaid to Ontario Racing.
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