(PHOTO - Spring training at Ajax Downs has been fast and furious. Here is the track's 2015 leading jockey Brian Bell trying out newcomer Valiant Stoli Time over the plush dirt track - Ajax Downs photo)
Hold on to your hats, the Quarter Horses are back in action this weekend at Ajax Downs.
The track opens its 47th season of racing on Sunday, May 8 with a special Mother’s Day event including flowers and a free bet for the first 50 moms, just one of more than a dozen special racing days set for the season.
Racing will be held on 27 dates this season; every Sunday through early September when the schedule switches to Mondays with post times of 12:55 p.m., except for June 26 when post time is12:30 p.m. There is also a Canada Day celebration and racing card on Friday July 1 with a 12:30 p.m. post time. Two special Thursday twilight cards with a post time of 3:45 p.m. will be held on July 21 and Aug. 11.
“We are looking forward to this year,” said Emilio Trotta, Chief Executive Officer of Racing Operations. “We’re excited to focus on bringing more people out to the track through our expanded event schedule.”
Trotta said last year the track management focused on the Ajax Downs’ property and improving the experience for fans who want to get up close to the horses and jockeys.
“Last year we spent a lot of money and time working on our infrastructure; expanding the patio area and putting in more tables with umbrellas. We concentrated on improving the look of the track and making it fan-friendly.”
The trackside patio is the place to be for all the racing action at Ajax Downs - Laurie Overton photo)
In 2015 the track utilized a marketing company to film the track’s jockeys and events as well as promote the sport on social media. Returning for this season is the track host, Maddie-Jo Tilley, who will organize contests, engage fans and interview horsepeople throughout the afternoon.
Ajax will also introduce its new mascot ‘AJ’ to fans on opening day.
Joining the Ajax team is Daryl Wells Jr. who will be the simulcast host and handicapper, helping fans learn the sport of Quarter Horse racing.
Some of the events lined up for Ajax Downs racedays are:
May 8th: Opening Day/Mother’s Day
June 19th: Father’s Day Celebration with Budweiser
June 26th: Caribbean Day
July 1st: Canada Day
July 10th: Country Day
Aug 7th: Craft Brewery Day
Aug 21st: Family Day
On Mondays in the fall, there will be a farmer’s market on site each afternoon.
The most excitement will be on track where fans will get to the see the return of some of the best horses in the country.
The 2015 Horse of the Year from the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, Inc., Fiesty Icon has been on the Ajax Downs strip this spring getting ready for his return for owner and trainer Rick Kennedy. The exciting filly Embrace Extravagence, who defeated Fiesty Icon in the Picov Derby last year, had a sizzling workout on Apr. 4 of :12.02 for 220 yards for trainer Michelle Woodley.
Fiesty Icon and Embrace Extravagence are both nominated to the season’s first stakes event, the $50,000 Picov Maturity.
The trials for the Maturity will be held on May 22 and the final on June 5.
John Wilson’s exciting colt Panther Hero, the top 2-year-old male of 2015, has been on the busy Ajax Downs worktab and keep an eye out for a fan favourite, One Kool Wave, now 8-years-old, who was the 2010 Horse of the Year and is a 19-time winner in 31 starts. One Kool Wave has had two bullet workouts at Ajax Downs this spring for trainer Kim Ito.
In addition to 12 stakes events scheduled for this season there are 16 races carded in the Overnight Series, each offering a purse of $20,000.
The track’s top jockeys from 2015, Brian Bell, Tony Phillips, Helen Vanek, Cassandra Jeschke and Carly Furlonger will do battle once again. Cory Spataro, one of the track’s top riders from 2014, is set to return to action after missing much of 2015 due to an injury.
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