For Thoroughbred Breeders, the Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence program is a most fitting name.
Last February, Ontario Racing unveiled a new program as part of its $5.89-million Thoroughbred Horse Improvement Program (TIP) Breeders Awards package for 2020-21.
The Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence program is reflective of Ontario Racing’s commitment to reward and promote each component of the Ontario Thoroughbred breeding industry.
The $200,000 Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence was established to award monetary prizes to the breeders of the top three highest earning Ontario-Sired horses worldwide. A total of $50,000 each is offered in the 2-year-old colt/gelding, 2-year-old filly, 3-year-old colt/gelding and 3-year-old filly categories ($25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, $10,000 for third place in the standings).
Longtime breeder Bernard McCormack, along with his wife Karen, received a total of $86,087.59 in award money through the program.
“It’s been a great program by Ontario Racing, all of the great bonuses and awards that are available to breeders,” said Bernard McCormack. “I’m just glad that the racing program and the breeder program somewhat mirrors what’s available in some surrounding states. It was in need of a boost and I’m glad the leaders in our industry had the foresight to put these awards out there.”
Master Spy, a horse the McCormacks bred, went 2-1-1 from five starts in his rookie season, highlighted by a victory in the $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes on October 10, 2020, at Woodbine.
Owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Mark Casse, the son of leading Ontario sire Silent Name (JPN) was also second in the Victoria Stakes last August.
The dark bay was the top money earner in the Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence 2-year-old colt & gelding category, delivering the McCormacks $25,000 for his performances.
“He’s a gift,” said McCormack. “He’s a lovely horse, obviously one that is Ontario Sired. The mare [Smart Catomine] has been very fruitful and very good for us. You try and breed these horses every year… that the matings get you to the big races like the Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks. This year-end is award is so special because it’s thanks to the people who did everything to keep racing going, the leadership that was shown by everyone to have a racing season despite the pandemic.
“For him to win this award, we’re just so humble and thankful. We know we’ll put the money back into the business, paying vets, buying feed, and all the other things that breeders do. Every year, breeders have the hopes and dreams of winning some notable races, and it’s great the awards and the support are there for us.”
The TIP Breeders Awards program is designed to offer rewards to the breeders of best performing Ontario-bred horses at Woodbine and Fort Erie, the province's two Thoroughbred racetracks. The distribution is based on first, second and third-place finishes in most classes, including Grade 1 open stakes like the Ricoh Woodbine Mile.
Through the Breeders Awards program, bonuses for the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara races have been raised, including the iconic Queen's Plate and the Woodbine Oaks for 3-year-olds, which now offer an added $50,000 and $30,000 bonus respectively, at Woodbine.
Woodbine's Coronation Futurity and the Princess Elizabeth, the country's pre-eminent races for Canadian-bred 2-year-old colts and fillies, respectively, offer a $25,000 bonus each.
Up to $33,000 goes to a winner of a Grade 1 open stakes event, maiden allowance races offer up to a $13,000 added reward to an Ontario-bred winner, up from $5,100 in 2019, while maiden Ontario-sired allowance winners can earn an extra $10,000 through Breeders Awards, up from $3,600 last year.
Tim Murray, who lives in Florida, sees the suite of world-class Ontario Racing programs, including the Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence, as a win-win for all those invested in Thoroughbred racing.
“You want people here in Florida to realize the great programs and the benefits of racing in Ontario,” said Murray. “There is no other program like the one in Ontario. People need to know about it. Woodbine is such a beautiful track. They have great purses. These [Ontario Racing] programs, we’ve utilized them. We won with two of our horses in 2020 and got bonuses on top of that. It’s a home run. It’s such an outstanding resource for owners and breeders.”
Michael Burns photo
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Breeders Awards Leaderboard 2020
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