** Updated on April 4, 2025 **
In March, there were concerns that significant tariffs threatened by the U.S. government, with possible reciprocal tariffs to follow from the Canadian government, posed a serious threat to the Ontario horse racing industry. The issue, as predicted, has been incredibly fluid. The latest information is that followng the U.S. administration's April 2 announcement of wide-scale tariffs on a long list of countries, horses crossing the border between Canada and the U.S. have been excluded from tariffs.
Ontario Racing is providing this information page linking to strong industry information sources to try to help you stay up to date. We will update this page when we have more information.
Our latest story on tariffs can be found here:
Information from industry sources reporting tariffs are not in effect
HBPA Ontario
CTHS Ontario
Standardbred Canada
BloodHorse
Background
Previously, we wrote about how tariffs would be devastating to Ontario horse breeders and other industry participants:
Media coverage of how tariffs may impact the horse racing industry (prior to April 2 announcement of no tariffs)
Since this is a fluid issue, please be conscious of publishing dates when reading articles. The most recent articles are more likely to contain the most current information. We present these links for background and additional information.
Ontario Racing
March 19: Fear is rising that tariffs will decimate Ontario’s horse racing industry
Canadian Press
March 20: Top Canadian breeder says U.S. tariffs could cripple horse-racing industry
Thoroughbred Daily News
March 19: Canadian owner-breeder Dave Anderson joins TDN Writers’ Room podcast
March 14: Update by NTA’s Rooney on threatened U.S.-Canada tariffs
March 13: Threatened U.S.-Canada tariffs could ‘cripple’ Canadian breeding industry
March 12: How will tariffs against Canada affect horse racing? Perhaps substantially
BloodHorse
March 14: Canadian breeders shaken by tariff threats
Paulick Report
March 24: Keeping Pace: Tariffs in racing is a war no side wants to wage
March 12: How could U.S./Canadian tariffs impact the thoroughbred industry?
Feb. 21: How could promised tariffs impact horse owners?
More Industry Notices