High Stakes Farm, Mac Lilley Farms and Seelster Farms each held open houses for the general public on Sunday, May 14, as the southern Ontario Standardbred breeding nurseries opened their gates to commemorate Mother’s Day 2017.

In addition to the breeding farms, the popular fractional ownership endeavour ‘The Stable’ (thestable.ca) held a successful Spring Showcase of its two-year-olds in training at the Tomiko Training Centre. For a recap of the Spring Showcase, which took place in Campbellville, click here.

Seelster Farms, located in Lucan, opened its facility to the public from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The open house at Seelster was an officially recognized fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society (voluntary donations were graciously accepted on their behalf).

“Seelster Farms was buzzing with more than 1,500 individuals visiting the farm during the Mother's Day open house,” Seelster’s Ann Straatman said via release. “The Seelster team was pleased to show off more than 40 young foals with their mothers along with the farm’s eight stallions. Guests were part of London's annual Shunpiker's tour as well as local families. Nearly all were from outside the horse racing industry and everyone did their best to make them feel welcome by fielding questions and introducing them to the newest addition to the farm, a Wheeling N Dealin colt out of Gramola, born at 6:15 a.m. that morning.”

High Stakes Farm, located in Moffat, opened its gates from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The open house at High Stakes was an officially recognized fundraiser for the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

Scores of people were coming and going at High Stakes throughout the afternoon. Trot Insider spoke with many of the people in attendance, many of which were from outside the industry and heard about the open house in the Milton Champion or online.

Mac Lilley Farms, located in Dutton, hosted its event from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The farm helped promote the 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada with a ‘commemorative mile’ by Il Sogno Dream and information display.

In addition to showcasing its mares and foals, the Hands On Horses Team from the Ontario Harness Horse Association providing rides in jog carts around the racetrack at Mac Lilley Farms. The Glencoe 4-H horse club members passing out cupcakes and drinks to the guests.