A new video archive feature has been added to the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) website, which allows horse owners, bettors or enthusiastic fans to not only read how their favourites are doing, they can view the race video

too. The OSS website has always been a treasure trove of facts and figures for everyone who wants to know on a regular basis... ‘How’s my horse doing???’

As an added bonus, the 2009 Grassroots and Super Final races are also available for viewing through a link on the Home Page.

“These enhancements will make the OSS site ‘must see viewing’ for racing fans and will provide owners with a video album of their horses’ performance in OSS races for the season,” says Wendy Hoogeveen, Director of Industry Development and Support for the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC), administrator of the OSS Program. “The technology has now made it possible for us to make this available to owners and fans, a thank you for their investment in the Ontario Sires Stakes Program.”

The site is easy to use and puts all the facts – and now the images – right at your fingertips.

Here’s all you need to do:

Go to the OSS website at www.ontariosiresstakes.com

Select Participants from the tab across the top, select Horses from the left hand menu and then use the alpha list to find your horse. Click on the first letter of the horse’s name, then select by full name.

For each active OSS racehorse a page is available that provides statistics, their breeding and owner information, as well as a record of their OSS performances. To view the video for any performance, just click the Watch Now link.

A similar process can be used to watch videos of all OSS horses driven, trained, owned or bred by any individual in the current year.

To view all of the OSS races from a specific night, select the Schedule and Results tab across the top, then Schedule By Date from the left hand menu, pick the date and track and then click Results in the right hand column. This will show you all of the races for that particular date and track. The videos can be accessed by clicking on the Watch Now link.

Results will be updated and posted on the OSS site in a timely fashion. For tracks with a simulcast feed, those races should be available for viewing the following morning. For other tracks, the videos will be collected and posted as soon as possible – likely within four days.

For almost two decades, the OSS program has led all North American jurisdictions in purse values, while consistently producing outstanding Ontario-sired performers. In 2009, eight of the top 10 overall Sires Stakes performers on the continent were Ontario-sired.

This year, the OSS racing program will offer over $18 million in purses, and will be supported by a lucrative incentive and awards program for breeders of successful Ontario-sired competitors. Building on its solid Ontario Sires Stakes foundation, the Ontario Standardbred Improvement Program is committed to promoting, supporting and rewarding our community of breeders, dedicated to the continual improvement of quality. The Program is administered by the ORC.

Program criteria and all Program forms required for 2010 can be accessed from the Featured Showcase section on the home page of the ORC website at www.ontarioracingcommission.ca

(ORC)