The Ontario Standardbred Improvement Program (SIP) committee has announced that Ontario Sired horses will be eligible to more than $22.5 million in restricted purses for 2027, including more than $17 million in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) program alone.

The new money is part of $14 million in additional funding annually for five years specific to the Standardbred industry. The funding comes from $35 million in total new money annually for five years from the provincial government for Ontario’s three racing breeds.

“Thanks to the Ontario government, we are incredibly pleased to make improvements to the Ontario Sires Stakes program and add additional opportunities for those racing Ontario Sired or Ontario Bred horses,” said SIP Committee Chair Bill O’Donnell. “Now, more than ever, is a fantastic time to purchase an Ontario Sired horse and breed mares in Ontario.

“Ontario horse breeders are the foundation on which our fantastic provincial horse racing industry is built, and their investment churns many times over to provide a tremendous return to the Ontario economy.”

The SIP committee is a division of Ontario Racing.

The most notable changes for the 2027 OSS program include:

• For two-year-olds, the first two legs will carry a purse of $60,000 per division. After the first two legs, the two-year-olds division will move into Gold and Grassroots competition.
• All horses competing in the Prospect Series can be claimed at a price of $25,000 plus allowances. The only exception is claims will not be allowed for the first two Prospect legs for two-year-olds.
• Gold Series divisions will be guaranteed at a minimum of $100,000.
• The Gold Series legs will each have a purse of $150,000 if there is one division and $100,000 each for two or more divisions.

Each of the eight Super Finals will have a purse of $350,000. For two-year-olds, there will be three Gold legs. There will be five Gold legs for three-year-olds.

Grassroots divisions will carry a purse of $30,000 each. Each of the eight Grassroots Championship races will have a purse of $100,000. For two-year-olds, there will be four Grassroots legs. There will be six Grassroots legs for 3-year-olds.

Prospect Series divisions will have a purse of $12,000 each. Prospect Series Finals will have a purse of $25,000 each.

Two-year-olds competing in the Prospect Series will have the following claiming price for legs three through five: Claiming $25,000; two-year-old filly, 100 per cent allowance, claiming price $50,000, two-year-old colt/gelding, 75 per cent allowance, claiming price $43,750.

Three-year-olds competing in the Prospect Series will have the following claiming price for all legs: Claiming $25,000; three-year-old filly 75 per cent allowance, claiming price $43,750, three-year-old colt/gelding, 50 per cent allowance, claiming price $37,500.

In addition to the $17 million OSS program, in 2027 Ontario Sired horses will also be eligible to approximately $1.2 million in restricted stakes purses for events such as the Battle of Waterloo and Battle of the Belles at Grand River Raceway, the Dream Of Glory and Balanced Image at Hanover Raceway, the Kin Pace at Clinton Raceway and the SBOA at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Ontario Sired horses will also be eligible to some $4.3 million in restricted purses for races at Woodbine Mohawk Park, such as the Harvest Series and events for Grassroots starters. Some of those races will also be open to Ontario Bred horses. The full schedule will be made after next year’s race dates are approved.

Opportunities are plentiful for Ontario Sired horses and increasing opportunities for Ontario Bred horses that are out of dams properly enrolled in SIP’s Ontario Resident Mare Program (ORMP) for the corresponding foaling year, regardless of whether the sire stood in Ontario or elsewhere.

Nearly 500 Ontario Sired horses will sell soon at the following major yearling sales:

• Lexington Selected Yearling Sale – Oct. 5-8 – 67 Ontario Sired yearlings catalogued.
• London Classic Yearling Sale – Oct. 13-14 – 282 Ontario Sired yearlings catalogued.
• Standardbred Horse Sales Company auction in Harrisburg, Pa. – Nov. 2-4 – 125 Ontario Sired yearlings catalogued.

(with files from Ontario Racing)