Ontario Racing, in collaboration with a number of veterinary and industry experts, announced on Thursday, Feb. 12 a plan for a return to racing for horses housed in approved quadrants of Barn 1 at Dorchester Downs near London, Ont., which has been impacted since early December 2025 by Strangles (Streptococcus equi.).
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) issued a notice to the industry on Dec. 12 with subsequent updates.
After extensive consultation with the AGCO, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), racetrack and training centre veterinarians, experts at the University of Guelph, the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) and management at The Raceway at Western Fair District, Woodbine Mohawk Park and Flamboro Downs, the decision has been made to allow horses in the approved quadrants of Barn 1 to return to racing under strict protocols. This decision was informed by ongoing risk assessments and the need to balance business continuity concerns for affected owners and trainers with horse health protection.
Ontario horsepeople, through their veterinarians, are fortunate to have access to top level animal health diagnostics, including the ability to utilize sensitive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing that can produce results within 24 hours. As such, beginning on Monday, Feb. 16, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Woodbine Mohawk Park and Flamboro Downs will accept the entries of those horses in the approved quadrants of Barn 1 at Dorchester Downs under the following conditions:
- Trainers in the approved quadrants will continue to take and record twice daily temperature readings on their horses, which will be available for review by veterinarians.
- Two days prior to shipping to a racetrack, horses from the approved quadrants will be tested by PCR to rule out the presence of Streptococcus equi.
- The day of the schooler, qualifier or race, horses from the approved quadrants will be examined by the attending veterinarian to ensure no clinical signs of sickness are present.
Only horses with no record of an increased temperature, a negative PCR test and no clinical signs of sickness will be permitted to school, qualify or race and the horses in the approved quadrants will not race in claimers until all required horses have tested negative for Streptococcus equi.
This plan for a return to racing will be under constant review and can be rescinded at any time.
Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial infection in horses and other equines caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus equi. It is characterized by fever, thick nasal discharge and/or swollen, abscessing lymph nodes in the throat area that can swell and obstruct the airway.
All horsepeople are reminded to practice good biosecurity including only bringing healthy horses to race, changing footwear and clothing worn at the barns when attending places where various horses comingle (such as at the racetrack) and minimizing contact with other horses with unknown health status.
More information is available from OMAFA by clicking here.
(With files from Ontario Racing; Horse pictured does not have strangles)