Iconic RCMP Musical Ride coming to Ontario racetrack Sunday

A lineup of thousand-pound ladies will be vying to become the next ‘princess’ on the racetrack, while the iconic RCMP Musical Ride will enthrall the crowd after the eight-race horse racing card wraps up at Ajax Downs Sunday.

Three-year-old Quarter Horse fillies will compete in two Trials for the $50,000-added Princess Derby on July 19, the marquee race on an afternoon that gets underway at 12:30.

The season’s top filly so far, Ontario-bred Chillin with Peeps, is the early betting favourite.

There is also growing 50-50 draw in support of the United Way as part of the afternoon (tickets are available at https://rafflebox.ca/raffle/uw-durham/) plus raffles, treats and prizes for fans on site.

Sunday will be a ticketed event at Ajax Downs (you must purchase a ticket to get into the track) and will include a performance of the famed Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Musical Ride after the last race.

The Musical Ride is a precision equestrian performance established in 1887 by the then-North-West Mounted Police as a way for early officers to practice British cavalry drills, entertain local communities, and display horsemanship, it has evolved into a celebrated, internationally recognized symbol of Canadian identity.

A symbol of tradition, honour, and pride, the RCMP Musical Ride is now an iconic piece of Canadiana recognized at home and abroad. The troop of up to 32 riders, who are all police officers, and their horses perform intricate formations and drills set to music. These movements demand the utmost control, timing, and coordination.

Check out the RCMP Musical Ride website for more on the horses and the program:
https://rcmp.ca/en/corporate-information/musical-ride

Chillin with Peeps. New Image Media photo