Quarter-horse racing pioneer being inducted into Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

One of the founders of Quarter Horse racing in Ontario and a big reason racing exists at Ajax Downs racetrack is being recognized by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame with a Meritorious Award.

The late Ralph Pearson is credited with bringing pari-mutuel racing to what was then called Picov Downs in the early 1970s and was also involved in organizing Quarter Horse meets at Woodbine and other tracks.

Pearson, who died last year at the age of 92, was among the executives responsible for starting the Quarter Horse stakes and futurity programs and had two tenures as president of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario in the 1970s and 1980s.

Pearson also owned the first horse to win a Quarter Horse race at Woodbine in 1973 and his devotion to the sport was recognized in 1989 when he was presented with the AQHA Register of Merit.

The CHRHF Meritorious Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated an “extraordinary and sustained” impact on the industry, with a legacy of transformative contributions that have measurably advanced Canadian horse racing and left an enduring mark on the sport.

The award will be presented to Pearson’s family as part of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Gala in Mississauga on August 12.