Quarter Horse racing season is back at Ontario track

Ontario’s sprint kings and queens have been chomping at the bit all winter but are back at work today for the opening day of the 2025 Quarter Horse racing season at Ajax Downs.

The first of 25 race dates gets underway with a seven-race card and a first race post time of 1:45 p.m.

In addition to the regular Wednesday cards, fans can enjoy special event Sundays once a month beginning with a Father’s Day celebration on June 15, as well as Craft Beer day and Family Fun Day and the first Twilight Racing Day on July 2, featuring a 4:15 first race post time.

The popular Battle of the Breeds races, pitting Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in a ‘hook race (around a turn) will be back. Last year the Thoroughbreds won four of the seven races.

Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario president (and trainer) Bob Broadstock is happy to be back. “From the moment the track opened for training it was very busy,” he said. “We had a tough winter and horse people were excited to get their horses back in training.”

The QROOI implemented a horse purchase loan program a couple of years ago and it increased for the 2025 racing season, with eight of the 15 entries in the two trials for the QROOI Open Derby for three-olds on today’s card purchased in the off-season.

“A lot of people took advantage of the loan program, double the number from a year ago,” said Broadstock. “People may need some help investing in their first horse, that is what we are trying to do.”

The first Trial is race two and Ontario bred Elvis the Famous will be a popular runner with the fans. The light grey gelding won the Ontario Bred Futurity last season and will be ridden by Ismael Mosquiera, who is returning to riding after being sidelined since July due to injury.

Race three is the second Trial and last year’s High Point 2-year-old filly Had to be Fabulous meets stakes winner Runaway Fate and others in a competitive dash. The final of the QROOI Derby, worth $30,000, is on May 21.

To find out more about joining the popular First Line Racing Syndicate and own a share in a Quarter Horse, call the QROOI at (905) 426-7050.