OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 THE RIDER /27


Q.R.O.O.I: 50 Alexander Crossing’s, Ajax, ON L0S 1T6 Telephone: (905) 426-7050 • Fax: (905) 426-7093 Email: qrooiheadoffice@gmail.com


www.qrooi.com


Ajax Downs, Monday October 22, 2018 - Ajax Downs’ 49th season of Quarter Horse racing wrapped up on Monday with an


PRESIDENT


Bob Broadstock 18101 Cedardale Road, Nestleton, Ontario L0B 1L0 (905) 986-0044 email: bob_broadstock@hotmail.com


VICE-PRESIDENT


Erik Lehtinen RR #2, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R2 (905) 852-5245


Greg Watson 785 Hwy 7A, Bethany, ON L0A 1A0 (705) 277-0248


Chantelle Bourgeois - 416-985-7046 Chantelle.Bourgeois@t4g.com


Ralph Pearson - 905-243-4501 ralphpearson@bellnet.ca


Dr. Gayle Sommer P.O. Box 91, Leaskdale, ON L0C 1C0 (647) 999-6554


Ajax Downs ends 49th racing season on a high note


exciting victory by NIGHT FISHN, owned by Mary Schrama of Milbrook, ON, win- ning the Town of Ajax’s Mayor’s


Cup, presented by Mayor Steve Parish. The Mayor’s Cup, which


included a $1,500 bonus to the winning horse, cele- brated the top Ontario- bred horses of 2018 and Night Fishn, a 4- year-old filly trained by Greg Watson, flew past her rivals in the 350 yard race to win under Corinne Andros. The 10-race card , the


last of 25 race dates of 2018, yielded a 41% increase in wagering over the final day of racing in 2017. Jockey Cory Spataro


Photos from the last day of racing - the Mayor's Cup. NIGHT FISHN, owned and bred by Mary Schrama (light blue jacket) of Millbrook, ON was the winner. Jockey Corrine Andros.


from Innisifil, ON, had a career best season with 41 victories to lead all riders. Jason Pascoe of Pontypool also set a personal best


with 37 victories, edg- ing perennial leader Joe


Tavares who had 31. Christine Tavares


of


Eniskillen, topped all owners with 23 victories, edging Milena Kwiecien who had 22. Country Boy 123, expected


to be named the Horse of the Year for the third consecutive season, won all seven of his races in 2018 as leading race winner and is scheduled to make his final start of 2018 in the Oct. 27 Indiana


Championship at Indiana Downs. For all news releases and in-


formation about events at the track during the winter months please


visit www.ajaxdowns.com.


Bryanne Sheppard 749 Waite Road, Pontypool, ON L0A 1K0


Ajax MPP Rod Phillips, Ajax Downs President Justin Picov, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and QROOI President Bob Broadstock. Photos by Monique McNamara


Ajax Downs Continued from Page 1


Gaming Corporation announced in April it was going to operate the Durham Live casino proposal in Pickering. The threat of closure of the


slots facility meant that Quarter Horse racing, which celebrates its 50th year in Ontario in 2019 and provides upwards of 1,700 jobs in the region, would not survive. “During the recent election I


Mayor Steve Parish presented the winner's cheque which included an extra $1,500 from the Mayor's office.


promised to fight for Ajax Downs to reverse the decision by the pre- vious Liberal government to re- move the slots which would have led to the closure of this facility and the and of QH racing in province,” said Philips at an Oct. 9 press conference at the track. “Premier Doug Ford com-


mitted to find a solution that would work for both Pickering and Ajax and he further commit- ted to returning the slots-at-race- tracks program.” Phillips confirmed that there


was an agreement in principle to keep the slots at Ajax Downs. Currently there are 800 slot ma- chines at Ajax Downs but that number will be capped at 500. Bob Broadstock, president


Country Boy 123 after winning the Alex Picov Memorial Championship for the second straight year. Owner trainer Ruth Barbour is holding the horse. All photos CLIVE COHEN/NEW IMAGE MEDIA


of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, Inc. and a horse owner and trainer, said the news puts the


industry on firmer footing going forward. “What a glorious day to


stand here before you to an- nounce quarter-horse racing will continue here in Ajax,” Broad- stock said. “In April, our worst fears


were realized when the govern- ment announced the closing of Ajax Downs,” he stated, adding it’s a “world class facility for our little industry. Three-hundred families will sleep a little better tonight and for years to come.” Justin Picov, president of


Ajax Downs, said the announce- ment will help lift “the fog of the last few months. Today is a really exciting day.” “We were told, especially by


the Liberal government, there was no future for Ajax Downs,” Picov said. “We’re in the first stage of


negotiations. We’re happy so far. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Picov added. “Rod, Ajax and the quarter-horse racing in- dustry owe you a big thank you.” Picov’s grandfather Alex


and father Norm have been in- strumental in building the Quar- ter Horse racing industry up from its early days at the former Picov Downs into an important and vi- able industry. In addition to Quarter Horse


racing, Ajax Downs is the site for many important community events and fundraisers for the local hospital. Since the current facility


opened in February of 2006 it has put some $80 million into the community. The current 800 slot machines contribute almost $8 million annually and with 500 slots the municipality will receive between $4.5 and $5 million. This year’s Quarter Horse


racing season was one of the most successful in recent years with increases in wagering and attendance. The track ís star runner,


Country Boy 123, owned by Ruth Barbour, won all seven of his races during the season including the Alex Picov Memorial Cham- pionship. The 5-year-old gelding is expected to be named Horse of the Year at the award banquet in February, the third straight Horse of the Year title for the brilliant runner. Chelsey Willick won the


jockey title with 330 QROOI points. Joe Tavares collected 380 points to lead all trainers while his wife Christine Tavares topped the owners and breeders list. The 50th season of Quarter


Horse racing at Ajax Downs is set to open in early May.


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