SEPTEMBER 2019 THE RIDER /23


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


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


10th Annual Family Fun Day at Ajax Downs Raises Money for Ajax-Pickering Hospital


AJAX DOWNS, AU- GUST 18, 2019 - Over 1,500 fans packed Ajax Downs for the 10th annual Family Fun Day on Sun- day, August 18, raising money for the Ajax Picker- ing Hospital. Kids and their fami-


for the upcoming Picov Derby. The sixth race, the


lies enjoyed dozens of fun events such as racing down the track out of the Ajax starting gate, meeting the track ponies, entertain- ment from Dan the Music Man (www.danthemusic- man.com), zoo animals, face painting and more. On track, the eight


Quarter Horse races had fans of all ages racing to the rail to watch their favourite horses streak to the finish line. SPY FOR THE SENATE, the 2018 top 2-year-old colt, made a successful return to Ajax Downs following a sum- mer campaign in the U.S. by winning the featured third race, an allowance dash that served as a prep


Town of Ajax’s MAYOR’S CUP, pre- sented by Mayor Shawn Collier, included bonus money for the winning horse and was won by Jess a Sweet Surprize, owned and trained by Craig Spada and ridden by Cobourg’s Cassandra Jeschke. Ontario’s Minister of


Finance Rod Phillips spoke to, and met with fans before touring the at- tractions offered through- out the track. Wagering on the


eight-race card was up al- most 20 percent over the 2018 Family Fun Day. Keep up on the


events at Ajax Downs on Twitter (@AjaxDowns), Instagram and Facebook and visit http://www.ajax- downs.com for more infor- mation.


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


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


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


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


James Bogar JBogar@cameronsteel.com


Emotional Win For Oakwood’s Belinda Taggart At Ajax Downs


FIREBALL Xl5 sizzles in the second Trial for the Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity - Clive Cohen photo


Fireball Xl5, A Lone Hand win Trials for Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity


AJAX DOWNS, AU- GUST 5, 2019 - With an impressive rush from his outside post, FIREBALL Xl5 clocked the fastest


11 to 1 filly runs away with Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity


AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 25, 2019 - The feisty 2-year- old filly PRETTY RUNAWAY bossed the boys around on Sunday at Ajax Downs in the $64,900 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity, the first major race for youngsters heading into the autumn championship season. Owned and bred by


Rene and Darlene Hunderup’s Heste Sport Inc. of King, ON and trained by Pontypool’s Jason Pascoe, Pretty Runaway was 11 to 1 on a day of long-


shots at Ajax Downs. “I have to say thank


you to our team and the [start- ing] gate crew,” said Rene Hunderup. “They have helped us work very hard with this talented filly.” Pretty Runaway was


making just her second career start in the Futurity final fol- lowing a fifth-place finish in the second Trial for the race on Aug. 4. The daughter of Win- ners Award, under American jockey Oscar Andrade Jr. put


time of all Ontario-sired 2-year-olds in two Trials Sunday August 4 for the upcoming $50,000 On- tario Sires Stakes Futu- rity.


Shanley Jackson for owner and breeder Be- linda Taggart and trainer Jason Pascoe, Fireball Xl5’s half length win over first-time starter Shaken in :17.390 for 330 yards shaded the :17.420 it took A LONE HAND to win the other Trial. In front of one of the


largest crows at Ajax Downs this year enjoying Patio Day, a total of 10 juveniles advance to the August 25 final. Taggart, who lives


in Oakwood, near Lind- say, ON was choked up in the winner’s circle after Fireball Xl5’s vic- tory.


Rene Hunderup, third from right, holds his filly Pretty Runaway who beat the boys in the Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity on Aug. 25 at Ajax Downs. Trainer Jason Pascoe, far right, is the leading trainer at Ajax currently. New Image Media photo


her head in front at the finish, edging favoured A Lone Hand, who had been undefeated in two previous starts. Hunderup remarked that the


filly’s one-year-old full brother, as yet unnamed, is an exciting prospect for 2020.


The 2-year-old filly PRETTY RUNAWAY posts an 11 to 1 upset in the $64,900 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity at Ajax Downs, Sunday, Aug, 25 - New Image Media Photo


Ajax Downs hosted ‘Travel Day’


at the track on Sunday with many prizes for the large crowd on hand. It also cel-


ebrated the 87th birthday of owner/trainer and Quarter Horse racing founder Ralph Pearson who has been in- tegral in the birth and growth of Quarter Horse Racing in Ontario. For more on the great racing and


upcoming events at Ajax Downs, follow the track on Twitter (@AjaxDowns), In- stagram and Facebook and check out http://www.ajaxdowns.com.


tremely happy because we lost his sire Star Fire Dash in April,” said an emotional Taggart. “I hope this guy does him well.” The gelding, who


“It makes me ex- Ridden by US rider


toon.. It was about a bunch of little space peo- ple like Steve Zodiac, Venus and Robbie the Robot. It had a catchy tune and I watched it until I came to Canada.” A LONE HAND,


winner of the first Trial, is 2 for 2 in his career for owner and breeder James Bogar of Cameron, ON and trainer Barry Wood. Ridden by Brian Bell, who won three races on Sunday’s card, A Lone Hand won by 1 1/2 lengths over Ivy Lane Racing’s Rowdy and Bo- dacious. Also on Sunday’s


was making his third ca- reer start and earning his first victory, was named after a popular British kid’s show, Fireball X L 5.


ern Ireland in the ‘50s and basically it was the first animated kid’s car-


“I grew up in north-


card, the rapid 4-year-old gelding CARNEROS se- cured his second track record at Ajax Downs in his last three starts. Owned by Milena Kwiecien and trained by Jason Pascoe, Carneros won the QROOI Sprint Series dash at 220 yards in :11.780, beating the previous record of :11.80 set in 2013 by All Wacked Out. On June 16 the almost-black gelding won the first leg of the Sprint Series, a 110-yard race in a track record :6.77.


on Twitter (@Ajax- Downs), Instagram and Facebook and at www.ajaxdowns.com.


Follow Ajax Downs


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