Ontario Racing Pleased With Success of Incentives

Last autumn, Ontario Racing announced two new Thoroughbred Horse Improvement Programs aimed at strengthening the province's breeding and racing industry. The industry association offered an update Jan. 16 on the Mare Recruitment Program and the Mare Purchase Program.

Through Jan. 14, paperwork for a total of 79 in-foal mares has been submitted through the MRP, which offers CA$5,000 to those who bring an in-foal mare to Ontario to foal. Of these, 42 have submitted to breed the mare back to a registered Ontario sire during the 2020-21 breeding season, an incentive worth CA$2,500.

As a result, the MRP, which offered a CA$500,000 cap in incentives, is fully subscribed for the 2019-20 breeding season.

A total of 17 submissions have been received so far for the MPP, which offers eligible applicants 50% of the purchase price of an in-foal broodmare, up to a maximum of CA$15,000, at various recognized pubic auctions. Currently, seven will be sent to a registered Ontario sire, also a CA$2,500 incentive.

"Ontario Racing is extremely pleased with the success of the Mare Recruitment Program and the Mare Purchase Program," said David Anderson, a longtime breeder/owner and Ontario Racing board member. "All sectors of the province's racing and breeding industry, through the Thoroughbred Horse Improvement Program, have worked collaboratively in creating these impactful investment concepts, which have been met with significant enthusiasm by the marketplace."

Opportunities to participate in the MPP, which also offered a CA$500,000 cap in incentives, still exist at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington that runs through Jan. 17, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Winter Mixed Sale in Ocala, Fla., Jan. 28-29, and the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, also in Lexington, Feb. 10-11.

"The fully subscribed Mare Recruitment Program has been enthusiastically embraced by horse people," said John Hayes, independent chair of Ontario Racing. "Ontario Racing's Horse Improvement Program committees, covering all breeds, continue to look at ideas on how to support the province's racing and breeding sectors. We look forward to further feedback from breeders and owners on the MRP and MPP as the programs evolve."