Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee has continued its commitment to the Ontario Sire Heritage Series, by increasing the purse for each leg to $100,000 raising the total purse value of the Ontario Sire Heritage Series to $800,000.
Established in 2021, the Ontario Sire Heritage Series is comprised of three opening legs and a $100,000 final for two divisions: three-year-old colts/geldings, and three-year-old fillies. In 2022, as a result of the increase, all three legs of the series will be worth $100,000 each.
All three legs and the final are contested over different distances and surfaces: the Woodbine Inner Turf Course, the Woodbine E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the Fort Erie Dirt Track, and the Woodbine Main Track.
“These opportunities are critical to support our Ontario Sired program,” said Colleen Dalos, from Ontario breeder Tall Oaks Farm. “The more that we can do to add incentives and motivation to help our local breeders, the better. So, this is a very positive step forward.”
In addition, to the $400,000 in purses for each division there is $70,000 in bonus money that is allocated to the top-three finishers in each division at the end of the series. Last season Lorena, a three-year-old filly led all participants with $108,000 in purse earnings, and $20,000 in bonus money by winning the Thunder Bay Stakes, and the final the Ashbridges Bay Stakes.
Nominations close July 20 for the opening Legs of the Ontario Sire Heritages Series, which will be contested August 7 at five furlongs on the Woodbine Inner Turf Course.
The full schedule and breakdown of the purse structure for the Ontario Sire Heritage Series is available here.
Ontario Racing Press Release
Photo: Lorena winning the 2021 Ashbridges Bay Stakes (Michael Burns)
