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Ontario: Quarter Horse Industry Eligible For Equine Benefit Payments

Ontario Racing is pleased to announce that Quarter Horse horsepeople will have the opportunity to access certain purse funds that remain available under the Long-Term Funding Agreement with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) in the event that live racing at Ajax Downs is suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds made available in the form of equine support payments correlate directly to Long-Term Funding Agreement purse funds that have been foregone as a result of the lockdown measures from the cancelled May race days. If live racing is still prohibited under provincial orders related to COVID-19 at the end of May, a new round of funding may be available to Quarter Horse horsepeople (subject to approvals) with new requirements for eligibility. Information pertaining to a potential benefit payment beyond May will be provided in a subsequent communication.

The aforementioned funds were already committed to the industry through the Long Term-Funding Agreement for Live Horse Racing between Ontario Racing and OLG.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Racing created a task force, as it did during the spring lockdown in 2020, to address the financial impacts to horse racing in Ontario.

“We are pleased to be in a position to offer these equine benefit payments to the Quarter Horse industry,” said John Hayes, Chair, Ontario Horse Racing. “From the onset of the pandemic last spring, Ontario Racing, along with OLG, and industry representatives, have worked diligently to assist horsepeople across the province whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19.”

Eligibility Requirements

Horses are currently stabled in the province of Ontario; 3 YO and older horses are in active training for the upcoming 2021 Quarter Horse season at Ajax Downs as verified by the Quarter Horse Task Force.
Horses must have made a start during the 2020 racing season as verified on Equibase. 3 and 4 YO horses that did not make a start during 2020 but were in training during 2020 may apply. Approval is at the discretion of the Quarter Horse Task Force and supporting documentation may be required.
Horses meeting this criterion must apply for eligible equine welfare payments using the below application form.

Application form:

The Quarter Horse Equine Benefit application for this payment can be found here (Application Form). The deadline to submit your application to Ontario Racing is May 28, 2021. All mailed applications must be postmarked by May 28, 2021 in order to be deemed eligible. Please email or mail completed applications to:

Attn: Karen Allen – kallen@ontarioracing.com
Ontario Racing Management
555 Rexdale Boulevard
Toronto, ON
M9W 5L2

Important Notes:
·       All payments received must be used for the care and maintenance of Quarter Horse horses.
·       Any horse receiving assistance under this program must be in the province of Ontario. Horses that are trained by an AGCO licensed Trainer who predominantly races at Ajax Downs but are not stabled in Ontario may apply. Approval is at the discretion of the Quarter Horse Task Force. Horses approved under this criterion will be required to race at Ajax Downs for the entire 2021 meet, if approved to receive funding.
·       Once racing resumes in Ontario, horses who have received benefits under this program MUST make their first start at an Ontario Quarter Horse racetrack.
·       Ontario Racing reserves the right to request additional information to ensure all criteria has been met. Those receiving benefits under the program could be subject to an audit by Ontario Racing. Failure to meet the criteria will result in all amounts being repaid to Ontario Racing.
·       All decisions are at the discretion of Ontario Racing and are ABSOLUTE and FINAL.
·       Horses are currently under the care of an AGCO licensed trainer at the time the application is submitted.

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Flavien Prat’s Preakness Ride Nets Jockey Of The Week Honors

Flavien Prat won his first Preakness Stakes with a powerful stretch run earning Jockey of the Week honors for May 10 through May 16. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

Saddling his first runner in a Triple Crown race, trainer Michael McCarthy gave a leg up to Flavien Prat on Rombauer in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Riding the 3-year-old for the first time, Prat raced between horses in sixth place in the 10-horse field. Prat and Rombauer launched their bid from the outside on the final turn passing the pacesetters Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon in the stretch for the decisive 3-1/2 lengths victory.

“I was pretty confident going to the three-eighths pole,” Prat said. “I was behind the two favorites and I was travelling well. I thought if he switched leads and give me a good kick, I might be able to run them down.”

Rombauer covered the 1-3/16th miles in 1:53.62 returning $25.60 for the win.

Speaking to NBC after the race, Prat said: “It does feel different. Oh, what a feeling. I'm so thankful to [trainer] Michael [McCarthy] and all his team. I want to thank the groom and the pony girl, because he was quite on his toes before the race and I thought they did a great job.”

Prat continued, clearly humbled by the win.

“To be honest, when I left France it was to do better than what I was doing in France,” he said. “I didn't know the magnitude of these races. I knew a lot about the Breeders' Cup but the Triple Crown I didn't know much about it. I realize how important it is. There's so much history behind these races. To win one is amazing. To win the Preakness, it's even better.”

Prat's weekly statistics were 9-1-1-2 for an in-the-money rate of 44.4 percent and total purse earnings of $669,040. He sits comfortably atop the jockey standings at Santa Anita with 102 wins through May 16. He registered his 1,000th North American victory on Feb. 19, 2021 and has amassed 11 Southern California riding titles.

For Jockey of the Week, Prat out-polled Edwin Gonzalez who tied for number of wins with nine, Joel Rosario with two stakes wins including the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan, Diego Saenz with eight wins, and John Velazquez who won two graded stakes.

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Cornerstone Spendthrift Farm Sire Malibu Moon Dies At Age 24

Malibu Moon, the foundation sire of B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm, died suddenly on Tuesday in his paddock of an apparent heart attack. The distinguished son of A.P. Indy was 24.

“He started Spendthrift for us,” said Hughes, founder of the modern-era Spendthrift. “Without Malibu Moon, we are not where we are today. It takes a special horse, and he was just that. This is a sad day.”

A perennial leading sire in North America, Malibu Moon has been a staple of the Thoroughbred industry for the better part of this century, significantly influencing the breed through his sons and daughters on both the racetrack and in the breeding shed.

Malibu Moon has sired 126 black type winners and 51 graded winners – including 17 Grade 1 winners – to date. His progeny are led by 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, 2004 Champion 2-Year-Old Declan's Moon, and Grade 1-winning millionaires over the last dozen years that include Gormley, Magnum Moon, Life At Ten, Carina Mia and Come Dancing.

“It's a sad day for us. This is our first loss of this kind. It's tough,” said Spendthrift owner and president, Eric Gustavson. “You really develop a love for these beautiful, majestic animals. Even with Into Mischief taking over the mantle as 'top stallion' at the farm, Malibu Moon has always been 'the man' among our stallions. It can't be overstated how important he has been to the development of our farm. To say he will be missed just doesn't cover it. It's hard to imagine Spendthrift Farm without Malibu Moon.”

Malibu Moon's 17 Grade 1 winners all came on dirt, representing the second most by a modern-day sire on that surface only to Tapit. Malibu Moon perhaps made his greatest impact on the Kentucky Derby trail, siring winners of the Kentucky Derby (Orb), Florida Derby (Orb), Santa Anita Derby (Gormley), and Arkansas Derby (Magnum Moon), among other key “prep” races.

He has also been a highly influential broodmare sire in recent years, with his daughters producing the likes of champion Stellar Wind, Grade 1 winners Girvin, By the Moon, Bellafina and recent Preakness runner-up Midnight Bourbon, among others.

Malibu Moon was owned by Spendthrift, Castleton Lyons and Country Life Farm.

“Malibu Moon did so many things for so many people,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Our partners, Castleton Lyons and the Pons family, were so instrumental in helping develop his career and he rewarded them, and us, handsomely for it. He has truly been the horse of a lifetime.”

Country Life Farm's Josh Pons added: “Malibu Moon was a friend. He had a special presence and was such a playful horse. When I would come visit him at Spendthrift, he always recognized me and my voice. Malibu Moon improved the lives of all the people he touched. He paid tuitions for the next generations of Pons family – he put five kids through college. Malibu Moon moved up everything he touched.”

Bred and raced by Hughes, Malibu Moon was second on debut before breaking his maiden in his second start going five furlongs on the dirt at Hollywood Park as a 2-year-old for the late trainer Melvin Stute. It would be his only two starts, as Malibu Moon came out of his maiden victory with a significant knee injury that would end his racing career.

Malibu Moon took up stud in 2000 at Country Life Farm in Maryland, where he stood for a modest $3,000 fee and quickly became a smash from his initial crops of offspring to hit the racetrack. Declan's Moon was a member of his second crop, helping ascend Malibu Moon's young stud career to the next level. He moved to Kentucky to stand his first season at the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons in 2004 for a fee of $10,000. That was the same year Hughes purchased Spendthrift Farm.

In late 2007, Malibu Moon was moved to Spendthrift after Hughes had spent the previous few years restoring the farm to be able to stand stallions again. With the continued success of his progeny on the track, Malibu Moon stood his first season at Spendthrift in 2008 for a fee of $40,000. As he continued to reach new heights, his fee would climb to a high of $95,000 in 2014 following Orb's historic Derby triumph the season prior.

Since arriving in Kentucky in 2003, Malibu Moon has been cared for and overseen daily by Wayne Howard, the current Spendthrift stallion manager who was at Castleton Lyons until he and Malibu Moon both moved to Spendthrift.

“Malibu Moon – 'Boo Boo' to me – will be sadly missed by all of us at Spendthrift. Personally, the 18 years I had the pleasure to care and work with Malibu Moon have been a journey I believe we both enjoyed immensely. He was most definitely the boss, I just followed his lead,” said Howard.

Malibu Moon represented genetic royalty. He was the most prolific son of the breed-shaping A.P. Indy, who himself was the most prolific son of the legendary sire and 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Malibu Moon is the only son of A.P. Indy to sire a Kentucky Derby winner – matching Seattle Slew with one.

Always known for his strong physical stature and good looks, the bay Malibu Moon was out of the Mr. Prospector mare Macoumba, whom Hughes purchased and imported from France following her successful Group 1-winning racing career. Malibu Moon is a half-brother to Parker's Storm Cat – another stallion bred by Hughes – and his half-sister Curriculum is the dam of Spendthrift homebred runner and sire, Temple City.

Malibu Moon was standing stud for his 22nd breeding season in 2021 at a fee of $35,000 at his passing.

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Second Time’s A Charm For De Meric Sales With $625,000 Tapit Filly At Record Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale

The Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale is one of the most unforgiving marketplaces on the North American auction calendar, offering windfalls for the flawless specimens in the catalog and relative crickets for the ones that leave even one box unchecked.

Fortunately, the auction's early placement on the calendar offers the horses that didn't jump through every single hoop a chance to regroup and find the right fit at the right price somewhere down the road.

The patience to wait for that second chance paid off for the de Meric Sales operation, which consigned the session-topper during Tuesday's closing session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, a Tapit filly out of the Grade 1-winning Uncle Mo mare Gomo who brought $625,000 as Hip 492.

Tuesday's trip through the ring was the second during the current juvenile auction season for the Tapit filly. In March, she hammered for $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 seconds, and she was brought home as a buyback.

Tristan de Meric said the filly did a fair bit of growing in the two months since the Gulfstream sale, and she shipped north to Timonium, Md., a different horse.

“Physically, she put more weight on, even since the Miami sale, and she looked even better in company,” de Meric said. “I was really happy to see her develop physically as well as she did since the sale. She got better, bigger, stronger. She even grew an inch. She changed a lot since that sale, and the track here ended up suiting her.”

The filly shaved a fifth of a second off her time over the Maryland State Fairgrounds racing surface during last week's under tack show for the Midlantic sale, covering a furlong in :10 1/5 seconds – just a tick off the overall fastest time for the entire breeze show.

When the hammer fell on Tuesday, the ticket went to the back ring of the pavilion to trainer Mac Robertson, who signed it on behalf of Mike and Vicki McGowan's Xtreme Racing Stables.

“I thought she was the best filly in the sale,” Robertson said between placing bids for the horse immediately following the session-topper. “Mike and Vicki McGowan, are looking for really good fillies. I thought she had the best breeze, and being out of a Grade 1 horse, by a sire that everyone wants, it made sense to me. We went a little more than we wanted, but the sale is strong.”

Even if the filly never runs a step, her page stood out in the catalog as one with instant broodmare potential.

Bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm, she is the second foal out of Gomo, an Uncle Mo mare who won the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes as a juvenile. The page also features several graded/group stakes-producing mares.

While the long-term residual value was appealing, Robertson was more concerned in the moment with taking things one step at a time, and that starts with the racetrack.

“They're looking to win good races,” he said. “If they buy good fillies like that, I think they'll have a good chance.”

The transaction was one of the highlights of what was a record-setting renewal of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale, which set all-time high marks in gross, average, and median sale price.

Over the course of two sessions, a total of 357 horses changed hands for revenues of $33,692,000. The gross surpassed the previous record of $29,374,000 set in 2019.

The average sale price also reached a new high previously set in 2019, finishing on Tuesday at $94,375, after hitting $90,104 two years ago. The new record median of $50,000 bettered the previous mark of $45,000 set in 2015.

The buyback rate for the overall sale was 16 percent, and it was an even more impressive 13 percent during Tuesday's session.

Much like what de Meric said about the placement of Tuesday's session-topping filly, Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sales director Paget Bennett said the auction's spot on the later portion of the juvenile sale catalog has made it an increasingly popular target for quality horses, instead of a “last chance” stop at the end of the season.

“So much of it is the consignors just like the sale because of the extra time it gives a lot of these horses,” Bennett said. “A lot of the horses were May babies, so they don't want to push them early, because if they ding them early, they don't have anything, so when they buy horses, a lot of times, they target this sale.”

Even after an all-time edition of the sale, Bennett said she foresaw this week's results spurring on a further evolution of the Midlantic 2-year-old sale catalog, potentially attracting a new group of sellers who might have still held reservations about selling in the marketplace. However, she did not expect the catalog would expand any further than its current size.

“Six hundred (horses) is really what we can stable here, but we're seeing a lot of new consignors,” she said. “It's always nice for people to see other people be successful, and say 'Well, I wasn't sure about that sale earlier, but now I see the results, so perhaps it's something we need to put on our calendar for the future.' We've seen a lot of that, and I think we'll continue to see more.”

To view the auction's full results, click here.

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