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Hayes Steps Down as Independent Chair of Ontario Racing

Ontario Racing (OR) confirmed that John Hayes will step down as its Independent Chair, after leading the organization since March of 2018.

“Horse racing is a unique partnership between all participants including owners, breeders, horsepeople and racetracks,” said Hayes. “If one of the cogs is experiencing an issue, the other gears will not work as well. Building strong relationships with these partners and trusting those relationships allowed us to achieve our goals and overcome challenges in these past four years.”

The Long-Term Funding was among initiatives established under Hayes. Katherine Curry, the first Executive Director of Ontario Racing, worked closely with Hayes during her time in the role, when the Long-Term Funding Agreement was instituted.

“The Long-Term Funding Agreement represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between the

horse racing industry and its government partners, and John helped Ontario Racing lay the groundwork for its current and future success,” said Curry, current Ontario Racing Board Member, and Vice President of Legal and Compliance at Woodbine Entertainment Group.

While the Long-Term Funding Agreement and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic were the largest items on OR's agenda the last four years, Hayes' influence also impacted the work the organization has done with breeding programs, equine welfare, and aftercare.

Added Sue Leslie, Ontario Racing Board Member and President of the Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association of Ontario, “John has a lot of class, and he has led with dignity. When you have class and dignity at the top, it sets the tone, and everyone follows. Ontario Racing will miss him, and his leadership.”

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Canadian Trainer Suspended 20 Years for Drug Violations

Trainer Robert Gerl has been suspended 20 years and fined $100,000 after two horses under his care tested positive for ostarine, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced Tuesday.

The drug acts much like anabolic steroids in that it is used to create anabolic activity and enhance muscle growth by directly stimulating androgen receptors. A non-therapeutic substance, it has not been approved for human use or consumption in the U.S., or in any other country.

The AGCO alleges that two horses trained by Gerl, Arafat (War On Gaza) and Komunist (Conquest Curlinate), tested positive for the drug. Komunist tested positive for ostarine after finishing fourth in a $10,000 maiden claimer on Oct. 15 at Woodbine. Arafat's post-race positive involves an Oct. 7 maiden optional claimer in which he finished second. Neither horse has raced since the alleged infractions.

In the press release announcing the suspensions, the AGCO said that the substance was also found in one of the Gerl-trained horses in out-of-competition tests, but did not specify which of the two horses were involved in those tests.

“The health and welfare of racehorses, and the integrity of racing are of primary concern to the AGCO,” said Tom Mungham, the chief executive officer and registrar for the AGCO. “We will continue to take all appropriate actions to protect horses and maintain the fairness of racing. The administration of prohibited substances, especially non-therapeutic drugs, have no business in the sport, and positive test results can lead to severe consequences for licence holders.”

The two horses have been disqualified and the purse money they earned must be returned and redistributed.
According to equineline.com, Gerl has been training since 2007 and has a career record of 65-for-1132. He was 0-for-25 in both 2021 and 2020. He does not have a start this year. He has never had a starter in a stakes race.

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Half-Sister to Derby Winner at Home in Ontario

Edited Ontario Racing press release

Susan Foreman got outbid in a hot market at the Keeneland January sale earlier this year, but found a mare to bring home to her Ontario farm from among the sale's RNAs, purchasing Unostrike (Macho Uno) privately for $25,000 after the 12-year-old failed to meet her reserve in the sales ring the previous day. While half of the mare's purchase price was paid for by Ontario Racing's Mare Purchase Program, the acquisition was made even better when Unostrike's half-brother Rich Strike (Keen Ice) upset the GI Kentucky Derby two weeks ago.

“I didn't even know Rich Strike was entered into the Derby until Saturday,” said Foreman. “I was watching on the farm, because I was foal watching with a friend, and I turned to her and said, 'I have the half-sister to the Kentucky Derby winner.'”

Foreman had been bidding on behalf of a client when shut out at the Keeneland January sale. Back in her hotel after the session, she was looking through the supplement book when she saw Ontario-bred Unostrike was an RNA at $22,000.

“What immediately caught my attention was she was in-foal to Caravaggio, a gorgeous son of Scat Daddy,” said Foreman. “She's out of a Canadian champion mare [Gold Strike], a Smart

Strike mare. It was a just beautiful page for me to take home to Canada.”

Foreman arranged to look at the mare the following day at the St. George Sales consignment.

“When I got there, it took me two seconds to say, 'I'm not leaving without this mare,'” said Foreman. “She's beautiful. She's 16.1. She's correct and very good looking and had an early

cover date to Caravaggio.”

Unostrike produced a filly by Caravaggio Feb. 17.

“She is a lovely mare to be around, a good mom, and it's a beautiful foal,” said Foreman. “Her nickname's Fancy. She's the niece of the Derby winner out of a hot stallion. I couldn't be

happier.”

Foreman plans to sell the filly as a yearling next year, while Unostrike is currently in foal to Maximum Security.

Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program has $5.89 million available to breeders in the province.

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C$1M Set To Be Distributed To Ontario Breeders

A total of C$1 million will be distributed to Ontario breeders in 2022, owing to enhancements made by Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee in its Mare Purchase and Recruitment Programs for the 2021-2022 sales season.

Focusing on the Mare Purchase Program (MPP), the TIP Committee increased the maximum credit available to C$75,000 from C$50,000, lowered the minimum purchase price from US$15,000 to US$10,000 and removed the $100,000 maximum purchase price restriction.

We made changes to the Mare Programs to make them less restrictive, but never in our wildest dreams did we think all the funding would be exhausted,” said David Anderson, Breeder representative on the Ontario Racing Board and TIP Committee member. The result is we are a leading jurisdiction worldwide in terms of percentage increase of Ontario-bred foals.”

The MPP has 42 mares from 31 breeders enrolled in the program, 32 of which will be bred to a stallion based in Ontario. The Mare Recruitment Program has 49 mares enrolled from 33 mare owners/purchasers and 19 will be bred to a stallion in Ontario.

“David and the TIP Committee have done a great job to open it up,” said Arika Everatt-Meeuse, who received $64,000 through the MPP. “Now it can be accessed be accessed by more people and really allows people to reach out and buy a better mare.

She added, “I would have not gone shopping without it. It just would not have fit in my budget. Stud fees and everything are going up. But with the support of the program, I was able to make it work.”

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