Over $20M in Purses, Owner Bonuses for Ontario Horse Owners

There has never been a better time to buy and race a Thoroughbred in Ontario. With millions of dollars in purses, bonuses, awards and incentives available, there has never been a better time to own and race an Ontario-bred and Ontario-sired Thoroughbred. Increased purses and expanded racing opportunities give owners more ways to compete, earn and succeed.

The opportunities don’t stop with the biggest stakes races. From maiden races and allowance races to restricted stakes, sales graduates’ races, owner bonuses and special incentives, here are multiple ways to put your horse in a race for serious purses throughout their racing career.

There’s a lot of money on the table. Ontario-bred and Ontario-sired horse owners – pull up a seat!

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The following guide lists the races, purses and programs available to owners of eligible Ontario-bred and Ontario-sired horses, so you can see exactly where your horse can run and what they can run for. The purses are growing. And there’s plenty to go around.

The horse is the investment. The opportunity is in Ontario.

2026 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale
12:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Woodbine Sales Pavilion | Toronto

View the digital catalogue HERE.

Contact Us:
Catherine Ciupa | General Manager
T: 416.675.3602 | E: info@cthsont.com

2026 Restricted Races

Ontario offers a variety of races restricted to horses with specific breeding and registration qualifications. The definitions below explain each classification and the requirements a horse must meet to be eligible. Following are the dates and conditions of the 2026 Restricted Stakes as published by Woodbine & Fort Erie Racetracks.

Canadian-Bred Stakes

A Canadian-Bred Thoroughbred that foaled in Canada and is registered with the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.

$2,000,000 | Triple Crown

$1,000,000* — The King’s Plate Stakes — Three-year-olds, 1 1/4 miles, Aug. 15
$500,000* — Prince of Wales Stakes (Fort Erie) — Three-year-olds, 1 3/16 miles, Sept. 7
$500,000* — Breeder’s Stakes — Three-year-olds, 1 1/2 miles (Turf), Sept. 27

* Includes Ontario Bred Bonuses.

$1,450,000 | Triple Tiara

$750,000* — Woodbine Oaks Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles, July 19
$350,000* — Bison City Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles, Aug. 8
$350,000* — Wonder Where Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles (Turf), Sept. 6

* Includes Ontario Bred Bonuses.

$1,150,000 | Canadian-Bred Stakes

$125,000 — Fury Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs, June 6
$125,000 — Queenston Stakes — Three-year-olds, 7 furlongs, June 7
$150,000 — Plate Trial Stakes — Three-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles, July 19
$250,000 — Cup and Saucer Stakes — Two-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles (Turf), Oct. 4
$250,000 — Princess Elizabeth Stakes — Two-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles, Nov. 28
$250,000 — Coronation Futurity — Two-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles, Nov. 28

Ontario Sale Graduates

A yearling that passes through an in-person Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale is eligible.

$1,000,000 | Stakes Races

$300,000 — Muskoka Stakes — Two-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs, Aug. 30
$300,000 — Simcoe Stakes — Two-year-old colts and geldings, 6 1/2 furlongs, Aug. 30
$200,000 — Elgin Stakes — Three- and four-year-old colts and geldings, 7 furlongs, Aug. 30
$200,000— Algoma Stakes — Three- and four-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs, Aug. 30

$344,000 | Maiden Allowance Races

A yearling that passes through an in-person Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario Division Sale is eligible.

$86,000 — Maidens — Two-year-old fillies, 5 furlongs, Aug. 1
$86,000 — Maidens — Two-year-old colts and geldings, 5 furlongs, Aug. 1
$86,000 — Maidens — Two-year-old fillies, 1 mile (EP), Oct. 10
$86,000 — Maidens — Two-year-old colts and geldings, 1 mile (EP), Oct. 10

Ontario-Bred Stakes

A registered Canadian Bred Thoroughbred that has foaled in Ontario and met the criteria set out by Ontario Racing.

$600,000 | Stakes Races

$150,000 — Vice Regent Stakes — Three-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs (IT), Aug. 16
$150,000 — Zadracarta Stakes (Overnight) — Three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 5 furlongs (IT) Aug. 29
$150,000 — Shady Wells Stakes — Two-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs, Nov. 21
$150,000 — Clarendon Stakes — Two-year-olds, 6 furlongs, Nov. 22

$600,000 | New Stakes for 2026

$150,000 — Caledon Stakes — Four-year-olds and up, colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles, Aug. 30
$150,000 — Belfountain Stakes — Four-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles (T), Sept. 13
$150,000 — Grand Valley Stakes — Four-year-olds and up, colts and geldings, 1 1/8 miles (T), Sept. 27
$150,000 — Silver Creek Stakes — Four-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles, Oct. 10

Ontario Sired Stakes

A Thoroughbred whose sire was a Registered Ontario Sire at the time of conception in accordance with the Ontario Sired Program requirements.

$1,500,000 | Stakes Races

$150,000 — Ballade Stakes — Four-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs, July 5
$150,000 — Pink Lloyd Stakes — Four-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs, July 5
$150,000 — Victorian Queen Stakes — Two-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 13
$150,000 — Bull Page Stakes — Two-year-old colts and geldings, 6 1/2 furlongs, Sept. 13
$150,000 — South Ocean Stakes — Two-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs, Oct. 18
$150,000 — Frost King Stakes — Two-year-olds, 7 furlongs, Oct. 18
$150,000 — Eternal Search Stakes — Three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 7 1/2 furlongs, (IT), Oct. 24
$150,000 — Overskate Stakes — Three-year-olds and up, 7 1/2 furlongs (IT), Oct. 25

$1,200,000 | Heritage Series Stakes

$150,000 — Georgian Bay Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 5 furlongs, June 21
$150,000 — Lake Huron Stakes — Three-year-old colts and geldings, 5 furlongs (IT), June 21
$150,000 — Thunder Bay Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs, July 26
$150,000 — Lake Superior Stakes — Three-year-old colts and geldings, 6 furlongs, July 26
$150,000 — Rondeau Bay Stakes (Fort Erie) — Three-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs, Sept. 7
$150,000 — Lake Erie Stakes (Fort Erie) — Three-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs, Sept. 7
$150,000 — Ashbridges Bay Stakes — Three-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles, Nov. 15
$150,000 — Lake Ontario Stakes — Three-year-old colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles, Nov. 15

New For 2026-2027: Canadian & New York Bred Stakes

Empire Trillium Stakes

The Empire Trillium Series is a dynamic new partnership between Woodbine Entertainment and the New York Racing Association. The series launches a bold stakes circuit for New York and Registered Canadian-Bred horses at Belmont Park and Woodbine Racetrack

$1,800,000 USD | Belmont Park

$200,000 — Empire Trillium Colt Sprint — Two-year-old colts and geldings, 6 furlongs, Dec. 26
$200,000 — Empire Trillium Colt Route — Two-year-old colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles, Dec. 26
$200,000 — Empire Trillium Filly Sprint — Two-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs, Dec. 26
$200,000 — Empire Trillium Filly Route — Two-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles, Dec. 26
$300,000— Long Island Derby — Three-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles, Jan. 23, 2027
$300,000— Long Island Oaks — Three-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs, Jan. 23, 2027
$200,000— Empire Trillium Colt Sprint — Three-year-old colts and geldings, 6 furlongs, Feb. 22, 2027
$200,000— Empire Trillium Filly Sprint — Three-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs, Feb. 22, 2027

$1,200,000 USD | Woodbine Racetrack

$200,000— Older Boys Sprint — Three-year-olds and up, colts and geldings, 6 furlongs, Apr. 24, 2027
$200,000— Older Girls Sprint — Three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs, Apr. 24, 2027
$200,000— Older Boys Mile — Three-year-olds and up, colts and geldings, 1 mile (Turf), June 6, 2027
$200,000— Older Girls Mile — Three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 mile (Turf), June 6, 2027
$300,000— Older Girls — Three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 7 furlongs, July 31, 2027
$300,000— Older Boys — Three-year-olds and up, colts and geldings, 7 furlongs, July 31, 2027

$5,650,000 Purse Bonuses

Registered Ontario Bred
A Registered Canadian Bred Thoroughbred that has foaled in Ontario and met the criteria set out by Ontario Racing.

Woodbine Racetrack

20% to 22% purse bonus in open races at Woodbine.
Paid to the owner at the time the purse is paid.
Eligible until the horse is claimed. After being claimed, the horse is no longer eligible for the bonus for the rest of its racing career.

Fort Erie Race Track

20% purse bonus in open races at Fort Erie.
Paid to the owner at the time the purse is paid.
Eligible until the horse is claimed. After being claimed, the horse is no longer eligible for the bonus for the rest of its racing career.

Registered Ontario Sired
A Thoroughbred whose sire was a Registered Ontario Sire at the time of conception in accordance with the Ontario Sired Program requirements.

Woodbine Racetrack

22% to 33% purse bonus in open races at Woodbine.
Paid to the owner at the time the purse is paid.
Eligible until the horse is claimed once. After being claimed, the horse is no longer eligible.

*Ontario Sired horses competing protected in NW2 OS/OPT $40,000 or NW3 OS/OPT $40,000 races are not eligible for the bonus.

Fort Erie Race Track

20% purse bonus in open races at Fort Erie.
Paid to the owner at the time the purse is paid.
Eligible until the horse has been claimed twice in the same calendar year, regardless of where the claims occur. Eligibility resets at the beginning of each racing year.