Dave Briggs2026-06-22T15:31:18-04:00June 22, 2026|
story by Phil McSween / Woodbine photos by Michael Burns (This story originally appeared here) The addition of blinkers and a well-timed rally, helped Souper Sporty (above) score an 18-1 upset win in The Georgian Bay Stakes, the opening leg of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series on Sunday (June 21) at Woodbine. Reunited with rider Read more
Dave Briggs2026-06-19T13:25:33-04:00June 19, 2026|
by Dave Briggs Nine Ontario-bred 2-year-olds sold for $852,000 combined, averaging $94,666 apiece, at this week’s OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale at the OBS Sales Grounds in Ocala, FL. The group was led by Hip #827, a Medaglia d’Oro colt out of Season Ticket that sold for $400,000 to D. J. Read more
Dave Briggs2026-06-11T17:10:20-04:00June 11, 2026|
The best breeders in Ontario were celebrated Wednesday night (June 10) at the 42nd annual Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s (CTHS) awards dinner at Royal Woodbine Golf Club in Toronto. The highly anticipated evening honoured the 2025 outstanding achievements of breeders in Canada’s biggest racing jurisdiction as the 2026 season is in full swing. Founded in Read more
Dave Briggs2026-06-10T16:21:18-04:00June 10, 2026|
(As well as having a stable on the rise at Woodbine, trainer Dale Desruisseaux is also a proud family man. He and his wife, Jeannette, are shown with their children Daynica and Dawson - photo courtesy Dale Desruisseaux). Trainer Dale Desruisseaux can vividly remember feeling a rush when his phone rang and he saw Read more
Dave Briggs2026-05-29T13:58:36-04:00May 29, 2026|
story by Dave Briggs photos courtesy Canuck Racing Club There is a certain poetry to how Donato Lanni talks about the magic of horse ownership as a rare and enriching life experience. “Honestly, owning racehorses is one of those rare bucket-list experiences that can be even better when it’s shared,” said Lanni, one of the Read more
Dave Briggs2026-04-28T13:36:53-04:00April 24, 2026|
story by Dave Briggs / photos by Michael Burns Winning the King’s Plate and being voted the Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s 2025 Horse of the Year are both incredible feats, but neither are as impressive as what Mansetti did to prolong owner Bill Ulwelling’s life. This was, of course, after Mansetti nearly killed Ulwelling Read more
Dave Briggs2026-03-05T10:44:30-05:00March 5, 2026|
by Dave Briggs / Ontario Racing Ontario’s Thoroughbred stallion lineup for 2026 includes nine new stallions led by the heralded homecoming of Sergei Prokofiev (above), one of Europe’s most successful young sires. Also new to Ontario this year is Yorkton, Frac Dancer, Inflation Nation (IRE), Mildmay's Secret, Royal Spirit, Stitches, Tale of Silence and Tomcat Read more
Dave Briggs2026-02-27T13:15:16-05:00February 27, 2026|
The Ontario Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) is proud to announce its 2026 Stallion Directory is available to download. The 44-page guide features information on all 45 stallions eligible to the TIP program in 2026, as well as important contact, payment and program information. There's also a list of 2025 stallion leaders, answers to frequently asked Read more
Dave Briggs2026-01-29T14:56:07-05:00January 29, 2026|
Without the money she receives from the Ontario Thoroughbred breeders’ awards, Sherry McLean is certain her farm in Hillsburgh, ON farm could not stay open. “I can't stress it enough,” said McLean (above / Dave Landry photo), the owner of Northern Dawn Stables. “Without that money, we probably wouldn’t be here… and that money needs Read more
Dave Briggs2026-01-21T16:01:58-05:00January 21, 2026|
by Dave Briggs / Ontario Racing The excitement was palpable in new breeder Evan Sandhu’s voice as he spoke about how the Ontario Thoroughbred Improvement Program’s (TIP) Mare Purchase Program (MPP) helped him add three European-bred broodmares to Amplify Stables’ growing operation. Sandhu purchased three mares via the MPP and will receive a total of Read more
