Ontario group offering bonus to provincial foals

The Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society has instituted a new bonus program for Ontario-sired foals racing in their home province.

The season-long competition, announced in a press release Monday, will award $10,000 plus a $2,000 breeding certificate to a registered Ontario sire to the top-ranked horse in each of six divisions, and $5,000 plus a $1,000 breeding certificate to the second-ranked horse in each division. The divisions are: 2-year-old fillies, 2-year-old males, 3-year-old fillies, 3-year-old males, older fillies and mares, and older males.

One overall champion will receive an additional $10,000 and a second $2,000 certificate.

Rankings will be tabulated on a simple formula of using all money earned in every black-type qualifying race in Ontario this year. The winners will be announced by Dec. 31 and all payments will be issued by January of 2009.

The breeding certificates, valid for two years, will be treated like cash and redeemed by stallion owners through the horse society.

"The CTHS of Ontario is committed to finding new and innovative ways to reward excellence and encourage breeders to strive to improve the quality of our Ontario-bred and Ontario-sired foals," said Richard Lister, director of the society, in the press release.