Ontario Sire Heritage Series purses raised

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee has continued its commitment to the Ontario Sire Heritage Series by increasing the purse for each leg to $100,000, raising the total purse value of the series to $800,000.

Established in 2021, the Ontario Sire Heritage Series is comprised of three opening legs and a $100,000 final for two divisions: 3-year-old colts and geldings and 3-year-old fillies. In 2022, as a result of the increase, all three legs of the series will be worth $100,000 each.

The three legs and final are contested over different distances and surfaces: the Woodbine inner turf, the Woodbine main turf, the Fort Erie main track, and the Woodbine main track.

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“These opportunities are critical to support our Ontario-sired program,” said Colleen Dalos of Tall Oaks Farm. “The more that we can do to add incentives and motivation to help our local breeders, the better. So, this is a very positive step forward.”

In addition to the $400,000 in purses for each division, there is $70,000 in bonus money that is allocated to the top three finishers in each division at the end of the series. Last season Lorena, a 3-year-old filly, led all participants with $108,000 in earnings and $20,000 in bonus money by winning the Thunder Bay and Ashbridges Bay stakes.

Nominations close July 20 for the opening legs of the series, which will be contested Aug. 7 at five furlongs on the Woodbine inner turf.