Some of Ontario’s top horsemen have offered comment on Friday’s announcement regarding the projected $700,000 in purse bonuses set to be added for next year’s two-year-olds.

On Friday afternoon, the Ontario Racing Commission and OMAFRA announced that purse bonuses for two-year-old Ontario Sired horses will pay 5% on 2015 Ontario Sires Stakes races and 20% on 2015 overnight races. These improvements, according to the release, will “boost the earning potential of the 2014 yearlings and encourage more owners to purchase Ontario Sired Standardbred horses.”

“[The announcement] will definitely make me pay most of my attention to buying an Ontario bred this fall,” Mark Steacy told Trot Insider on Friday. “This should give breeders a big boost to develop top OSS babies.”

Steacy’s sentiments were echoed by Paul MacDonell.

“This bonus program is just another incentive for buyers to buy Ontario breds this season,” said MacDonell. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this does for our business in the coming years.”

Dr. Ian Moore, whose involvement spreads to the breeding side as well as ownership and training, was also pleased with the news.

“I think it’s great, and it couldn’t have come at a better time — before the first sale,” said Moore. “It’s an encouraging sign.”

Ontario Horse Racing (OHR) wishes to thank the Standardbred Advisory Group for its leadership in developing the incentive designed to benefit Ontario owners and breeders.

“Ontario Sired” is defined as a foal sired by a stallion that is recognized as an Ontario Sire by the Standardbred Improvement Program in the year of conception.

(Standardbred Canada)