Ontario's Thoroughbred industry will receive an immediate funding boost of more than $10 million following a decision by Ontario Racing to direct additional government support into breeding, racing and purses. The investment forms part of a broader five-year commitment by the Ontario Government that will provide an extra $35 million annually across the province's Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Quarter Horse sectors.

Ontario Racing confirmed that its industry representative board of directors voted to allocate 83 per cent of the additional funding toward Ontario's breeding industry and racing participants, with the objective of strengthening the province's Thoroughbred sector and supporting long-term sustainability.

Breeding Programme Receives Major Boost

A significant portion of the funding will be channelled through the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP), with an additional $5 million allocated this year. The funding will be used to strengthen Ontario Bred and Ontario Sired stakes races, increase breeders' awards, and provide greater incentives for breeding, raising and racing Thoroughbreds within the province.

Ontario Racing also confirmed that a further $4.5 million will be distributed through TIP to expand restricted racing opportunities for Ontario Bred and Ontario Sired horses competing at Woodbine Racetrack.

These measures are intended to encourage continued investment in the provincial breeding industry while increasing opportunities for locally bred horses.

Fort Erie Purses Increase

The funding package also delivers higher purses at Fort Erie Race Track, where the average purse per race card will increase by 15 per cent. Average purses are expected to rise from nearly $127,000 in 2025 to more than $146,000 during the 2026 season.

Thoroughbred racing in Ontario is conducted at both Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Race Track, with the additional investment designed to strengthen opportunities across both venues.

Supporting Jobs and Industry Growth

According to Ontario Racing, the increased funding is intended to improve the competitiveness of Ontario's horse racing industry while helping protect jobs and support the nearly 18,000 people employed across the sector. The organisation also noted that the additional investment helps address inflation, which has increased by approximately 25 per cent since the province entered into its long-term funding agreement with the industry eight years ago.

Ontario Racing acknowledged the provincial government's support, noting that the investment is aimed at protecting agriculture and rural employment while providing the industry with additional resources to invest in breeding, infrastructure and purses.

The economic contribution of Ontario's horse racing industry remains substantial. The sector generates more than $1.9 billion annually for the provincial economy and contributes approximately $330 million in provincial tax revenue, while supporting economic activity in communities across Ontario, particularly in rural regions.

Funding Agreement Extends Long-Term Investment

The additional funding is being delivered through the fifth amendment to the Amended and Restated Funding Agreement for Live Horse Racing, originally signed in 2018.

Ontario Racing also noted that because the fifth amendment was finalised in June 2026, purse levels through March 2027 will include incremental funding introduced after the start of the current season. As a result, purse levels may fluctuate slightly over the remaining four years of the agreement as the increased funding is distributed across full racing seasons.

The investment provides Ontario's Thoroughbred industry with additional resources to strengthen breeding, expand racing opportunities and reinforce the long-term sustainability of the province's racing programme.