Quarter Horse racing fans are in for a treat on Wednesday, July 16, as two Horses of the Year are set to square off once again in the $40,140 Ontario Bred Maturity at Ajax Downs. HAD TO BE IVORY, the incredible 10-year-old gelding who has won two Horse of the Year titles and won his 2025 season opener with ease, will try and turn the tables on 2023 Horse of the Year SNOW MOOSE, who upset Ivory in this race last July.
The Maturity, race 5 on Wednesday’s card, is a co-feature on the afternoon. The $51,480 Ontario Bred Futurity for 2-year-olds is race 3, and it’s the first dash for the juveniles at Ajax Downs this year.
The July 16 card gets underway at 1:45 p.m. and is the first of two racing days at Ajax Downs this week. CRAFT BEER DAY is Sunday, July 20, with samples of local breweries, live music and giveaways.
Had To Be Ivory had a lengthy winning streak at Ajax Downs halted last July when Snow Moose led from start to finish in the 400-yard Ontario Bred Maturity. Carol and Jaime Robertson’s homebred later finished ahead of Snow Moose in the Alex Picov Championship last October, although neither could beat the filly Queen Charlotte.
While Had To Be Ivory won a 110-yard dash to open this year’s campaign, Snow Moose missed by a nose in the Norman Picov Maturity to stablemate Spy For The Senate in his Ajax Downs return on June 15.
To add to the intrigue, the two champions line up beside each other in the gate in posts 1 and 2. The field is completed by recent winner Phil Jefferson, Had to Be Ivy, the younger full sister of ‘Ivory’, and the stakes-winning filly Silver Lyning.
The 300-yard Futurity has a field of five first time starters. The Jason Pascoe pair of AGENT ICE, owned by Amelie Aubut, and SNOW FUN N FANCY, owned and bred by Milena Kwiecien, have had good workout times.
Admission and parking are always free at Ajax Downs. You can watch and wager on our exciting races trackside, up close to the action, at our picnic tables. To reserve tables in advance for $25 or book the VIP room for your party or group, contact www.ajaxdowns.com.There is also an expansive simulcast wagering room with tellers, or you can wager through www.HPIBet.com.
If you want to get involved in owning a Quarter Horse, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at 905-426-7050.
