Ajax Downs

THE FUTURE STARS OF QUARTER HORSE RACING TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT AJAX DOWNS! WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 – ALEX PICOV FUTURITY! It's going to be an exciting showdown as 10 talented two-year-olds line up for the 400-yard Alex Picov Futurity on the final race day of the 2026 season! And if the September 30th Trials were any indication, racing fans are in for a THRILLER! A DEAD HEAT THAT SETS UP AN EPIC REMATCH! Ontario-bred fillies IMPERIAL MIRACLE and BAREF HURRICANE RUSH couldn't be separated at the finish line in their Trial, hitting the wire together in a remarkable 20.633 seconds! Even more exciting, it was the FIRST career victory for both fillies! IMPERIAL MIRACLE, bred and owned by James Bogar of Cameron, Ontario, came flying late under jockey Tony Phillips to catch the speedy BAREF HURRICANE RUSH, owned by Earl Foster and ridden by Corry Beland. Bogar currently leads all Quarter Horse breeders at Ajax Downs with an impressive 16 wins from 69 starts! BUT CAN ANYONE STOP THE UNDEFEATED HAD TO BE VALIANT? The talented filly HAD TO BE VALIANT is a perfect 3 FOR 3 and looking to keep her winning streak alive! Owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson of Hillsburgh, Ontario, Had To Be Valiant captured the Ontario Bred Futurity in July and returned to win her September 30th Trial by a nose in 20.758 seconds, with jockey Ismael Mosqueira aboard. Now the stage is set! Will Imperial Miracle or Baref Hurricane Rush break their dead-heat rivalry and claim the big prize? Or will undefeated Had To Be Valiant make it FOUR STRAIGHT? ONE RACE. TEN YOUNG STARS. ONE FUTURITY CHAMPION! ALEX PICOV FUTURITY – RACE #8

ONE LAST RIDE AT AJAX DOWNS! IT'S OUR FINAL RACE DAY OF THE 2026 SEASON! Join us Wednesday, October 21st, as we wrap up another incredible season of Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs! 9 ACTION-PACKED RACES! Featuring the exciting ALEX PICOV FUTURITY! First race kicks off at 12:55 PM! HPIBET END-OF-SEASON PROMOTION! We're finishing the season with a little something EXTRA! Wager on Ajax Downs through HPIbet on October 21st and receive 3% CASH BACK on eligible wagers over $40! COME HUNGRY – WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT TREATS! Hot Dogs & More will be here serving up your favourite racetrack eats! Charcuterie Chic is BACK! Stop by and treat yourself to some delicious charcuterie favourites! Girls Inc. will be joining us! They'll be selling tasty snacks to raise funds in support of their programs. Be sure to stop by, grab a treat and help support a wonderful cause! FREE ADMISSION & FREE PARKING! Come cheer on your favourite horses, jockeys and trainers, enjoy some great food and soak up the excitement as we close out another fantastic racing season! A huge THANK YOU to our racing fans, horse owners, trainers, jockeys, staff and community partners for making the 2026 season so special. Your continued support means the world to us! LET'S PACK THE TRACK AND MAKE OUR FINAL RACE DAY ONE TO REMEMBER! DON'T MISS THE FINAL DASH TO THE FINISH LINE!

WHAT A THANKSGIVING MONDAY AT AJAX DOWNS! Monday, October 12, 2026 – Race Day for United Way & Pumpkin Giveaway Day! What a fantastic afternoon of exciting racing, laughter, pumpkins and community spirit at Ajax Downs! Families and racing fans came together for a fun-filled Thanksgiving Monday in support of United Way Durham Region! THE 3RD ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BREEDS – TURKEYS VS. CHICKENS! One of the funniest highlights of the day was our annual Turkeys vs. Chickens Jockey Race! Our jockeys traded their racing silks for hilarious costumes, and with wings flapping, feathers flying and fans cheering, it was a race full of laughs! A huge thank-you to our amazing jockeys for being such great sports and making this Thanksgiving tradition so much fun! EIGHT EXCITING RACES & TWO THRILLING STAKES! Fans enjoyed an action-packed eight-race Quarter Horse card featuring some of Ontario's top racing talent! The $59,850 Ontario Sired Stakes Derby saw CHILLIN WITH PEEPS capture the 350-yard championship by half a length with jockey Cassandra Jeschke aboard for owner and trainer Chantelle Bourgeois! The $49,950 Alex Picov Memorial Championship delivered another exciting finish as SNOW MOOSE, ridden by J.B. Botello, powered to victory over Peighntmeadiamond for owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe! Another highlight was MY ROYAL SWINGER, who continued his impressive season with jockey Corry Beland! PUMPKINS, SMILES & COMMUNITY SPIRIT! A heartfelt THANK YOU to the Canadian Progress Club for their generous donation of pumpkins for the kids! Seeing so many happy little faces made the day extra special. And thank you to everyone who came out and supported United Way Durham Region through your generous donations. Your kindness helps make a difference in our community! From thrilling races to speedy turkeys, silly chickens and happy pumpkin decorators, it was a Thanksgiving Monday to remember! Photo Credit : New Image Media & Laurie Overton Great racing, family fun and a wonderful community coming together — that's what Ajax Downs is all about! #AjaxDowns #RaceDayForUnitedWay #UnitedWayDurhamRegion #PumpkinDay #CanadianProgressClub #BattleOfTheBreeds #QuarterHorseRacing

Thanksgiving Monday at Ajax Downs …. So much happening Monday October 12th ! Come on out and support United Way ! Live Quarter Horse Racing First Race Post – 12:55 P.M. Pumpkin Giveaway and program sales open at 12:00 P.M Free t-shirt with the purchase of an Ajax Downs live racing program (while quantities last) Bring a donation of non-perishable food item(s) or gently used fall & winter clothing in support of United Way and receive a $5 betting voucher as our thank-you! Every donation, big or small, can help someone in need. Let's come together, give back, and show what community spirit is all about! One voucher per person. Must be 18+ to participate. Hotdogs & More will be here for all your BBQ needs #durhamtourism#thingstododurham#livequarterhorseracing#ajaxdowns

PRESS RELEASE Peighntmeadiamond Wins Again, Picov Championship Next AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 24 2026 - Overcoming a stutter-step start and some jostling, PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND asserted his superiority once again as Ajax Downs' top older horse with a powerful win in the September 23 featured race. The exciting Ontario bred 4-year-old heads to Alex Picov Memorial Championship on Oct. 12 undefeated in five races this season for owner Richard Wincikaby, trainer Joe Tavares and jockey Brian Bell. Wednesday was a big day for Tavares and Bell as they swept the last three races on the nine-race card. Lights Dynasty, owned by Tavares, won race 7 at 110-yards for his fourth win of the season followed by Peighntmeadiamond's win in a 350-yard allowance race. Open a New Corona, who won the Princess Derby last month, won the day's finale at 220 yards, her fourth victory of the year. Peighntmeadiamond's win got off to a rocky start when he was a bit slow out of the gate and Runaway Fate to his outside shifted inwards causing a pinball effect. Bell just waited until there was clear sailing between rivals before sending Peighntmeadiamond through. "The three [General Skywalker] came out and the five [Runaway Fate] came in," said Bell. "We just had to open up a little bit of a zip code and once I got him free he started running from there." Meanwhile, Pretty Runaway had built up a clear lead and appeared to be on her way to victory when Peighntmeadiamond burst past to win by a neck in a time of 17.723. His speed index was an impressive 101. Pretty Runaway held second over Runaway Fate. A son of Ontario stallion Peighnt Your Fate from the Thoroughbred mare Swingwiththering, Peighntmeadiamond was bred by Wincikaby and Katie Browne. Earlier on the Wednesday card, SNOW MOOSE, the 2023 Horse of the Year, won his final prep race for the Picov Championship in a 110-yard Gridiron gallop for owner Milena Kwiecien, trainer Jason Pascoe and jockey JB Botello. Photo Credit : New Image Media (4) Peighntmeadiamond

PRESS RELEASE Season's Top Older Horses in Action Wednesday Ajax Downs' current top older horse PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND headlines the September 23 feature race. Also in action on Wednesday in an earlier race is champion SNOW MOOSE. New Image Media photo AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER, 22, 2026 - Some of the top older horses at AJAX DOWNS are in action this Wednesday, September 23, making their final start before a date in the prestigious Alex Picov Memorial Championship on Thanksgiving Monday, October 12. A strong card of nine Quarter Horse races gets underway Wednesday at 12:55 p.m. The track's High Point Older Horse is PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND, an Ontario sired and bred 4-year-old who headlines the featured eighth race, a 350-yard allowance dash. The tall bay gelding is undefeated in four races this season including wins in the Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity and Ontario Bred Maturity. Owned by Richard Wincikaby and trained by Joe Tavares, Peighntmeadiamond and regular rider Brian Bell meet stakes winners Pretty Runaway, General Skywalker and Runaway Fate, plus stakes placed A Shades of Cold in the feature. In race 5, Championship nominees SNOW MOOSE and NADIR square off in a 110-yard Gridiron Gallop. Snow Moose, the 2023 Horse of the Year trained by Jason Pascoe, comes off a victory on Sept. 16 while Nadir, from the Joe Tavares barn, was second by a head in the $102,000 Cherokee Overnight Stakes at 440 yards at Sandy Ridge Racetrack in Ashland, Kentucky on Sept. 6. Snow Moose's stablemate, the filly KISSIN ELLA and stakes winner THE BATMANN, trained by Scott Reid, compete in race 7, also a 110-yard test, and could make their way to the Championship.

YOU MISSED A WILD ONE AT AJAX DOWNS TODAY! Race 7 delivered the kind of excitement you can only get with live racing! Rushn Spice, a huge longshot, lit up the tote board with an incredible payout — and the drama didn’t stop there. No one had the winning horse in the Daily Double, so the payout went to tickets with the second-place finisher instead! You truly never know what can happen when those gates open at Ajax Downs!

RAIN OR SHINE — AJAX DOWNS DELIVERS! SEPTEMBER 9 2026 - The rain came down, but it certainly didn’t slow down the excitement at Ajax Downs yesterday! We had a huge 10-race card packed with fast finishes, stakes action and outstanding Quarter Horse racing from start to finish. RACE 3 — THE MAYOR’S CUP We were pleased to welcome Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford — Ward 1, Councillor Rob Tyler-Morin — Ward 1, and Deputy Mayor Sterling Lee — Regional Councillor, Ward 2 to Ajax Downs for our annual Mayor’s Cup. MI REINA JANETTE captured the race with an impressive 3¼-length victory. With Ismael Mosqueira aboard, the 3-year-old filly covered 300 yards in 15.770 seconds, earning a Speed Index of 87. She is owned and trained by Jennelle McMahon. Our special guests joined us in the Winner’s Circle for the Mayor’s Cup presentation and photos, continuing a wonderful tradition that celebrates our connection with the Town of Ajax and our community. Thank you to Marilyn, Rob and Deputy Mayor Lee for joining us and for their continued support of Ajax Downs and Quarter Horse racing! RACE 7 — $61,380 ONTARIO SIRES STAKES FUTURITY The 2-year-olds took centre stage in the 330-yard Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity, with STOLEN IVORY S DASH powering to an impressive 2-length victory in 17.123 seconds, earning a 91 Speed Index. Ismael Mosqueira was aboard for trainer Bryn Robertson and owners Carol and Jaime Robertson. RACE 10 — $59,670 NORMAN PICOV DERBY What a way to close out the afternoon! CHILLIN WITH PEEPS came out on top in the prestigious 400-yard Norman Picov Derby. With Cassandra Jeschke aboard, CHILLIN WITH PEEPS battled all the way to the wire to defeat Open A New Corona by a neck, stopping the clock in 20.250 seconds for a 92 Speed Index. The Ontario-bred filly is bred, owned and trained by Chantelle Bourgeois. #AjaxDowns #QuarterHorseRacing #LiveRacing #MayorsCup #NormanPicovDerby #OntarioSiresStakes #AjaxOntario #TownOfAjax #Community

PRESS RELEASE Unbeaten My Royal Swinger Meets New Challengers in Picov Derby Final This Wednesday AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 9 2026 - MY ROYAL SWINGER, one of the most exciting Quarter Horses in Canada in 2026, will be going for his sixth straight win when he takes on nine fellow 3-year-olds in the important NORMAN PICOV DERBY at Ajax Downs on Wednesday, September 9. The Norman Picov Derby, worth $59,670 at 400 yards, and the $61,380 ONTARIO SIRES STAKES FUTURITY for 2-year-olds at 330 yards, highlight a superb 10-race card that begins at 12:55 p.m. My Royal Swinger, purchased for just $4,500 (U.S.) in the fall of 2025 by owner and trainer Joe Tavares, has won all five of his races at Ajax Downs including the Unclassified Stakes and a Trial for the Derby on Aug. 19. The Indiana-bred gelding has been ridden in every local start by rookie rider Corry Beland, who got his first career winner aboard My Royal Swinger. "I just make sure when I go out there, we go through the motions, do everything the way he likes it," said Beland about his favourite horse. My Royal Swinger and Beland will be meeting some other top 3-year-olds for the first time in the Derby. COPILOT, who won the faster of the two Derby Trials, has won four of six starts this year for owner John Wilson, trainer Scott Reid and jockey Helen Vanek. And Ontario-sired and bred CHILLIN WITH PEEPS, winner of the Ontario Bred Derby in July, will try to get back on the winning track for owner and trainer Chantelle Bourgeois and jockey Cassandra Jeschke. The Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity has a competitive field of nine including Trial winners COLD HARD CHIEF, owned by Katie Browne and trained by Jason Pascoe, and STOLEN IVORY S DASH, from Hillerin Farm and trainer Bryn Robertson. Cold Hard Chief is undefeated in two career races and Stolen Ivory S Dash was making his third career start when he broke his maiden in his Trial. Both juveniles drew the far outside with posts eight and nine.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILY FUN DAY SPONSORS! We truly could not make this special day happen without your incredible generosity and support. Your partnership is helping Ajax Downs support Ajax Pickering Hospital and Operation I.C.U., with funds raised going toward important equipment and improvements that will help strengthen critical care in our community. We are so grateful to every sponsor who has stepped forward to support this meaningful cause. Your generosity has helped make Family Fun Day possible and has given us the opportunity to bring our community together for something that truly matters. Now it is up to our amazing community to come out, join in the fun and help us make an even greater impact. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR HELPING US GET THIS FAR — NOW LET’S COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Sunday, August 30 10:00 A.M. SHARP! Ajax Downs Come out, bring the family, enjoy the day and help us support Ajax Pickering Hospital. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE SUNDAY!

JOIN US AT AJAX DOWNS SUNDAY AUGUST 30TH -FAMILY FUN DAY PLUS LIVE QUARTER HORSE RACING -EVENT BEGINS AT 10:00 A.M. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN ALL DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF Ajax Pickering Hospital Foundation #freefamilyfun #durhamregion #thingstododurham #kidsactivities #ajaxdowns #communitysupport

Its our 16th Annual Family Fun day at Ajax Downs Sunday August 30th #familyfunday #ajaxdowns #supportlocal #supportajaxpickeringhospital

PRESS RELEASE Copilot, My Royal Wagon Trial Wins Set Stage For Picov Derby Final My Royal Swinger will head into the $50,000-added Picov Derby final on Sept. 9 unbeaten in five races this year. AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 20, 2026 - Following this week's two competitive Trial dashes for the NORMAN PICOV DERBY at Ajax Downs, the $50,000-added final for the prestigious 3-year-old race, scheduled for September 9, is set to be a memorable one. The Derby Trials, plus two Trials for the $60,000-added Ontario Sires Futurity, made for a great day of racing on August 19, the last twilight program of 2026. Racing returns to a 12:55 post time schedule for the remainder of the season. John Wilson's COPILOT won the slightly quicker of the 400-yard Derby Trials at Ajax Downs for his fourth win this season, defeating Princess Derby winner OPEN A NEW CORONA and Ontario Bred Derby winner CHILLIN WITH PEEPS a closing third. Copilot, trained by Scott Reid and ridden by Helen Vanek, led from start to finish and won by a length in 20.335 for a 90 speed index. The son of Paint Your Pilot was purchased by Wilson, a resident of New Liskeard, for $9,000 last fall at the Heritage Mixed Sale in Oklahoma. The second Trial was won by MY ROYAL SWINGER, who is now undefeated in 5 races this year and is tied for the winningest horse in North America in 2026. Owned and trained by Joe Tavares, My Royal Swinger, with a motionless Corry Beland riding, edged Ontario-breds AGENT ICE, SUIT UP and JERONEMO, stopping the clock in 20.491 for an 88 speed index. The 10 fastest times from the two Trials advance to the Final. The Trials for the $50,000-added Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity for 2-year-olds saw a few late scratches, so all starters advance to the Sept. 9 final. The fastest Trial winner was STOLEN IVORY S DASH, who broke his maiden in the 330-yard race for Carol and Jaime Robertson and trainer Bryn Robertson. The flashy gelding raced the distance in 17.353 for an 84 speed index. Ismael Mosqueira rode the winner. Katie Browne's COLD HARD CHIEF sped away to victory in the second Futurity Trial in a time of 17.424 for an 82 speed index. The brown gelding is undefeated in two starts for trainer Jason Pascoe and Ajax Downs' leading rider Cristian Benitez. *Our next racing day is SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, Ajax Downs' popular FAMILY FUN DAY, a fun-filled day for the whole family in support of Lakeridge Health / Ajax Pickering Hospital! Live Quarter Horse racing, kids' games, loot bags, face painting, Zoo To You, and more. First race post time is 12:55 p.m. Photo Credit: New Image Media

Family Fun Day is almost here! We’re getting ready for an amazing day at Ajax Downs on Sunday, August 30, and we truly couldn’t do it without the incredible support of our sponsors! ❤️ Their generosity helps us bring our community together for a fun-filled day for families, and we are so grateful to have them be part of this special event. A huge THANK YOU to all of our Family Fun Day sponsors! Your support means so much to us and helps make this day possible. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone on August 30! #AjaxDowns #FamilyFunDay #ThankYouSponsors #CommunitySupport #DiscoverAjaxDowns #QuarterHorseRacing