Ralph Pearson will be honored posthumously with a Meritorious Award from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

© Courtesy Ajax Downs

AJAX, ONT—JULY 10, 2026—The late Ralph Pearson, one of the pioneering figures in Ontario Quarter Horse racing whose vision helped establish the sport in the province and paved the way for racing at Ajax Downs, will be honored posthumously with a Meritorious Award from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Pearson, who passed away last year at 92, played a pivotal role in bringing pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing to what was then known as Picov Downs in the early 1970s. He was also instrumental in organizing Quarter Horse race meets at Woodbine and other Ontario racetracks during the sport's formative years.

A driving force behind the development of Ontario's Quarter Horse racing industry, Pearson helped establish the province's stakes and futurity programs and served two terms as president of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario during the 1970s and 1980s. His contributions extended to the racetrack as an owner as well, campaigning the first Quarter Horse to win a race at Woodbine in 1973.

In recognition of his lifelong dedication to the sport, Pearson received the American Quarter Horse Association's Register of Merit Award in 1989.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's Meritorious Award recognizes individuals whose "extraordinary and sustained" contributions have transformed and advanced Canadian horse racing, leaving a lasting legacy in the industry.

Pearson's family will accept the award during the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's 2026 Induction Gala, scheduled for Aug. 12 in Mississauga, Ontario.

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