Brian Bell, who is just eight wins away from 800 victories, will ride six horses on Wednesday in hopes of getting closer to his goal.

© Laurie Overton

AJAX DOWNS–MAY 13, 2025–Brian Bell, 2024's High Point Jockey at Ajax Downs, begins his 25th year in the saddle on Wednesday, May 14, the second day of the Quarter Horse meeting. Bell, who has won more than half a dozen riding championships, is nine wins away from 800 victories, more than any other Quarter Horse jockey in Canada.

Bell will ride all six races on Wednesday, including the incomparable Maryland Magic, the 11-year-old stallion who easily won for owner Milena Kwiecien. Bell, who lives in Lindsay, had to sit out opening day due to a minor riding infraction from last season.

Maryland Magic, trained by perennial leading conditioner Jason Pascoe, will be odds-on in a 250-yard speed index dash in race four. The 20-time winner has five rivals including Tina Bogar's promising gelding The Gingerbread Mann.

Wednesday's first race, set for 1:45 p.m., is an Ontario-sired allowance race. The diminutive First For You will be the first starter for young trainer Lauren Spada this season.

First for You won a Trial for the Ontario Sired Futurity last season as a 2-year-old and finished a good third in the final. Brian Chyene, new to the Ajax Downs riding colony, gets the mount in the 250-yard opener.

The final two races on the May 14 Ajax Downs card are intriguing maiden dashes with many new faces in Ontario. In race five, the well-bred Ride The Hurricane is by one of the world's leading Quarter horse stallions, Apollitical Jess. Ride the Hurricane makes her Ajax Downs debut for owner John Wilson and trainer Scott Reid, who won two races on opening day.

In the day's final race, Last Cold Bud and jockey Diego Benitez will be favored to win, but Dan Giles' The Fire Witch is an upset possibility under jockey Norman DeSouza.

Parking and admission are always free at Ajax Downs, and you can watch the racing up close from the many picnic tables at the trackside. Bet on the Ajax Downs races at the track or on www.HPIBet.com. 

On racing days, the popular VIP room overlooking the track can be reserved by contacting the track at www.ajaxdowns.com or (905) 686-8001.

To find out more about joining the popular First Line Racing Syndicate and own a share in a Quarter Horse, call the QROOI at (905) 426-7050.

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