Celebrate Canada Day this Wednesday, July 1 at Ajax Downs for an exciting card of Quarter Horse racing including the $59,310 Ontario Bred Derby for 3-year-olds at 300 yards.

© New Image

By Jennifer Morrison

AJAX, CAN–JUNE 30, 2026–Celebrate Canada Day this Wednesday, July 1 at Ajax Downs for an exciting card of Quarter Horse racing including the $59,310 Ontario Bred Derby for 3-year-olds at 300 yards. Racing fans will also have a chance to say 'Happy Retirement" to the richest Ontario Bred Quarter Horse, HAD TO BE IVORY, who is hanging up his racing shoes at the age of 11.

Four lucky fans will win one of his shoes that he has been wearing this year.

First race post time on Canada Day is 12:55 p.m.

The 15th edition of the Ontario Bred Derby is one of the richest races of the summer at Ajax Downs and eight geldings and fillies will vie for the trophy.

Last year's Alex Picov Futurity winner CHILLIN WITH PEEPS could be favoured since she finished a close second in her first race as a 3-year-old on May 27 to the older male Peightmeadiamond. Owned, trained and bred by Eniskillen's Chantelle Bourgeois, Chillin With Peeps boasts a 90 speed index from that race. Cassandra Jeschke is her regular rider and they will start from post seven.

One of the up-and-comers in the field is the gelding SUIT UP, who has won two consecutive races with ease. Owned by Rick Crispi of Guelph and trained by Scott Reid, Suit Up has Helen Vanek on board and they will break from post four.

SHAKE EM ALICE, bred in Prince Edward County by Kyla Traviss, has also won two straight races, both from the rail post. She has drawn the rail again for the Derby and Brian Bell rides for Joe Tavares.

The Derby is race 7.

*Had to Be Ivory will visit the winner's circle one last time after race 2 on Wednesday. The big gelding, owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson, won 34 of 44 races and had four second-place finishes and three thirds. He was a two-time Horse of the Year and a multiple winner of Champion Canadian Bred from the AQHA. A son of Ivory James from Had to Be Fandango, Had to Be Ivory had three undefeated seasons - in 2017 as a juvenile, 2022 and 2025. He also won his only start of this season. He retires with earnings of over $540,000.

REMINDER: One of Ajax Downs' most anticipated days is Sunday, July 19 when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police perform the iconic Musical Ride at the track on Sunday, July 19. The RCMP will also host a complimentary meet-and-greet with the Mounties and their horses. The RCMP Musical Ride and attendance to Ajax Downs for racing, is a ticketed event. See more at https://ajaxdowns.ticketpro.ca/en/.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.