Ontario officials approve 2026 race dates, with Ajax Downs running 22 days May through October.

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

AJAX, ONT–MARCH 19, 2026–Ontario racing officials have locked in the 2026 schedules for four of the province’s major tracks—Woodbine Racetrack, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Fort Erie Race Track, and Ajax Downs—with approvals granted on Wednesday by both the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

For the Quarter Horse sector, Ajax Downs remains the focal point. The track has been approved for a 22-day meet, running from May through October, maintaining a steady and familiar cadence that mirrors recent seasons.

The 2026 campaign opens May 6 and unfolds with a consistent midweek structure. May will feature four programs (6, 13, 20, 27), followed by three dates in June (3, 10, 21).

July carries four race days (1, 8, 19, 29), while August matches that rhythm with four more (5, 12, 19, 30). September stays on a weekly schedule with four cards (9, 16, 23, 30), before the meet wraps with three dates in October (7, 12, 21).

Ajax Downs has posted a preliminary stakes schedule, offering a solid mix of established program fixtures and Ontario-bred highlights:

• May 20 — Open Derby ($30,000)
• June 21 — Unclassified NB79 (3 & Up) ($30,000)
• June 21 — Norman Picov Maturity ($30,000)
• July 1 — Ontario Bred Derby ($55,000)
• July 8 — Ontario Bred Maturity ($40,000)
• July 29 — Ontario Bred Futurity ($55,000)
• August 5 — Princess Derby ($50,000)
• August 12 — Princess Maturity ($30,000)
• August 30 — Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity ($40,000)
• September 9 — Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity ($55,000)
• September 9 — Norman Picov Derby ($55,000)
• October 12 — Ontario Sires Stakes Derby ($55,000)
• October 12 — Alex Picov Memorial Championship ($40,000)
• October 21 — Alex Picov Memorial Futurity ($55,000)

A finalized stakes schedule is expected to be confirmed and published in the coming months. Once released, StallioneSearch will provide a complete listing.

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