Ajax Downs

What a Canada Day at Ajax Downs!

Racing fans were treated to an action-packed afternoon of live Quarter Horse racing on Wednesday, July 1, with an exciting 8-race card, stakes action, and a record-setting handle of $422,187!

The day kicked off in thrilling fashion with a special 770-yard race, where General Skywalker powered home to victory, setting the tone for an unforgettable afternoon at the track.

One of the biggest highlights of the day was the 15th running of the Ontario Bred Derby, where Chillin With Peeps and jockey Cassandra Jeschke delivered a standout performance to capture the $41,777 stakes race in impressive style.

The excitement continued in the Gridiron Gallop, as Nadir sprinted to victory in the always-thrilling 110-yard dash, adding even more speed and energy to the Canada Day celebration.

From the long-distance 770-yard opener to the high-speed stakes action, Canada Day at Ajax Downs was filled with incredible racing, proud Canadian spirit, and unforgettable moments.

Thank you to all the fans, horsepeople, owners, trainers, jockeys, and staff who made the day such a success.

What a way to celebrate Canada Day at the races!
Photo Credit: New Image Media

Celebrate Canada Day with a full afternoon of live Quarter Horse racing action at Ajax Downs!
Join us today , July 1 for an exciting 8-race card, featuring speed, stakes action, and plenty of Canada Day excitement from start to finish.
The day kicks off at 12:55 p.m. with a thrilling 770-yard race — a unique distance that is always a fan favourite to watch.
The race card also includes exciting stakes action, highlighted by Race 7, a 300-yard Ontario-bred 3-year-old stakes race with a purse of $59,310. These talented young horses qualified through trials and are ready to put on a show for Canada Day.
The afternoon wraps up with Race 8, a fast 250-yard Speed Index Race, giving fans one more exciting dash to the finish line.
Bring the family, enjoy the races, and spend Canada Day trackside with us at Ajax Downs!
8 live Quarter Horse races
Canada Day racing excitement
First race post time: 12:55 p.m.
Free admission
Free parking
Free family fun
See you at the track!

FYI: Live Quarter Horse Racing returns July 1 at Ajax Downs, with first race post time at 12:55 p.m.
Please note there will be no fireworks at Ajax Downs this year. For details on fireworks locations, please visit ajax.ca.

Ajax Downs Recap — Sunday, June 21
Race 1 — Shaken kicks off the Father's Day card with a price !!!
Winner: Shaken
Jockey: Cassandra Jeschke
Distance: 330 yards
Purse: $9,000
Win payout: $12.40
Place / Show: $6.40 / $2.80
Shaken opened the Father’s Day card with a sharp upset in the 330-yard opener, defeating Relentless Betty and Phil Jefferson. The exacta with Shaken over Relentless Betty returned $34.40, while the superfecta paid $74.93.
Top finishers:
1. Shaken
2. Relentless Betty
3. Phil Jefferson
4. Fate Zoomin
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Race 2 — Caraways Angels Air keeps the value rolling
Winner: Caraways Angels Air
Jockey: Tony Phillips
Distance: 250 yards
Purse: $13,000
Win payout: $12.00
Place / Show: $8.00 / $3.90
Caraways Angels Air made it back-to-back double-digit winners to start the card, taking Race 2 over Rushn Spice and Done in Chrome. The $2 Daily Double from Race 1 to Race 2, Shaken to Caraways Angels Air, returned a strong $78.90.
Top finishers:
1. Caraways Angels Air
2. Rushn Spice
3. Done in Chrome
4. Stolin Secrets
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Race 3 — Perryokie delivers the biggest upset of the day
Winner: Perryokie
Jockey: Ramiro Castillo
Distance: 300 yards
Purse: $9,500
Win payout: $25.40
Place / Show: $7.10 / $3.40
The biggest win price of the afternoon came in Race 3, where Perryokie lit up the board at $25.40. The result also produced some of the day’s best exotic payouts, including a $288.60 exacta, a $188.57 trifecta, and a $224.61 Pick 3.
Top finishers:
1. Perryokie
2. Rushn in the Rain
3. Maryland Magic
4. Ivy League Sugarbaby
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Race 7 — Norman Picov Maturity
Stakes Race | 300 yards | For 4-year-olds and upward
Purse: $29,790
Winner: Had to Be Fabulous
Jockey: Ismael Mosqueira
Win payout: $4.70
Place / Show: $3.00 / $2.70
Had to Be Fabulous added her name to the history of the Norman Picov Maturity, one of Ajax Downs’ notable stakes races for older Quarter Horses. This year marked the 13th edition of the race, which honours the Picov family’s deep roots in Ontario Quarter Horse racing. The Maturity has been a showcase for some of the sport’s top older horses, including champion Had to Be Ivory, who won the race multiple times and captured the 2024 edition as a nine-year-old.
The 2026 running brought together a strong field that included the last three Ajax Downs Horses of the Year — Had to Be Fabulous, Queen Charlotte, and Snow Moose — making the victory even more impressive. Had to Be Fabulous proved best in the 300-yard dash, defeating Kissin Ella and Spy for the Senate, with Queen Charlotte finishing fourth. The race returned a $28.60 exacta, $15.00 trifecta, and $85.79 superfecta.
Top finishers:
1. Had to Be Fabulous
2. Kissin Ella
3. Spy for the Senate
4. Queen Charlotte
In Race 7, Had to Be Fabulous added another major stakes victory to her record in the 13th edition of the Norman Picov Maturity, a 300-yard race for older Quarter Horses that honours the Picov family’s long-standing contribution to Quarter Horse racing in Ontario. The race has a strong history of showcasing champions, including Had to Be Ivory, who won the Maturity multiple times. This year’s field featured the last three Ajax Downs Horses of the Year — Had to Be Fabulous, Queen Charlotte, and Snow Moose — and Had to Be Fabulous delivered, defeating Kissin Ella and Spy for the Senate.
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Race 8 — Unclassified Never Better than 79 Speed Index Stakes
Stakes Race | 330 yards | For horses with a speed index never better than 79
Purse: $31,680
Winner: My Royal Sw***er
Owner/Trainer: Joe Tavares
Jockey: Corry Beland
Win payout: $5.50
Place / Show: $3.50 / $3.00
My Royal Sw***er gave owner/trainer Joe Tavares a memorable stakes victory in the Unclassified Never Better than 79 Speed Index Stakes, but the race was even bigger for the Tavares barn as a whole. Tavares sent out the top two finishers, with My Royal Sw***er winning and Ariche finishing second, creating a Tavares-trained exacta in the 330-yard final. StallioneSearch described it as a “Tavares exacta,” noting that My Royal Sw***er delivered as the 8-5 favourite despite a troubled start.
The win continued a strong 2026 campaign for My Royal Sw***er, who had also won his June 3 trial for the same stakes series for owner/trainer Joe Tavares and jockey Corry Beland. Equibase lists Tavares as both the winning owner and trainer in that trial, with Beland aboard.
It was also another meaningful win in the growing partnership between Tavares, My Royal Sw***er, and Corry Beland. Earlier this season, Beland earned his first career race win aboard My Royal Sw***er for Joe Tavares at Ajax Downs, making this stakes victory another special milestone for the connections.
Top finishers:
1. My Royal Sw***er — Owner/Trainer: Joe Tavares; Jockey: Corry Beland
2. Ariche — trained by Joe Tavares
3. Hesmagicalydelicious
4. Keep Them in Corona

Ajax Downs: June 21, 2026 - Race 8 Ajax Downs: June 21, 2026 - Race 8

Looking for something fun to do this Father’s Day? Celebrate Dad at the races!

Join us at Ajax Downs on Sunday, June 21 for an exciting afternoon of live Quarter Horse racing and family fun!

Free gift with the purchase of an Ajax Downs program
While quantities last

First race post time: 12:55 p.m.
Plus, enter our draw for a chance to win a Blackstone Grill!

Hot dogs & More will be here for lunch plus our fathers day favourite Lowlands Fire Food Pizza is BACK!!

Bring Dad, bring the family, and enjoy a great day at the track!

Free Admission
Free Parking
Free Family Fun

AJAX DOWNS — Fire Hot Stuff got the June 10 card at Ajax Downs off to a winning start with a strong performance in Race 1.

Competing in the 330-yard maiden race, Fire Hot Stuff showed good early speed and finished with determination to reach the wire first. The win came for owner Payton Kluczynski, trainer Jason Pascoe, and jockey Cristian Benitez.

Fire Hot Stuff returned $6.00 to win, giving racing fans an exciting start to the afternoon. The victory also helped set the tone for a strong day for Benitez, who went on to ride two winners on the card. ~Congratulations!
Photo Credit: New Image Media & Jennifer Morrison