Brian Bell One Away from 800 Winning Rides!
AJAX DOWNS, FRIDAY JUNE 13, 2025 - Ajax Downs' first special Sunday of Quarter Horse racing is Father's Day, June 15, with prizes, giveaways and pizza, an exciting eight-race card and Canada's winningest Quarter Horse jockey BRIAN BELL on his quest for 800 winning rides.
First race post time this Sunday is 12:55 p.m. and the forecast is for a picture-perfect early summer afternoon.
Father's Day at Ajax Downs is the first of four special event race days during the season. The first 150 Dads will receive a coffee mug with the purchase of a program (while supplies last), Lowlands Pizza will be on site and there will be draws for a Blackstone Grill, a cooler and Dewalt drill set.
The 13th running of the NORMAN PICOV MATURITY at 300 yards has drawn a fabulous field of seven older horses including two Horses of the Year - HAD TO BE IVORY and SNOW MOOSE.
Brian Bell has ridden champion Had to Be Ivory only once - they won the 2023 Ontario Bred Maturity, They are reunited on Father's Day. New Image Media Photo
This is the first start of the year for 10-year-old Had to Be Ivory who has won the last three editions of the Picov Maturity and 29 of his 39 career races. Owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson of Hillsburgh, Had to Be Ivory has post seven with Brian Bell riding.
Snow Moose, owned and bred by Milena Kwiecien, was the 2023 Horse of the Year and he defeated Had to Be Ivory in their first meeting last July in the Ontario Bred Maturity. 'Ivory' finished ahead of 'Moose' in their only other meeting when they were third and fifth respectively behind Queen Charlotte in last year's Championship.
JB Botello will ride Snow Moose from post three. Also in the field is Ontario Sires Stakes Derby winner CHASING BUTTERFLIES, HAD TO BE RELENTLESS, the 2023 Championship winner (in a dead heat) and half brother to Had to Be Ivory, stakes winners SILVER LYNING and SPY FOR THE SENATE and stakes placed A SHADES OF COLD.
The Picov Maturity is race seven.
Jockey Bell, who won his 799th career race on June 11, has seven mounts on the card including Had to Be Ivory. In 24 years riding at Picov or Ajax Downs, which held 20 to 40 racing dates per year, Bell has ridden an average of 33 winners each season.
Admission and parking are always free at Ajax Downs. You can watch and wager on our exciting races trackside, up close to the action, at our picnic tables. If you would like to reserve tables in advance for $25 or book the VIP room for your party or group, contact www.ajaxdowns.com.
There is also an expansive simulcast wagering room with tellers or you can wager through www.HPIBet.com.
If you want to get involved in owning a Quarter Horse, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at 905- 426-7050
Source: Ajax Downs
