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Chasing 800 - Jockey Brian Bell Returns May 14

Chasing 800 - Jockey Brian Bell Returns May 14

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.

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Kentucky Derby betting at Ajax Downs boosted by new screens

Kentucky Derby betting at Ajax Downs boosted by new screens

Kentucky Derby Day was the best betting day at Ajax Downs in six years and the track’s general manager said two new large video screens mostly funded by Ontario Racing’s Capital Funding Program were especially popular.

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If it takes 10,000 hours of practice, how can we get enough practice in the show pen!

If it takes 10,000 hours of practice, how can we get enough practice in the show pen!

June 6 – 8 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds will be our first of our two shows – the Steel City Spin and August 15 – 17 the Steel City Slide will be the second! But where exactly did the name come from?

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Thoroughbred breeders reinvesting in Ontario with proceeds from significant awards program

Thoroughbred breeders reinvesting in Ontario with proceeds from significant awards program

One prolific broodmare was all it took for small Ontario Thoroughbred breeder Ericka Rusnak to earn $114,427 in awards in 2024. Both that mare, Platinum Steel, and the money, has been a godsend.

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The Rider is Ontario's number one source for horse industry news and information both in print and online. 

The newspaper is in its 51st year of publication. The Rider has special English, Western, Quarter Horse and general sections having many columns written by industry leaders, a comprehensive coming events section, stable, stallion, and service directories, real estate ads and classifieds. The Rider covers all English and Western disciplines as well as Quarter Horse Racing, Driving and various other breeds and disciplines. The Rider is distributed through subscription, through the memberships of our official association partners and through almost 300 tack and feed stores. The Rider is also available as a digital edition. 

The Rider is a six time recipient of the Ontario Equestrian Federation Media of the Year award. Editor and Publisher, Barry Finn is the Past-president of the Independent Publishers Association of Ontario.

Our dedicated advertisers and faithful readers have kept the paper going strong for 51 years. We're looking forward to keeping you informed for many more years to come. We welcome your press releases and news. 

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News, Updates & Articles

The Rider: Ontario Horse Industry News

Chasing 800 - Jockey Brian Bell Returns May 14

Chasing 800 - Jockey Brian Bell Returns May 14

Posted in Equestrian News, Home Page articles, horse-racing

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.

Read more

Kentucky Derby betting at Ajax Downs boosted by new screens

Kentucky Derby betting at Ajax Downs boosted by new screens

Posted in Equestrian News, Home Page articles, horse-racing

Kentucky Derby Day was the best betting day at Ajax Downs in six years and the track’s general manager said two new large video screens mostly funded by Ontario Racing’s Capital Funding Program were especially popular.

Read more


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