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Notice is given that the Annual Business Meeting of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. (the “Corporation”) will be held on Saturday April 26th 2025, 1PM at Ajax Downs Lower Level Meeting Room.
Please be advised this is a closed meeting for current 2025 QROOI Members only.
Memberships can be renewed or purchased through the QROOI Head Office at any time during regular business hours. Membership forms are available through the association’s website at www.qrooi.com on the home page under the Racing Info tab. If you would like a membership form mailed to you please contact the QROOI Head Office at (905) 426-7050. Please note membership costs are $50. Grooms, Exercise Riders, and Assistant Trainers memberships are free but forms still need to be filled out through Monique.
For your convenience payment for memberships can be made through Monique by e-transfer, debit, credit card, cheque or cash. You can contact her at the office by telephone at (905) 426-7050 or by email at qrooiheadoffice@gmail.com.
Please see the following agenda for discussion items. Agenda items proposed by QROOI Members must be presented to the organization no later Friday April 11th, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
We look forward to seeing all QROOI Members at this meeting.
PRESS RELEASE
QUEEN CHARLOTTE NAMED AJAX DOWNS HORSE OF THE YEAR FOR 2024
Ontario bred QUEEN CHARLOTTE, owned, bred, and trained by James Bogar of Cameron, ON is the first female Quarter Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs since her dam won the same title in 2011 – New Image Media Photos
AJAX DOWNS, MARCH 11, 2025 – James Bogar’s Ontario-bred filly QUEEN CHARLOTTE was named the 2024 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse of the Year by the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at an awards banquet March 8 at the Ajax Convention Centre. Queen Charlotte became the first female horse to win the prestigious award since her dam won the same trophy in 2011.
“This is a bucket list moment for me,” said Bogar, who owns Cameron Steel in Cameron, Ontario, Canada. “Queen Charlotte had some bad luck at the start of last year, but I was pretty sure she was going to be a good one.”
As a 4-year-old in 2024, Queen Charlotte, a fiesty daughter of One Fabulous Eagle from the champion Canadian mare Leanintoit, won the biggest race for older horses at Ajax Downs, the $50,000 Alex Picov Championship over males. That victory was her fourth consecutive win, which also included a victory in the $30,960 Princess Maturity. In total, Queen Charlotte won four of seven starts in 2024.
Bogar, who owns, trains, and breeds at his farm he shares with wife Tina, also won High Point Owner, Breeder and Owner/
James Bogar (blue shirt) and his team receive Queen Charlotte’s award from QROOI
directors Chantelle Bourgeois (far left) and Bob Broadstock (far right)
Jockey BRIAN BELL, from Lindsay, won his second consecutive High Point Jockey award and fourth overall, edging Diego Benitez 286 points to 224.Points are accumulated through placings first through fourth in various categories of races.
Pontypool’s JASON PASCOE won his sixth straight Bruce Lawrence High Point Trainer award and his trainees last year included High Point 3-Year-Old Male HAWKIN THE STRAW, an Ontario bred owned and bred by Joyce and Erik Lehtinen and High Point Aged Male A SHADES OF COLD, owned and bred by Amelie Aubut from Pont-Rouge, Quebec.
For the first time in QROOI and Ajax Downs history, there was an award for Thoroughbred of the Year, presented to the horse with the most points from the Battle of the Breed series which pits Quarter Horses against Thoroughbreds in ‘hook’ races (around a turn). SEA TO AIR, owned by Robyn Voyce and trained by her husband Jeff, was the inaugural winner of the Thoroughbred award as he won two Battle of the Breeds races. Sea to Air is based at Fort Erie racetrack.
“He’s had a great winter playing in the snow, and hopefully, he will be back this year,” said Jeff Voyce.
QROOI president BOB BROADSTOCK’s trainee RUNAWAY FATE, owned and bred by Heste Sport, won High Point 2-Year-Old Male and Carol and Jamie Robertson’s HAD TO BE FABULOUS was High Point 2-Year-Old Filly. John Wilson of New Liskeard celebrated the High Pont 3-Year-Old Filly award won by RBYBYBABY, trained by Scott Reid.
The 58th Quarter Horse Season at Ajax Downs is set to begin on Wednesday, May 7.
For more information on Quarter Horse racing and how to become involved as an owner, contact the QROOI at (905) 426-7050 or visit www.qrooi.com. Ajax Downs’ racing and events schedule can be found at www.ajaxdowns.com.
The QROOI 2024 Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday March 8th, 2025 at the Ajax Convention Centre, 500 Beck Crescent in Ajax. Ticket costs will be $50.00 each which includes HST. You can purchase your tickets at the QROOI Head Office by credit card or e-transfer. Please contact Monique at (905) 426-7050 or by email at qrooiheadoffice@gmail.com
Cocktails at 6PM (doors open)
Dinner is at 7PM
For hotels please call Ajax Hilton Inn, 500 Beck Crescent, Ajax and Homewood Suites,
600 Beck Crescent. Please also use CAA to find cheaper hotels as well.
To book a room please contact the Hilton at (905) 686-9400 or Homewood at (866) 460-7456. Limited rooms available.
On October 25th, 2024 the nominations closed for the Director’s positions on the QROOI Board of Directors. The QROOI received one nomination for John McInerney. As there were no other nominations for the open position on the Board, we would like to congratulate and welcome John McInerney to the Board to serve a three year term.
Brooke Sisson agreed to run for another three year term and with no other nominations received, we would like to congratulate Brooke on another 3 year term with the Board.
Here is a list of your new Board of Directors and their terms;
President – Bob Broadstock – 2 years
Vice President – Chantelle Bourgeois – 2 years
Director – Corey Illman – 2 years
Director – Amanda McCormack – 1 year
Director – Scott Reid – 1 year
Director – Brooke Sisson – 3 years
Director – John McInerney – 3 years
PRESS RELEASE
“A demolishing win” – Had to Be Ivory Sets Record on Closing Day
Blue streak: Had to Be Ivory smashed the track record for 110 yards in the feature race on closing day at Ajax Downs, Oct. 30
New Image Media photo
AJAX DOWNS, OCTOBER 31, 2024 – What a way to end the racing season. In a brilliant display of speed, champion HAD TO BE IVORY set a track record for 110 yards at Ajax Downs on closing day of the 2024 Quarter Horse season. The powerful 9-year-old gelding exploded from the gate from the rail post and was 1 1/2 lengths in front of his rivals at the finish in a sizzling 6.761 beating Carneros’ five-year record of 6.770. The world record of 6.660 was set in Mexico City in 2022 by Divas First Anita who posted a 116 speed index.
Incredibly, Had to Be Ivory, ridden by Josh Scott, earned a career-best 113 speed index in his fourth win this year and 29th in 39 career races. “A demolishing win” is how track announcer Frank Ferrari described the race.
“I was shocked,” said Bryn Robertson, who trains homebred gelding for his wife Carol and daughter-in-law Jaime. “I thought he had a good shot because he’s a great breaker. But he really jumped out there and was gone.”
Had to Be Ivory turned the tables on James Bogar’s QUEEN CHARLOTTE, who defeated the gelding in the Alex Picov Championship but was fourth on Wednesday in her first try at the 110-yard distance.
Robertson said Had to Be Ivory, who will winter at the family’s Hillerin Farm in Hillsburgh, could return to racing in 2025. “We might bring him out for a run in the spring and see how he does.”
James Bogar led all owners and breeders through the 25-day Ajax Downs meeting by wins and Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario (QROOI) points. Bogar won 25 races, putting him second in the trainer’s standings to perennial leader Jason Pascoe, who won 27 races to take the title.
Jockey BRIAN BELL won his second straight High Point Rider title and finished the season with 18 wins. Diego Benitez rode the most winners with 23 victories. The season’s Horse of the Year will be decided by the QROOI board of directors.
Ajax Downs and the QROOI will honour its champion horses and humans on March 8 at the annual Awards Banquet at the Ajax Convention Centre. Ajax Downs’ expansive simulcast room remains open throughout the winter offering telecasts from dozens of tracks throughout the world. This Friday and Saturday will feature the simulcast of the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Del Mar racetrack in California.
Keep up to date with news and events from Ajax Downs by visiting www.ajaxdowns.com and follow us on social media, @ajaxdowns.