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The Standardbred Improvement Program is a component of the Ontario Horse Improvement Program, which offers incentives for the breeding and ownership of Standardbred racehorses in Ontario. In 2012, more than $23 million was available in awards and purses through:

• Ontario Sires Stakes races
• Breeder Rewards program, and
• Ontario Breeder Bonus

Program Criteria

Detailed information and the rules surrounding the various programs are laid out in the Program Criteria Book. It is the responsibility of all participants to make themselves aware of the eligibility requirements and the various opportunities under the Program. Participants are encouraged to contact the ORC Programs Department for assistance at any time.

Copies of the Program Criteria Book have been mailed to all owners of Ontario stallions, owners (regardless of residency) of broodmares bred to Ontario stallions and all Ontario broodmare owners in early January 2012. If you did not receive a copy of the Criteria Book, you can print a copy from the link below or contact the ORC to receive a hard copy.

NEW IN 2012

Ontario Resident Mares: Declaration of Compliance
For the 2012 foal year and future years, participants who have enrolled an ONTARIO RESIDENT MARE will receive a Declaration of Compliance form letter from the Program after the mare has foaled and 180 days have passed since her enrolment date. . The participant must complete the brief questionnaire contained in the letter to confirm each mare’s completion of the residency term and compliance with criteria, sign the document and return it to the Program Administrator in order for the mare’s offspring to be eligible for Ontario Bred Rewards. See page 10 for more information.

Ontario Sired Rewards And Ontario Bred Rewards
In 2012, Ontario Bred Rewards and Ontario Sired Rewards under the restructured Program will be fully implemented. Eligible BREEDERS OF RECORD and ELIGIBLE MARE OWNERS/LESSEES will be rewarded for successful ONTARIO BRED and ONTARIO SIRED two-year-olds and three-year-olds racing in the Ontario Sires Stakes program and selected open stakes. See page 17 for more information

Who receives benefits from the Program in 2012?

• Breeders of ONTARIO SIRED horses racing in the Ontario Sires Stakes 
• Owners of ONTARIO SIRED horses racing in the Ontario Sires Stakes 
• Owners and Lessees of ONTARIO RESIDENT MARES with ONTARIO BRED purse-winning offspring racing in the Ontario Sires Stakes and selected open stakes

Rewards Paid in 2012

The Standardbred Improvement Program incentives available for 2012 include the following: 
 
Ontario Sires Stakes Program 
 A series of races for horses foaled in 2009 and 2010, sired by eligible ONTARIO SIRES of 2008 and 2009, and nominated and sustained to the Ontario Sires Stakes program. 
 
Ontario Sired Rewards 
 Rewards to eligible breeders of purse-winning two-year-olds and three-year-olds in 2012 Ontario Sires Stakes races 
 
Ontario Bred Rewards 
 Rewards to eligible ONTARIO RESIDENT MARE owners/lessees with ONTARIO BRED purse-winning offspring racing in 2012 Ontario Sires Stakes races and selected open stakes races in Ontario (See page 17 for eligibility).

How do you participate?

• Stallion Owners must register their Stallion by January 15^th each year to be recognized as an Ontario Sire (Registration is allowed after January 15th by paying a late fee, provided the stallion has not bred any mares before registration)
• Mare Owners (or Lessees) must enrol their mare(s) as an Ontario Resident Mare for each foal year, for their foals to be recognized as Ontario Bred
• Owners of OSS eligible horses must meet all nomination, sustaining and entry requirements for the racing programs.

What Do I Need To Do?

Stallion Owners

The deadline for registration for a 2012 Ontario Sire is January 15, 2012 – after which time late registration fees and special conditions apply. To register a Stallion as a 2012 Ontario Sire, you must:

• Hold a current ORC licence,
• Complete the Standardbred Stallion Registration Form
• Send the form with all required payments to …

ONTARIO SIRES STAKES
10 Carlson Court, Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 6L2

Mare Owners

For 2012, an Ontario Resident Mare must be enrolled after the mare has conceived and before the mare has foaled. To enrol a mare, the mare must be in Ontario, and mare owners (or lessees) and their agents must:

• Hold a current ORC licence
• Complete the 2012 Standardbred Mare Enrollment form, and
• Send the form with all required payments to …

STANDARDBRED CANADA
Attention: Ontario Resident Mare Program
1-2150 Meadowvale Blvd.,
Mississauga, Ontario
L5N 6R6

NEW - 2012 Foals resulting from 2011 Embryo Transfer Procedures

Offspring of embryo transfer procedures occurring in 2011 (foals of 2012) will qualify for Ontario Bred status if the following conditions are met:

• Embryo Transfer Donor Mare must be enrolled in the Program after conception and before the Recipient Mare has foaled, AND
• Embryo Transfer Donor Mare and Recipient Mare must both be resident in Ontario at the time of enrolment, AND
• Recipient Mare must complete the 180‐day residency requirement and remain in the Province of Ontario through foaling in Ontario.

If an enrolled ONTARIO RESIDENT MARE is sold during her 180-day residency period, the Ontario Bred Rewards for the mare’s offspring may be transferred to the new owner, provided that the transfer of ownership has been recorded with Standardbred Canada, and the Transfer of Ontario Bred Rewards form is completed and submitted to Standardbred Canada.
To transfer Ontario Bred Rewards for an Embryo Transfer Donor Mare that is sold during the 180-day residency period, a special application is required to be made to the Ontario Racing Commission.

Ontario Sires Stakes eligible horses

Owners of horses eligible for the Ontario Sires Stakes must comply with all required nomination and sustaining requirements as outlined for the Program. For information on eligibility requirements,

Visit the OSS website at www.ontariosiresstakes.com

ORC Licence Requirement

As of 2009 and forward, all participants wishing to enroll mares or stallions in the Standardbred Improvement Program must hold a current Ontario Racing Commission licence.  If a breeder or stallion owner participating in the Program does not require an ORC licence for racing purposes, a Program Licence must be purchased for a fee of $20.