Jackie Warner was on a mission in Lexington to sell the Ontario program on behalf of Ontario Racing.

by Dave Briggs

Jackie Warner said the best way to let people know Ontario’s harness racing industry offers one of the most lucrative programs in North America is to tell them herself.

Warner was in Lexington this week, making the rounds at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion during the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale talking up the Ontario program on behalf of Ontario Racing.

“My job this trip is to promote the Ontario-sired product and, more importantly, the program. The program for next year, 2018, has some changes that have been made and we want people to be aware of those changes, understand those changes, so they can made a wise investment and know where their opportunities are, what the possibilities are,” Warner said.

In her third trip to Lexington to promote the program, Warner went shedrow to shedrow at Fasig-Tipton explaining the Ontario program in 2018 is projected to be worth $15 million, total, including participation fees. Purses for the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) program will be $13.25 million and Ontario Bred Rewards will total $1.13 million.

The OSS will continue to be split into the Gold Series and Grassroots, with a bonus next year for Grassroots performers.

“We are reintroducing the Grassroots Semi-Finals,” Warner said of events that will each carry a $20,000 purse.

Meanwhile, there still is one big OSS event left in the 2017 season.

“We’ve got the Super Finals coming up, October 14 at Mohawk. Big night, a lot money and some outstanding horses. I know that Mohawk is pumped,” Warner said.