CTHS

Ontario breeders were celebrated Wednesday night at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club in Toronto for the 42nd annual Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) awards. Nearly four dozen Ontario breeders produced 51 horses who won a combined 67 stakes races in 2025. Dom Romeo of Terra Racing Stables was honored as the Mint Julep Cup recipient for his lifetime contribution and dedication to the breeding industry, prompting a standing ovation. "I started racing in the '70s," said Romeo. "We claimed a horse [Two Times Henry] from Conn Smythe. So, you know...

The Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS-Ontario) has been approved as a member of Ontario Racing, effective immediately. The CTHS-Ontario will represent the province's Thoroughbred breeders at Ontario Racing, a not-for-profit group that serves as the voice of the province's horse racing industry. "We are pleased the CTHS will represent Ontario's Thoroughbred horse breeders at the Ontario Racing table," said Andrew Gaughan, the Ontario Racing Independent Chair. "Thoroughbred breeders not only have a substantial investment in the province's world-class horse racing industry, they also play a critical...

The Alberta Division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) has launched a $60,000 incentive program which is designed to reward owners of 2-year-old Alberta-breds who graduated from the 2024 yearling sale and make their first start during the current season, the group said in a press release late on Thursday. Beginning Friday, June 27, the program offers a $1,500 payout, which will be processed and issued monthly as horses qualify. The incentive might be limited to the first 40 starters according to the release. "This program is about rewarding...

When President Donald Trump announced sweeping updates to the United States' global tariff structure Wednesday evening, there was some good news for the Thoroughbred racing industry, according to an analysis by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society of the fact sheet which accompanied the announcement. Horses eligible under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) will continue to cross the U.S.-Canadian border duty-free, according to the CTHS. As outlined in the fact sheet: "For Canada and Mexico, the existing fentanyl/migration IEEPA orders remain in effect, and are unaffected by this order. This means...

Though still weeks from being potentially enacted, the threatened 25% blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. is causing some Canadian-based owner-breeders to sound the alarm about the possible impacts to their businesses and to the country's broader industry. "For us, it could be the end of the industry. Period," warned Yvonne Schwabe, the owner of Persley Den Farms in Acton, Ontario, and the breeder of 2013 Queen's Plate winner Midnight Aria. "That's the scary part." As currently outlined, the tariffs are scheduled to go into effect on...

In anticipation of the 25% blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. expected to be enacted April 2, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) has issued an advisory to its members, aiming to provide some clarity to a fluctuating and often confusing situation. Already this week, the U.S. government enacted a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and metal imports. "This could very well change at any moment given whatever the will of the president is," warned Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Thoroughbred...

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario) (CTHS) will hold the 2025 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, in collaboration with Woodbine, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, the CTHS announced Friday. The sale will be hosted at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion this year and again in 2026. The four-day festival begins with a day of sales stakes racing at Woodbine Sunday, Aug. 24. Yearlings will be available for inspection on both the 25th and 26th before the sale begins Wednesday at 11 a.m. Last year's sale demonstrated the continued strength of the Canadian breeding...

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division) held a yearling sale at Westerner Park in Red Deer on Friday, Sept. 20, and gross sales were up by 15%, the division said in a release on Thursday. With 79 head catalogued, this year saw an increase in gross sales, with $700,000 spent on 56 yearlings--a 15% rise from the $607,800 spent on 43 yearlings in 2023. While the average price per yearling slightly decreased to $12,482 from $14,135 last year, the median held steady at $9,850. The upper end of the...

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) Yearling Sale (Ontario division) concluded Wednesday, Aug. 28 with increases in average and median over the 2023 edition, while a colt by Nyquist topped the sale when bringing $250,000. The topper, consigned by Bernard and Karen McCormack of Cara Bloodstock, went to Clay Scherer, agent. The colt (hip 88) is out of Mrs. Hudson (Street Cry {Ire}) and was bred by David Anderson of Anderson Farms. He is a half to SW Airosa (Uncle Mo), while his dam is out of MGSW Sara Louise...

Funds totaling an additional $66,588 have been allocated to the Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program for 2024, according to a press release from the Alberta Thoroughbred Community Racing Association (ACTRA), the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS), and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). "This allocation of additional funds marks a significant commitment to the enhancement of the Alberta Thoroughbred industry," said CTHS Alberta General Manager Jean Kruse. "We are confident that these investments will not only support the development of local breeding programs but also strengthen the competitiveness of Alberta-bred...

Current Alberta division members of the CTHS with mares that have not foaled in either 2023 or 2024 will be eligible for additional funding per a release from the CTHS. Members will receive $2,500 if the foal is sired by a stallion standing in Alberta and $1,500 if sired by an out-of-province stallion. Yearlings from the program will be eligible for the 2026 Alberta Thoroughbred Sale with the cost of sales entry fees covered by the CTHS. Members can visit the CTHS Alberta website for additional information.

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) Ontario Mixed Sale, held Oct. 18 at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion, generated the second-highest average and median of the last seven years. A total of 48 horses sold for a gross of $252,400. Average was $5,258, while the median was $3,000. "The Annual Mixed Sale is important to our breeders in Ontario. It provides a necessary venue to restructure and improve their breeding stock," said Peter Berringer, president of the CTHS Ontario Division. "This sale continues to attract new buyers from across Canada as...