Ajax Downs

09/24/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Peighntmeadiamond Wins Again, Picov Championship Next
AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 24 2026 - Overcoming a stutter-step start and some jostling, PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND asserted his superiority once again as Ajax Downs' top older horse with a powerful win in the September 23 featured race. The exciting Ontario bred 4-year-old heads to Alex Picov Memorial Championship on Oct. 12 undefeated in five races this season for owner Richard Wincikaby, trainer Joe Tavares and jockey Brian Bell.

Wednesday was a big day for Tavares and Bell as they swept the last three races on the nine-race card. Lights Dynasty, owned by Tavares, won race 7 at 110-yards for his fourth win of the season followed by Peighntmeadiamond's win in a 350-yard allowance race. Open a New Corona, who won the Princess Derby last month, won the day's finale at 220 yards, her fourth victory of the year.

Peighntmeadiamond's win got off to a rocky start when he was a bit slow out of the gate and Runaway Fate to his outside shifted inwards causing a pinball effect. Bell just waited until there was clear sailing between rivals before sending Peighntmeadiamond through.

"The three [General Skywalker] came out and the five [Runaway Fate] came in," said Bell. "We just had to open up a little bit of a zip code and once I got him free he started running from there."

Meanwhile, Pretty Runaway had built up a clear lead and appeared to be on her way to victory when Peighntmeadiamond burst past to win by a neck in a time of 17.723. His speed index was an impressive 101. Pretty Runaway held second over Runaway Fate.

A son of Ontario stallion Peighnt Your Fate from the Thoroughbred mare Swingwiththering, Peighntmeadiamond was bred by Wincikaby and Katie Browne.

Earlier on the Wednesday card, SNOW MOOSE, the 2023 Horse of the Year, won his final prep race for the Picov Championship in a 110-yard Gridiron gallop for owner Milena Kwiecien, trainer Jason Pascoe and jockey JB Botello.
Photo Credit: New Image Media

09/22/2026

09/22/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Season's Top Older Horses in Action Wednesday
Ajax Downs' current top older horse PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND headlines the September 23 feature race. Also in action on Wednesday in an earlier race is champion SNOW MOOSE. New Image Media photo

AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER, 22, 2026 - Some of the top older horses at AJAX DOWNS are in action this Wednesday, September 23, making their final start before a date in the prestigious Alex Picov Memorial Championship on Thanksgiving Monday, October 12.

A strong card of nine Quarter Horse races gets underway Wednesday at 12:55 p.m.

The track's High Point Older Horse is PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND, an Ontario sired and bred 4-year-old who headlines the featured eighth race, a 350-yard allowance dash. The tall bay gelding is undefeated in four races this season including wins in the Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity and Ontario Bred Maturity. Owned by Richard Wincikaby and trained by Joe Tavares, Peighntmeadiamond and regular rider Brian Bell meet stakes winners Pretty Runaway, General Skywalker and Runaway Fate, plus stakes placed A Shades of Cold in the feature.In race 5, Championship nominees SNOW MOOSE and NADIR square off in a 110-yard Gridiron Gallop. Snow Moose, the 2023 Horse of the Year trained by Jason Pascoe, comes off a victory on Sept. 16 while Nadir, from the Joe Tavares barn, was second by a head in the $102,000 Cherokee Overnight Stakes at 440 yards at Sandy Ridge Racetrack in Ashland, Kentucky on Sept. 6.

Snow Moose's stablemate, the filly KISSIN ELLA and stakes winner THE BATMANN, trained by Scott Reid, compete in race 7, also a 110-yard test, and could make their way to the Championship.

09/16/2026

YOU MISSED A WILD ONE AT AJAX DOWNS TODAY!
Race 7 delivered the kind of excitement you can only get with live racing! Rushn Spice, a huge longshot, lit up the tote board with an incredible payout — and the drama didn’t stop there. No one had the winning horse in the Daily Double, so the payout went to tickets with the second-place finisher instead! You truly never know what can happen when those gates open at Ajax Downs!

09/10/2026

RAIN OR SHINE — AJAX DOWNS DELIVERS!
SEPTEMBER 9 2026 - The rain came down, but it certainly didn’t slow down the excitement at Ajax Downs yesterday!
We had a huge 10-race card packed with fast finishes, stakes action and outstanding Quarter Horse racing from start to finish.
RACE 3 — THE MAYOR’S CUP
We were pleased to welcome Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford — Ward 1, Councillor Rob Tyler-Morin — Ward 1, and Deputy Mayor Sterling Lee — Regional Councillor, Ward 2 to Ajax Downs for our annual Mayor’s Cup.
MI REINA JANETTE captured the race with an impressive 3¼-length victory. With Ismael Mosqueira aboard, the 3-year-old filly covered 300 yards in 15.770 seconds, earning a Speed Index of 87. She is owned and trained by Jennelle McMahon.
Our special guests joined us in the Winner’s Circle for the Mayor’s Cup presentation and photos, continuing a wonderful tradition that celebrates our connection with the Town of Ajax and our community.
Thank you to Marilyn, Rob and Deputy Mayor Lee for joining us and for their continued support of Ajax Downs and Quarter Horse racing!
RACE 7 — $61,380 ONTARIO SIRES STAKES FUTURITY
The 2-year-olds took centre stage in the 330-yard Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity, with STOLEN IVORY S DASH powering to an impressive 2-length victory in 17.123 seconds, earning a 91 Speed Index.
Ismael Mosqueira was aboard for trainer Bryn Robertson and owners Carol and Jaime Robertson.
RACE 10 — $59,670 NORMAN PICOV DERBY
What a way to close out the afternoon!
CHILLIN WITH PEEPS came out on top in the prestigious 400-yard Norman Picov Derby.
With Cassandra Jeschke aboard, CHILLIN WITH PEEPS battled all the way to the wire to defeat Open A New Corona by a neck, stopping the clock in 20.250 seconds for a 92 Speed Index.
The Ontario-bred filly is bred, owned and trained by Chantelle Bourgeois.

09/09/2026

Big Day of Racing Today @ Ajax Downs -First Race Post Time 12:55 P.M.

PRESS RELEASE
Unbeaten My Royal Sw***er Meets New Challengers in Picov Derby Final This Wednesday
AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 9 2026 - MY ROYAL SW***ER, one of the most exciting Quarter Horses in Canada in 2026, will be going for his sixth straight win when he takes on nine fellow 3-year-olds in the important NORMAN PICOV DERBY at Ajax Downs on Wednesday, September 9. The Norman Picov Derby, worth $59,670 at 400 yards, and the $61,380 ONTARIO SIRES STAKES FUTURITY for 2-year-olds at 330 yards, highlight a superb 10-race card that begins at 12:55 p.m.
My Royal Sw***er, purchased for just $4,500 (U.S.) in the fall of 2025 by owner and trainer Joe Tavares, has won all five of his races at Ajax Downs including the Unclassified Stakes and a Trial for the Derby on Aug. 19. The Indiana-bred gelding has been ridden in every local start by rookie rider Corry Beland, who got his first career winner aboard My Royal Sw***er.
"I just make sure when I go out there, we go through the motions, do everything the way he likes it," said Beland about his favourite horse.
My Royal Sw***er and Beland will be meeting some other top 3-year-olds for the first time in the Derby. COPILOT, who won the faster of the two Derby Trials, has won four of six starts this year for owner John Wilson, trainer Scott Reid and jockey Helen Vanek. And Ontario-sired and bred CHILLIN WITH PEEPS, winner of the Ontario Bred Derby in July, will try to get back on the winning track for owner and trainer Chantelle Bourgeois and jockey Cassandra Jeschke.
The Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity has a competitive field of nine including Trial winners COLD HARD CHIEF, owned by Katie Browne and trained by Jason Pascoe, and STOLEN IVORY S DASH, from Hillerin Farm and trainer Bryn Roberston. Cold Hard Chief is undefeated in two career races and Stolen Ivory S Dash was making his third career start when he broke his maiden in his Trial. Both juveniles drew the far outside with posts eight and nine.

09/02/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Family Fun Day is a Rocking Success, 'Diamond' Wins Maturity
AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 31, 2026 - Smiling faces and exciting Quarter Horse races highlighted AJAX DOWNS' 16th annual FAMILY FUN DAY on August 30 in support of the AJAX PICKERING HOSPITAL FOUNDATION. Families and racing fans started cramming the track at 10 a.m., and after a brief rain shower, the sun came out for the afternoon. Kids met K-pop characters such as Rumi, enjoyed a show with Lexy the Rap Dad, and met animals and reptiles at Zoo to You. Families also had a chance to meet some of the track 'ponies', the horses who accompany the racehorses to the starting gate.
The large crowd stayed to watch the eight-race card including the day's feature race, the $45,540 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity, a 330-yard sprint for 4-year-olds and upward.
One of Ajax Downs's rising stars, PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND kept his undefeated record for 2026 intact with a rousing late run under jockey Brian Bell to win by a neck over the speedy C G Mega Spy and Cassandra Jeschke. The running time was a sharp 16.814 for an impressive 102 speed index.
"He was a little slow leaving," said Bell. "But with him, you don't panic. Once he gets 150 yards from the finish, he kicks it into a different gear."
Peighntmeadiamond, who won the Ontario Bred Maturity in May, is now four for four this year for owner Richard Wincikaby, who lives in Alliston and has his star's sire, Peighnt Your Fate, at stud on his farm.
Joe Tavares trains Peighnmeadiamond, who is from a Thoroughbred mare named Swingwiththering, was co-bred by Katie Browne.
Racing continues at Ajax Downs on Wednesday September 9 with the final of the NORMAN PICOV DERBY. First race post time is 12:55 p.m. Free admission, trackside tables and the popular Hot Dogs & More outdoor barbecue are just some of the features at our Quarter Horse track.

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

Ajax Downs’ 16th Annual Family Fun Day was beyond anything we could have expected, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a success.

Our community truly came together in an amazing way. To every family, friend, neighbour, race fan and supporter who joined us — thank you. You came out not only to enjoy a fun day at Ajax Downs, but knowing that your participation was helping support the Ajax Pickering Hospital.

Seeing so many people come together for such an important cause was incredibly special. Every donation, every game played, every raffle ticket purchased and every person who simply showed up to support the day helped make a difference.

We are so proud to be part of such a generous and caring community. Family Fun Day would not have been the success it was without all of you.

From everyone at Ajax Downs, thank you for making our 16th Annual Family Fun Day one to remember and for helping us support our local hospital and the important work it does for our community.

We truly could not have done it without you!

08/30/2026

And Thank you !!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILY FUN DAY SPONSORS!

We truly could not make this special day happen without your incredible generosity and support.

Your partnership is helping Ajax Downs support Ajax Pickering Hospital and Operation I.C.U., with funds raised going toward important equipment and improvements that will help strengthen critical care in our community.

We are so grateful to every sponsor who has stepped forward to support this meaningful cause. Your generosity has helped make Family Fun Day possible and has given us the opportunity to bring our community together for something that truly matters.

Now it is up to our amazing community to come out, join in the fun and help us make an even greater impact.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR HELPING US GET THIS FAR — NOW LET’S COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Sunday, August 30
10:00 A.M. SHARP!
Ajax Downs

Come out, bring the family, enjoy the day and help us support Ajax Pickering Hospital.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE SUNDAY!