Planning for Ontario’s 2014 Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) is well underway, following approval of the budget by the Board of the Ontario Racing Commission last week. It is anticipated that the structure will remain very similar to the successful 2013 Program with a full season of restricted and stakes racing as well as substantial awards for breeders and stallion owners.

Worth $14.9 million, the funding for TIP remains status quo, a strong indication of the stability of the Program going forward. Developed by the Thoroughbred Advisory Group, TIP will continue to provide significant incentives to breed and own horses in this province.

For close to 50 years, TIP’s multi-faceted program has distributed over $500 million to industry participants. The Program has been successful in its objective of creating a marketable Ontario product, producing such current millionaires as Marketing Mix, Essence Hit Man, Inglorious, Pender Harbour, Pool Play, Joyful Victory, Stormy Lord, Up With the Birds, Dixie Strike, Uncaptured, Irish Mission and Eye of the Leopard.

The 2014 Program mirrors last year’s TIP program, providing consistency for the horse people in this industry,” said Glenn Sikura, President of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division). “We have a viable Program in place based on the 5-year Horse Racing Partnership Plan, which makes it easier for those in the industry to make breeding and ownership decisions.”

For more information on the Horse Improvement Program, visit the Program pages at www.ontarioracingcomission.ca or contact the Program Administrator at (416) 213-0520. Specific Thoroughbred Improvement Program information may be obtained by contacting the Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) at (416) 675-3602 or emailing [email protected].