2008 November > Ajax Downs Welcomes New Era
For forty years, Ajax Downs has been bringing the excitement of live Quarter Horse racing to suburban dwellers in the heart of Ajax. On September 21st, the Downs
hosted a day of festivities to celebrate the end of an era and the beginning of a bright new future. September 21st marked the final day of racing on Ajax Downs’ J-shaped track – the last official ‘J’ track in North America. A brand new oval track will greet runners and fans when the curtain comes up at Ajax Downs for the opening of the 2009 racing season. The final race on the historic ‘J’ track
surface, was also the track’s first-ever graded stake race, the G3 Alex Picov Championship.
Ontario’s top Quarter Horses competed for a purse of over $100,000, providing all who attended with a taste of the excitement to come in 2009, when the fastest horses in town will vie for the biggest purses ever offered at Ajax Downs.
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| The Picov Family poses in front of a banner celebrating the historic G3 race held on the day in memory and honour of patriarch Alex Picov |
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| Councilor Colleeen Jordan, Councilor Pat Brown and Regional Chair Roger Anderson discuss the finer points of racing |
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| Madelyn & Kevin enjoy the historic day |
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| The horses steal the show in the first race of the day |
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| An hour conversation with Alex Picov on the porch of his tack shop in 1977 inspired Clarence Baynes love of horse-racing |
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| Breanna and Allysse check out the racing |
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| Marshall, Angela and Abi check out the horses warming up prior to the first race of the day |
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| Norm Picov poses with Mayor Parish and other dignataries from the horse racing industry in front of a sign that portrays the new look of Ajax Downs in 2009 |
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