General Information

General OSS Infomation

All OSS races shall be conducted in accordance with the Ontario Racing Commission's Rules of Standardbred Racing and individual track rules approved by the ORC. Racetrack retention barn rules may apply. All participants are strongly advised to make themselves familiar with rules specifically related to the OSS.
Gold and Grassroots events are numbered 1 through 5 and horses are eligible to be entered in EITHER the Gold OR Grassroots event of the same number, but NOT BOTH. Because in each category there are 6 Grassroots events as opposed to 5 Gold events, two of the Grassroots events will have the same number and will be referred to as either "A" or "B". For example, when the Grassroots events with the same number are 3A and 3B, horsemen entering the Gold #3 event will have to miss both Grassroots 3A and 3B.
Horses for the Gold Finals will be drawn on the night of the eliminations following the last elimination race. Anyone qualifying for the Gold Final but not wishing to participate, must notify the Race Secretary before the draw is made. Three Also Eligible horses will be drawn in case of scratches but only two AE horses will be programmed.
Regardless of points earned in Gold and Grassroots races, horses must still be entered in Gold Super Finals, Grassroots Semi-Finals and Grassroots Finals. There are no starting fees for any of these types of races.
Starting fees are still due in the event that a horse must be scratched for whatever reason.
Driver and trainer commission cheques will be issued monthly for all amounts earned the previous month.
In 2009, the breeder of any horse earning purse money in the OSS Program will receive an amount equal to 7% of the horse's OSS earnings in Breeders' Rewards. An additional Breeders' Reward amounting to 8% of OSS purses will be made available as an Ontario Breeder Bonus.

Racing Conditions

All races shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) and all participants are strongly advised to make themselves familiar with the rules.

Horses sustained to the OSS program may be subject to testing under the Out Of Competition Program.

Should conditions beyond the control of the ORC prevent the racing of any event, the ORC reserves the right to declare the event off and to distribute the money to the current eligible horses or to transfer the event to another date, or to another track, or to do both.

If a Gold Elimination race has been contested, but circumstances, in the determination of the ORC, prevent the Final or Consolation from being raced at that track, the Final or Consolation may be moved to another track or the ORC may declare the event off and distribute Final or Consolation purse money to horses eligible to the race and pay Breeders' Rewards as determined.

Money Division

5 or more starters: 50-25-12-8-5%; 4 starters: 50-25-15-10%; 3 starters: 60-30-10%; 2 starters: 65-35%; 1 starter: 100%.

Purses:

The purse of an Ontario Sires Stakes event includes funds from a number of sources. The Horse Improvement Program (HIP) receives funds from levies on wagering in addition to a percentage of the horsemen’s share of the racetrack slots program revenues. Nominating fees, sustaining fees, stallion levies and starting fees are also included in the purse for each event.

Breeders' Rewards

In 2009, the breeder of horses earning purse money in the OSS Program will receive 7% of the horse’s OSS earnings in Breeders’ Rewards. An additional 8% will be paid out as the Ontario Breeders’ Bonus.

The Lampman Cup

The Lampman Cup was established in 1987 in memory of long time Ontario Jockey Club harness racing publicist Jim Lampman. The Cup is annually presented to the leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes based on a point system.
One point is awarded for each OSS start. Four extra points are awarded for a win; three extra points for a second and two extra points for a third.

The Johnston Cup

The Johnston Cup was founded in 1993 in memory of Bruce Johnston, the publisher of The Canadian Sportsman. It is awarded yearly to the leading trainer in the Ontario Sires Stakes based on the same points system as listed above for the Lampman Cup.

Program Format - Grassroots Series

In 2010, there will be a series of forty-eight (48) Grassroots events with six events in each of the eight categories for age, sex and gait.

If more horses declare to start in any event than is permitted at that track, the event shall be split into the appropriate number of divisions with entries seeded by lot.

In 2010, each Grassroots event will be contested for a purse of $24,000 per division.

Please Note: Gold and Grassroots events are numbered 1 through 5 and horses are eligible to be entered in EITHER the Gold OR Grassroots even of the same number, but NOT BOTH. Because in each category there are 6 Grassroots events as opposed to 5 Gold events, two of the Grassroots events will have the same number and will be referred to as either "A" or "B". For example, if the Grassroots events with the same number are 3A and 3B, horsemen entering the Gold #3 event will have to miss both Grassroots 3A and 3B.

Grassroots Semi Final and Final Rules

1. Each of the eight categories of age, sex and gait will have a Semi-Final and Final.

2. In each category, points will be awarded in all Grassroots Series race divisions as follows:
First Place: 50 points;
Second Place: 25 points;
Third Place: 12 Points;
Fourth Place: 8 points;
Fifth Place: 5 Points

In the event of a dead heat, both horses will receive the points awarded for their finish position.

3. Points are updated daily on the Standardbred Canada computer system and on this website under the Leaders menu.

4. The top 16 horses in the point standings declared in will compete in one of two eight horse $30,000 Semi-Final divisions.

5. A horse must start in a minimum of two Grassroots Series events to be eligible to enter the Semi-Final.

6. In the event of a tie in the standings, horses will be drawn by lot after the box closes.

7. The two “Also Eligible” horses will be the 17th and 18th highest point earners declared and they will be the same for both Semi-Final divisions. In the event of a tie in the standings for the Also Eligible horses, they will be drawn by lot.

8. A $100,000 Grassroots Final for each category will be contested approximately one week after the Semi-Final.

9. There will be eight starters in all Grassroots Finals, regardless of host track.

10. Starters in the Final will be the top eight finishers in the Semi-Final divisions that declare in. In the event of a tie for the final position, the starters will be drawn by lot. A dead heat may not cause the number of starters to increase. Horses finishing in a dead heat are considered to have finished the same. Horses finishing in a dead heat will be ranked behind horses finishing in the same position but not in a dead heat.

11. The 9th & 10th highest place finishers declared in will be the first and second “Also Eligible” horses in the Final. In the event of a tie, they will be drawn by lot.

12. There will be no starting fee for the Semi-Finals or Finals.

13. Any horse may enter its respective OSS Gold Super Final, or OSS Grassroots Semi-Final, but it cannot enter both, unless it was Also Eligible and did not draw into the Grassroots Semi-Final.

Note: Regardless of the points a horse has earned, if he has a minimum of 2 starts as mentioned above and is considered competitive, he should be entered in the Grassroots Semi-Final.

Program Format - Gold Series

In 2010, there will be a series of forty (40) Gold events with five events in each of the eight categories of age/sex/ gait.

If needed, each Gold Final shall have eliminations that will be raced approximately one week prior to the Gold Final. The eliminations will be held at the same track as the Final whenever possible. The elimination races are to qualify the starters in the field for the Gold Final. If there are not more horses declared to the elimination than can compete in the Final, the elimination will be cancelled and all horses will be considered declared directly into the Final to be held the next week. In this case, the purse of the Elimination will be added to the Final

In 2010, each Gold Elimination will race for a purse of $40,000 and each Gold Final will race for a purse of $130,000.

Determination of Eligibility to the Gold Finals: The starters for the Final will be determined by the order of finish in the elimination race(s). For the number of starters permitted for the Final, please refer to the Ontario Sires Stakes Racing Guide for the applicable year. When more than one horse is eligible to the last starting position by virtue of its finish in the elimination races, a draw by lot will be conducted to determine the final starter.

A dead heat may not cause the number of starters to increase. Horses finishing in a dead heat are considered to have finished the same. Horses finishing in a dead heat will be ranked behind horses finishing in the same position but not in a dead heat.

Horses for the Gold Finals will be drawn on the night of the eliminations following the last elimination race. Anyone qualifying for the Gold Final but not wishing to participate must notify the Race Secretary before the draw is made. Three also eligible horses will be drawn in case of early scratches but only two also eligible horses will be programmed.

Please Note: Gold and Grassroots events are numbered 1 through 5 and horses are eligible to be entered in EITHER the Gold OR Grassroots even of the same number, but NOT BOTH. Because in each category there are 6 Grassroots events as opposed to 5 Gold events, two of the Grassroots events will have the same number and will be referred to as either "A" or "B". For example, if the Grassroots events with the same number are 3A and 3B, horsemen entering the Gold #3 event will have to miss both Grassroots 3A and 3B.

Gold Super Finals

At the end of the OSS season there will be 8 Gold Super Final races, one for each age, sex and gait. In 2010, the purse for each Gold Super Final will be $300,000.

OSS Gold Super Final Rules

1. Any horse may enter its respective OSS Gold Super Final, provided it has started in at least two separate Gold events in the appropriate year, or has earned a minimum of 20 points in OSS Gold events in the appropriate year.

2. In each category, points will be awarded in both OSS Gold eliminations and OSS Gold Finals as follows:

First Place		50 Points
Second Place		25 Points
Third Place		12 Points
Fourth Place		8 Points
Fifth Place		5 Points

In the event that a Gold elimination is not required, the points will be distributed evenly among the horses that were entered for the elimination.

In the event of a dead heat, both horses will receive the points awarded for their finish position.

3. Points are updated after each Gold event and are maintained by Standardbred Canada’s computing system. The point standings may be viewed on this wedsite under the Leaders menu.

4. The top ten (10) point earners declared in will contest the Super Final.

5. In the event of a tie in the point standings after the entry box has closed, horses will be selected by:
       First: Most wins in OSS Gold Finals in the appropriate season;
       Second: Most wins in OSS Gold eliminations in the appropriate season;
       Third: Drawn by lot.

6. The two “also eligible” horses will be the 11th and 12th highest point earners declared in. In the event of a tie in the point standings after the entry box has closed, horses will be selected by:
       First: Most wins in OSS Gold Finals in the appropriate season;
       Second: Most wins in OSS Gold eliminations in the appropriate season;
       Third: Being drawn by lot.

7. There will be no starting fee for the Super Finals.

8. Any horse may enter its respective OSS Gold Super Final or OSS Grassroots Semi-Final, but it cannot enter both, unless it was Also Eligible and did not draw into the Grassroots Semi-Final.

Note: If a horse has a minimum of two starts or has earned a minimum of 20 points in OSS Gold events, as mentioned above, and is considered competitive, it should be entered in the Super Final.