Changes for 2008:

With the completion of the 2007 Review of the Ontario Horse Improvement Program, a series of recommendations were approved by the Board of the Ontario Racing Commission, which resulted in the following changes to the Ontario Sires Stakes program:

·         All OSS races will now be contested for "guaranteed purses". Each Grassroots division will race for a purse of $20,000, Grassroots Semi-Finals for $30,000 and Grassroots Finals for $60,000. Each Gold Elimination will race for a purse of $40,000, Gold Finals for $120,000 and Super Finals for $300,000. Beginning this year, Gold Consolations have been added to each OSS Gold event and they will race for a purse of $20,000.

·         A Gold Consolation will be held for horses competing in the eliminations that do not qualify for the Final, provided there are at least six horses declared to the Consolation. Declarations for the Consolation will close on the host track’s regular draw date and time. If insufficient horses declare into the Consolation, it will be cancelled and the purse will be added to the Gold Final. No points towards the Gold Super Finals will be awarded for the Consolation races. For complete rules on the Consolations, see General Information - Gold Series.

·         The starting fees for Grassroots divisions will be $350. The starting fee for Gold eliminations will remain at $750. There will be no starting fees for Gold Consolations, Gold Finals, Super Finals, Grassroots Finals and Semi-Finals.

·         In 2008, the breeder of any horse earning purse money in the OSS Program will receive 7% of the horse’s OSS earnings in Breeders’ Rewards. An additional Breeders’ Reward amounting to 8% of all OSS purses will be made available as an Ontario Breeder Bonus. For details on Breeders’ Rewards in future years, see General Information - Breeders Rewards.