When the hammer dropped on Hip 877, Lola's Light, at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale Jan. 14, the daughter of City of Light and Burg Berg became the last of 25 in-foal mares purchased by Ontario residents through the Mare Purchase Program offered by the Ontario Thoroughbred Improvement Program for the 2025 foaling season.
"It has become increasingly difficult for local breeders to acquire young mares with new robust bloodlines in view of the prohibitive increases in cost, competition and demand," said Josham Farms principal Ted Burnett, who purchased Lola's Light in foal to 2023 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo . "Average prices at the major sales seem to be on a steady upward trajectory, currency exchange rates add to the problem, and transportation and other increasing costs have all had a negative effect on replenishing and upgrading our mare population.
"In the face of these and other impediments, the Mare Purchase Program has been a very important and effective incentive for Ontario breeders to upgrade their stock."
A total of CA$500,000 was available to Ontario breeders through the 2025 Mare Purchase Program, which provides an incentive up to CA$25,000 per mare, to a maximum of CA$75,000 per breeder, on the acquisition of in-foal mares purchased at recognized public auctions outside of the province of Ontario for a minimum hammer price of $10,000.
In maxing out the available Mare Purchase Program funding for the 2025 foaling season, Ontario breeders acquired 25 mares worth a total of CA$1.334 million in foal to both established stallions like Hard Spun (Danzig) and leading first-crop sires McKinzie (Street Sense ), and Tiz the Law (Constitution ).
"In the past 12 months, with the help of the Mare Purchase Program, we have purchased three young, high-quality mares at major U.S. sales, for import back to Ontario. All three are siblings to important stakes performers and one is a full sister to a U.S. champion. When acquired, they were all pregnant to top Kentucky stallions," said Burnett, who acquired two mares through the 2025 program and one in 2024. "In all three cases we were incentivized by the Mare Purchase Program, without which we may have taken a pass."
Since the Ontario TIP Mare Purchase Program was launched for the 2020 foaling season, a total of 181 mares have been imported into the province. Those foals receive the "Ontario-bred" designation, making them eligible for purse bonuses and stakes opportunities at Woodbine and Fort Erie Race Track.
Among the offspring of Mare Purchase Program participants is 2024 King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach ), whose dam Belatrix was part of the 2021 enrollment. Ontario breeders have also been rewarded for their investment at the yearling sales. A Ghostzapper daughter of Serapha, a Macho Uno mare Burnett purchased at the Keeneland January Sale in 2023, sold for $325,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Complete details about the Ontario TIP are available on the program website or by contacting the program administrator at tbprogram@ontarioracing.com.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
