AJAX, ONT—OCTOBER 25, 2018—The 49th season of Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs wrapped up Oct. 22 with an overall increase in wagering for the 25-day meet.

There were five less racing dates in 2018 compared to a year ago but wagering was up 14% from 2017 through a very successful season.

The final afternoon of racing which included the inaugural Mayor's Cup offering a $1,500 bonus from from Ajax Mayor Steve Parish to the winning horse, realized a 40% increase in wagering over the same card of racing in 2017. Mary Schrama's homebred filly Night Fishn, trained by Greg Watson, won the Mayor's Cup under jockey Corrine Andros.

The jockey's race came down to the last day and Chelsey Willick edged Cory Spataro with 330 Quarter Racing Owners, Inc. points to 325. Willick, who is the first-call rider for leading trainer Joe Tavares, won her 150th career race recently and had 26 victories in 2018.

Tavares won his second consecutive trainer's title with 380 points from a record of 31 wins, 38 seconds and 33 thirds from 212 starters. Jason Pascoe was the runner-up collecting 351 points with a record of 37 wins, 24 seconds and 18 thirds from 132 starters.

Christine Tavares led all owners with 281 points and her horses, trained by husband Joe, won 23 races. Milena Kwicien, who had 22 wins, finished second in points at 254.

On the breeders' list it was Christine Tavares who collected the most points, 196, and her homebreds earned $220,354 and won 18 races. Heste Sport, Inc. had 133 points and its horses earned $168,471.

Country Boy 123, expected to be named the Horse of the Year for the third consecutive season, won all seven of his races in 2018 and picked up 47 QROOI points to lead all horses.

Country Boy 123 is scheduled to make his final start of 2018 in the Oct. 27 Indiana Championship at Indiana Downs. The race, worth $85,420, goes off as the sixth race and Country Boy 123 has post position two in a field of eight.

The QROOI Awards Banquet to honor the 2018 horses and horse people will be held in February 2019.

The 50th anniversary of Quarter Horse racing at Ajax (Picov Downs) will get underway in early May 2019.

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For entries and more information at Ajax Downs please visit ajaxdowns.com.