AGCO Approves 2026 Race Dates for Four Ontario Tracks Through March 2027

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation approved race dates for four Ontario standardbred tracks, locking in scheduling certainty for horsemen and trainers ahead of a calendar window that extends through March 2027.

The AGCO's information bulletin confirmed the Registrar approved race dates covering the remainder of the 2025/2026 fiscal year in accordance with recommendations from OLG and Ontario Racing Management. The schedule for January through March 2026 assigned The Raceway at Western Fair District the heaviest load at 51 racing days, followed by Mohawk Park at 50 days and Flamboro Downs at 39 days.

Race date recommendations from OLG and Ontario Racing Management for the period April through December 2026 were still being prepared for submission to the Registrar at the time the February 26 bulletin was issued, with the AGCO stating approved calendars would be released "at the earliest opportunity following the Registrar's decision." The commission provided no specific timeline for that decision.

The licensing picture across Ontario's standardbred circuit is largely settled, though one track remains in limbo. According to Standardbred Canada, the AGCO issued nine standardbred racetrack licences on December 23 to Clinton Raceway, Dresden Raceway, Flamboro Downs, Georgian Downs, Grand River Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Hiawatha Horse Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Two additional licences followed on December 30, covering Kawartha Downs and Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Leamington Raceway's status is the outstanding question in the provincial licensing cycle. The AGCO bulletin listed Leamington among tracks with licence issuance pending, noting the approval is subject to the completion of outstanding requirements. Standardbred Canada, citing AGCO filings, reported separately that a licence for Leamington has in fact been issued, creating a discrepancy between the primary regulatory bulletin and the industry publication's account that AGCO has not publicly clarified.

The AGCO committed to publishing additional industry notices and approved calendars once race dates are finalized, leaving stable operators at tracks beyond the January-March window waiting on confirmation before they can fully commit to staffing and ship-in schedules for the spring and summer meet.