Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario Joins Ontario Racing Board

Thoroughbred breeders in Ontario finally have a chair at the table where decisions get made. The Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society was approved as a member of Ontario Racing on March 16, effective immediately, earning the right to nominate a representative to the organization's 11-person Board of Directors.

That board breaks down as five racetrack seats, five industry association seats, and an independent chair, meaning CTHS-Ontario fills one of those five association slots and brings breeder representation directly into the governance structure of the not-for-profit body that serves as the voice of Ontario's horse racing industry.

"We are pleased the CTHS will represent Ontario's Thoroughbred horse breeders at the Ontario Racing table," said Andrew Gaughan, Ontario Racing's independent chair. "Thoroughbred breeders not only have a substantial investment in the province's world-class horse racing industry, they also play a critical role in the health of the sector. Their expertise is essential for helping guide the industry to a more prosperous and sustainable future."

David Anderson, who holds the dual role of CTHS-Ontario and CTHS National president, acknowledged the significance of the appointment while crediting multiple stakeholders for making it happen. "Breeders are the foundation of the Thoroughbred industry, and ensuring their perspective is part of the conversation is essential to the long-term health of racing in Ontario," Anderson said. He also thanked Ontario Racing, the OLG, and the Government of Ontario for "acknowledging the vital role breeders play in sustaining and growing our industry."

Anderson's influence within Ontario Racing's governance structure already extends beyond the board seat. He sits on the Thoroughbred Improvement Program committee, the body that directs Horse Improvement Program funding across the province, giving CTHS-Ontario a footprint in both the boardroom and the funding pipeline.

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society is a national organization incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act of 1906, with divisional offices in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. The Ontario division is based out of 93 Skyway Avenue in Toronto, with General Manager Catherine Ciupa overseeing day-to-day operations.

No name has been announced for the representative CTHS-Ontario will select to fill the board seat. The key open question is whether Ontario Racing expanded the board to accommodate the new member or whether the seat was reassigned from within the existing five industry association slots; sources did not clarify that distinction.

With the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale already on the calendar for September 2 at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion, the timing of this governance move puts breeder priorities front and center heading into one of the most consequential stretches of Ontario's racing calendar.