Shelley MacLean of Northern Dawn Stables in Hillsburg, Ontario, credits the Ontario Thoroughbred Producer Awards for enabling her to keep her farm operational. She emphasized the critical role these funds play, warning that without them, her business—and the jobs it supports—would not survive. In 2025, Northern Dawn earned $148,055 from 13 horses, ranking fifth among Ontario producers, despite being a smaller farm. Additional income came from six co-bred Thoroughbreds and a significant share of $26,500 from the Ontario Sired Excellence Award Fund when two of her horses placed in the top three for two-year-old fillies.
MacLean noted that the awards effectively sustain her through the season until her yearlings are sold, explaining that horses are her sole source of income, so every dollar is reinvested directly back into her business.
In total, breeders received nearly $6 million in prize money in 2025, part of a $15.1 million budget from the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP). Producer awards were given to registered breeders of Ontario Bred and Ontario Sired horses at the time of foaling, covering various race categories within Ontario and internationally and recognizing top Ontario stallions globally.
The top 10 producers each earned at least $100,000, with Chiefswood Stables leading at $225,000, while even the 100th-ranked recipient collected $12,300. This broad distribution highlights strong support across both large and small breeders.
Frank Di Giulio Jr., a medium-scale breeder from Etobicoke, earned $181,630 in 2025, placing second on the list for the second consecutive year. He praised the awards as invaluable, stating they offer significant incentives to own Ontario-bred or sired horses, increasing earning potential by roughly 50% compared to non-Ontario bred counterparts. Fourteen horses contributed to his total, including Go-Kart Mozart, who earned an extra $21,000 for topping the 3-year-old colts and geldings category.
Di Giulio Jr. explained that earnings are consistently reinvested due to the high costs and unpredictability in breeding, where factors such as failed pregnancies and lost foals can occur. He strongly supports the Breeders’ Award program for helping breeders weather these challenges by rewarding their efforts fairly, regardless of farm size.
Chiefswood Stables, topping the rankings again in 2025, distributes its prize money across various communities, supporting local businesses and services in areas including Schomberg, Loretto, Alliston, and Simcoe. Farm manager Rob Landry emphasized their commitment to breeding and raising horses themselves rather than focusing on commercial sales, which they believe results in a stronger racing product.
The top 10 breeders and their 2025 earnings are as follows:
- Chiefswood Stables Limited – $225,000
- Frank Di Giulio Jr. – $181,630
- Howard Walton – $155,770
- Adena Springs – $149,005
- Northern Dawn Stables Co., Ltd. – $148,055
- Paul Buttigieg – $124,370
- James Everatt, Janine Everatt, Arika Everatt-Meuse – $115,180
- Colebrook Farms – $110,425
- Spring Farm – $109,970
- Anderson Farms Ontario Co., Ltd. – $101,390
Additionally, the Ontario Sired Reward of Excellence recognized outstanding two-year-old fillies, two-year-old stallions and geldings, as well as three-year-old fillies and males, with top winners receiving awards up to $21,000.
This article first appeared on January 29, 2026, via the Paulick Report.
Fan Take:
This news highlights the vital financial support that breeder awards provide to the backbone of Ontario’s Thoroughbred racing industry, ensuring breeders can sustain their operations and continue producing quality racehorses. For horse racing fans, this boosts the sport’s future by encouraging local breeding, ultimately strengthening the competition and appealing to a homegrown fanbase.
