Source: AGCO (Ontario)
Ontario’s AGCO said it is updating two Standardbred Rules of Racing following a review and stakeholder feedback. The revised qualifying-time rule takes effect on 1 October 2025, while the change removing automatic disqualification after an extended break takes effect on 18 July 2025.
The revisions change horse eligibility and race-result procedures relevant to Ontario racing and wagering.
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Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) will stop offering in-person horse-racing licensing at five Standardbred racetracks from the 2026 season. Licensing remains available through iAGCO and at other AGCO offices; the regulator says processing can take up to seven business days.
Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission brought expanded standardbred claiming rules into force on 2 February 2026, alongside minor procedural changes to thoroughbred rules. Standardbred horses must complete an observed pre-race warm-up and a post-race observation at least 30 minutes after a claiming race; claimants who opt out lose the expanded claim-invalidation protections.
Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) said it revised the penalty schedule for the province’s alcohol licensing law on 11 August 2026. The board established the changes and Ontario’s Attorney General approved them; they add or amend fines to reflect regulatory changes affecting certain licence holders, with maximum amounts varying by offence.
The AGCO has revised wording in its Internet Gaming Registrar’s Standards for Ontario’s planned Centralized Self-Exclusion programme. The system, administered by iGaming Ontario, is expected to launch in the first half of 2026; participating operators will need to offer six-month, one-year and five-year exclusion terms. The AGCO said the revised requirement is intended to prevent access to gaming sites during service disruptions.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario lists official rulings for thoroughbred racing, including decisions dated 24 October 2026. The page also provides rulings from standardbred and quarter horse sections and archives.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has published its weekly horse-racing rulings, including thoroughbred decisions dated 24 October 2026. The listing covers thoroughbred, standardbred and quarter horse sections, with monthly archives going back through 2025.