OSS PROGRAM
Ontario Racing (OR), as Program Administrator, reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to make any adjustments, changes or cancellations as deemed required. By participating in the OSS Program, the participants acknowledge and agree that OR will not be held liable for any costs associated with any changes to the OSS Program.
All OSS races shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Standardbred Racing and individual racetrack rules approved by the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Racetrack retention barn rules may apply. All participants are strongly advised to make themselves familiar with rules specifically related to the OSS.
Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series Legs are numbered 1 through 5 and horses are eligible to be entered in ONE OF the Gold OR Grassroots OR Prospect Series Legs of the same number. Grassroots and Prospect Series events numbered A and B are considered one leg.
GOLD SERIES
The Gold Series will consist of five (5) legs in each of the eight (8) age, sex and gait categories, for a total of 40 events, and a Super Final for each category.
If more horses declare to start in an event than is permitted at that racetrack, the event shall be split into the appropriate number of divisions with entries seeded by lot.
Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series events will be numbered, and horses cannot be entered in a Gold and a Grassroots or Prospect Series event of the same number. Grassroots and Prospect Series Legs with two racing opportunities are noted by “A” and “B”. For example Grassroots Series 2A and 2B are both part of Leg 2. Horses may race in both 2A and 2B, but may not enter Gold Series Leg 2.
In each category, points are awarded in Gold Legs as follows:
| First Place | 50 Points |
| Second Place | 25 Points |
| Third Place | 12 Points |
| Fourth Place | 8 Points |
| Fifth Place | 5 Points |
| Sixth Place | 3 Points |
| Seventh Place | 2 Points |
| Eighth Place | 1 Point |
In the event of a dead heat, the points for the positions involved will be shared evenly between the horses finishing in the dead heat. Points are updated daily on the Standardbred Canada computer system and on the OSS website.
Gold Super Final:
Horses will earn points in all five Gold legs to qualify for the Gold Super Final. A horse must start in a minimum of one (1) Gold Series Leg to be eligible to enter its respective Gold Super Final.
In the event of a tie in the point standings, horses will be drawn by lot after the box closes. The two Also Eligible horses will be the 11th and 12th highest point earners declared in. In the event of a tie in the point standings for the Also Eligible horses, they will be drawn by lot.
Any horse may be entered into its respective Gold Super Final, Grassroots Final/Consolation or Prospect Final, but it cannot be entered into more than one final/consolation, unless it was Also Eligible and did not draw into the Gold Super Final, Grassroots Final/Consolation or Prospect Final, or won its respective Grassroots Final and entered the corresponding Super Final which did not fill with Gold Series point earners.
There will be no Starting Fee for the Super Final.
GRASSROOTS SERIES
The Grassroots Series will consist of forty-eight (48) Grassroots events, six events in each of the eight (8) categories for age, sex and gait, split into five legs..
If more horses declare to start in an event than is permitted at that racetrack, the event shall be split into the appropriate number of divisions with entries seeded by lot.
Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series events will be numbered and horses cannot be entered in a Grassroots and a Gold or Prospect Series event of the same number. Grassroots and Prospect Series Legs with two racing opportunities are noted by “A” and “B”. For example Grassroots Series 2A and 2B are both part of Leg 2. Horses may race in both 2A and 2B, but may not enter Gold or Prospect Series Leg 2.
Horses will earn points in each of the five Grassroots Legs throughout the season to qualify for the Grassroots Final/Consolation.
In each category, points will be awarded in all Grassroots Series races as follows:
| First Place | 50 Points |
| Second Place | 25 Points |
| Third Place | 12 Points |
| Fourth Place | 8 Points |
| Fifth Place | 5 Points |
| Sixth Place | 3 Points |
| Seventh Place | 2 Points |
| Eighth Place | 1 Point |
In the event of a dead heat, the points for the positions involved will be shared evenly between the horses finishing in the dead heat. Points are updated daily on the Standardbred Canada computer system and on this website under the Leaders menu.
Grassroots Championship/Consolation:
Horses will earn points in each of the Grassroots Series Legs to qualify for their respective Grassroots Final/Consolation. A horse must start in a minimum of two (2) Grassroots Series Legs to be eligible to enter its respective Grassroots Final/Consolation.
The top 10 point earners to enter will draw into the Grassroots Final, the next 10 point earners to enter will draw into the Consolation. The number of starters in the Final and Consolation will be limited to 10. In the event of a tie in the standings, horses will be drawn by lot after the box closes.
The two Also Eligible horses will be drawn from the next highest point earners declared in. In the event of a tie in the standings for the Also Eligible horses, they will be drawn by lot.
Horses can only compete in one Series Final/Consolation, unless they were an also eligible and did not draw in, or they won their respective Grassroots Final and entered the corresponding Super Final which did not fill with Gold Series point earners.
There will be no Starting Fee for the Grassroots Final or Consolation.
PROSPECT SERIES
The Prospect Series will consist of sixty-four (64) events, eight events in each of the eight categories for age, sex and gait, split into five legs.
Prospect Series Legs require five entrants to be contested. If a Leg does not fill, those horses entered will be permitted to enter the same numbered Grassroots or Gold Series Leg. Entries in legs which did not fill will be considered starts and horses will be assigned five points.
Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series events will be numbered and horses cannot be entered in a Prospect and a Grassroots or Gold Series event of the same number. Grassroots and Prospect Series Legs with two racing opportunities are noted by “A” and “B”. For example Prospect Series 2A and 2B are both part of Leg 2. Horses may race in both 2A and 2B, but may not enter Grassroots Series Leg 2.
If more horses declare to start in an event than is permitted at that racetrack, the event shall be split into the appropriate number of divisions with entries seeded by lot.
Horses will earn points in each of the five Prospect Series Legs throughout the season to qualify for the Prospect Final.
In each category, points will be awarded in all Prospect Series races as follows:
| First Place | 50 Points |
| Second Place | 25 Points |
| Third Place | 12 Points |
| Fourth Place | 8 Points |
| Fifth Place | 5 Points |
| Sixth Place | 3 Points |
| Seventh Place | 2 Points |
| Eighth Place | 1 Point |
In the event of a dead heat, the points for the positions involved will be shared evenly between the horses finishing in the dead heat. Points are updated weekly on this website.
Prospect Series Final:
Each of the eight categories of age, sex and gait will have a Prospect Series Final for the top point-earners during the regular season. Any horse may be entered into its respective Prospect Series Final, provided it has started in a minimum of three (3) Prospect Series events in the current year and has not started in the Gold or Grassroots Final/Consolation.
The number of starters allowed to compete in each Prospect Series Final shall be governed by the number of horses that the host racetrack can accommodate on the starting gate. However, there will always be a minimum of eight horses drawn for each Final.
In the event of a tie in the standings, horses will be drawn by lot after the box closes.
The two Also Eligible horses will be drawn from the next highest point earners declared. In the event of a tie in the standings for the Also Eligible horses, they will be drawn by lot.
There will be no Starting Fee for the Prospect Series Final.
STARTER & TRACK INFORMATION
Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series Legs
Gold, Grassroots and Prospect Series divisions will have the maximum number of participants as outlined in AGCO rule 16.24 in the AGCO Rules of Standardbred Racing.
Rule 16.24
The maximum size of fields permitted in any added money event shall be:
- For races which go in 1 division no more than 2 trailers;
- For races which go in more than 1 division a maximum of 1 trailer.
An Association may elect to go with less than the number of trailers specified in (a) above.
Gold Super Final, Grassroots Championship/Consolation
There will be a maximum of 10 horses in the Gold Super Final, Grassroots Championship and Consolation.
Prospect Series Final
The number of starters allowed to compete in Prospect Series Finals shall be governed by the number of horses the host racetrack can accommodate on the starting gate. However, there will always be a minimum of eight (8) horses drawn for each final.
Starters at OSS Host Racetracks
| RACETRACK | CODE | SIZE | HORSES SCORING ABREAST |
| Clinton Raceway | CLNTN | 1/2 | 7 |
| Dresden Raceway | DRES | 1/2 | 7 |
| Flamboro Downs | FLMD | 1/2 | 8 |
| Georgian Downs | GEODF | 5/8 | 9 |
| Grand River Raceway | GRVRF | 5/8 | 8 |
| Hanover Raceway | HNVR | 1/2 | 7 |
| Hiawatha Horse Park | SARF | 5/8 | 9 |
| Kawartha Downs | KDF | 5/8 | 8 |
| Leamington Raceway | LEAM | 1/2 | 6 |
| Rideau Carleton Raceway | RIDCF | 5/8 | 8 |
| The Raceway at the WFD | LON | 1/2 | 7 |
| Woodbine Mohawk Park | WBSBS | 7/8 | 10 |