The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has confirmed that race date recommendations for the 2026 horse racing season will be submitted to the Registrar for approval in the coming weeks. The regional gambling regulator has also approved the licences of two existing racetrack associations, while a third licence application is under review.
The AGCO has confirmed that it will publish the calendar once the Registrar approves the dates proposed by Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) and Ontario Racing Management (OR).
AGCO Reviews Racetrack Licensing and 2026 Race Date Calendar: Quick Summary
- The AGCO has confirmed that race date recommendations for the 2026 season will be reviewed by the Registrar in the coming weeks, with the approved calendar to be published following the completion of the approval process.
- According to the AGCO notice from December 30, the race date calendar proposed by Ontario Lottery and Gaming and Ontario Racing Management covers the period between April and December 2026.
- Standardbred racing licences have been issued to Kawartha Downs and Rideau Carleton Raceway, while a licence application for Leamington Raceway remains under review.
AGCO Awaits Registrar’s Approval of 2026 Race Date Calendar
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), in a press release published on Tuesday, December 30, announced that two new racetracks have been permitted to begin operations. The regional gambling regulator also confirmed that it will publish the race date calendar in the coming weeks.
The latest notification marks a major milestone in Ontario’s annual racetrack licensing and scheduling process. It is part of AGCO’s wider initiative to regulate the gambling sector. Last week, the watchdog confirmed that it would amend its gambling guidelines to accommodate iGaming Ontario’s new Centralised Self-Exclusion (CSE) program.
According to the latest press release, AGCO is awaiting the Registrar’s approval of the race data calendars proposed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) and Ontario Racing Management. The two regional gambling operators have proposed dates between April and December 2026.
The AGCO’s Registrar will review the race date calendar within the next few weeks, following which the gambling regulator will make an official announcement. While it did not provide a specific timeline for the decision, the gambling watchdog confirmed that the data will be published in the coming weeks.
AGCO Issues 2 New Racetrack Licences, Third Application Under Review
As part of its licensing process, the gambling regulator has approved several applications for standardbred racetracks, while more are currently under review. The AGCO has recently cleared Kawartha Downs and Rideau Carleton Raceway for operations. Meanwhile, Leamington Raceway’s application is currently under review.
Licensing approvals form a core part of AGCO’s responsibilities. Apart from licensing racetracks, the regulator is responsible for issuing and monitoring supplier registrations and operator permits, including those for casino games, horse racing, and online gambling.
Ontario’s online gambling market has reached new heights in Q4 2025. According to iGaming Ontario’s market performance data, online casino products generated the highest revenue in November, followed by sports betting and peer-to-peer (P2P) poker. The regulator has therefore increased efforts to oversee online casinos in Canada.
The upcoming race date calendar and recent standardbred racing licence approvals underline AGCO’s role in coordinating Ontario’s regulated horse racing schedule. The decision will offer clarity to industry stakeholders and operators awaiting the upcoming season of standardbred horse racing in Ontario.