Page 37 - November 2016

Young Norm with his father Alex and his growing horse b b u u s s i i n n e e s s s s , , w w h h i i c c h h b b e e c c a a m m e e o o n n e e o o f f C C a a n n a a d d a a ’ ’s s l l a a r r g g e e s s t t o o p p e e r r a a t t i i o o n n s s . .
A NEW OPPORTUNITY
While on a horse-buying expedition in the States one Sunday in the 1960s, Alex and Norm found themselves alone in a motel with nothing to do. So they went to the local fairgrounds, where they watched horse racing. But it wasn’t Thoroughbred racing; it was Quarter Horse racing. Alex immediately thought he’d like to establish the sport in Ontario. “Pickering and Ajax didn’t have much in the way of Sunday entertainment,” Norm jokes.
By 1969, Alex had bought some racehorses and built his own racetrack — Picov Downs — in Ajax, about 30 miles northeast of Toronto. The Picovs sold the horses to locals, who eagerly adopted the hobby as family activities. “We sold the horses at a reasonable price so people could afford them,” Norm says.
The track, known as Ajax Downs since 2006, was uniquely J-shaped due to a highway that prevented Alex from building a traditional oval on his land. But during the track’s $5 million remodel in 2009, a 5/8-mile oval replaced the j-track. The facility also added slots, new starting gates, a gazebo and expanded patio area, gardens and trees, and a VIP room for racetrack members, individuals, and groups to hold events and enjoy the view. The Gateway
In 1996, the American Quarter Horse Association place a historical marker at Picov Downs, stating,
i i n n p p a a r r t t, , “ “ P P i i c c o o v v, , w w h h o o e e m m i i g g r r a a t t e e d d f f r r o o m m R R u u s s s s i i a a i i n n 1 19 9 2 21 1, , b b u u i i l l t t t t h h e e t t r r a a c c k k o o n n h h i i s s f f a a m m i i l l y y ’ ’s s l l a a n n d d . .” ” A A n n d d , , “ “ P P i i c c o o v v . . . . . . b b u u i i l l t t t t h h e e t t r r a a c c k k t t o o p p r r o o m m o o t t e e Q Q u u a a r r t t e e r r H H o o r r s s e e r r a a c c i i n n g g . .” ”
Norm (left) and Alex Picov (right) present a trophy to the 1st winner on opening day at Picov Downs in 1969. Picov Downs has been known as Ajax Downs since 2006.
SPEEDHORSE, November 2016 35