Sit with anyone who works with horses for ten minutes, and you will undoubtedly hear stories of the good and the bad, from long ago and more recently, and always about the one that got away.
These stories are what we want to hear from you!
Send them to us. If you found it interesting, then other people in the horse industry probably will too. Whether it’s about people, horses, or even other four-legged critters, these stories are best when shared.
Also, we are revamping the Horse Racing Alberta website. What changes do you think we should make? What content would you like to see?
Drop us a line and tell us what’s on your mind. Give us the best that you have, and we will do our best so everyone else gets to enjoy it too!
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On September 2, 2022, the Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) Board of Directors held a Special Board Meeting to approve the 2023 budget allocations for Purse Support, Breed Improvement, and the Horse Population Incentive Program. This was done to provide our industry stakeholders timely information prior to the 2022 Yearling sales for Thoroughbreds/Quarter Horses and Standardbreds.
The HRA Board approved the following program budget allocations:
1. Purse Support Program allocation:
- 2023 - $13,500,000 Approved Budget
- 2024 - $14,500,000 Approved Budget
- 2025 - $15,500,000 Projection
- 2026 - $16,000,000 Projection
The overall projected Purse support increase between 2022 and 2026 is 28%. Purse support amounts for 2025 and 2026 are projections that are reviewed annually and may be subject to change.
2. Breed Improvement allocation:
- 2023 - $3,900,000 Approved Budget
- 2024 - $4,200,000 Approved Budget
The overall increase between 2022 and 2024 is 23.5%. Projected Breed Improvement program amounts for 2025-2026 are currently under review.
3. Horse Population Incentive program is extended for 2023
The total program allocation of $500,000 will be split between Racing Associations/Tracks as follows:
- ASHA - $200,000
- HBPA - $200,000
- AQHRA - $50,000
- ACTRA / “B” Tracks - $50,000
4. The HRA Board has reviewed and approved the 2023 Race Day Calendar
The following schedule is subject to confirmation from Century Racetracks, ASHA and HBPA.
There will be a total of 54 Thoroughbred race days and 72 Standardbred race days as follows:
Century Mile:
- Thoroughbreds will start training at Century Mile on March 1st. The meet starts on May 6th and ends on September 2nd (38 race days); and
- Standardbreds will race at Century Mile from January 7th-28th, 2023 and then again from September 8th and until December 31st (34 race days).
Century Downs
- Standardbreds will begin racing at Century Downs on March 11th and run until August 12th (34 race days); and
- Thoroughbreds will begin racing at Century Downs from September 9th to October 29th (16 race days).
“B” CIRCUIT SCHEDULE
There will be a total of 49 Thoroughbred race days and 17 Standardbred race days.
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
- Thoroughbreds start training in March. The Spring meet starts on May 6th and ends on June 27th (16 race days); and
- Thoroughbreds return on September 3rd and the Fall meet ends on October 7th (16 race days).
Millarville
- Thoroughbreds run on July 1, 2023 (1 race day).
Evergreen Park
- Thoroughbreds run from July 8th until August 27th (16 race days).
The Track On 2
- Standardbreds race from July 2nd to September 17th (17 race days).
Regards,
Kent Verlik, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Alberta has a vibrant history and tradition of horse racing, and I was pleased to sign a 5-year extension to Horse Racing Alberta’s funding agreement, providing certainty to trainers, breeders, and the industry.
Travis Toews,
Treasury Board President & Finance Minister
MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti at Legislative Assembly of Alberta
LinkedIn link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/travis-toews-78a00045_alberta-has-a-vibrant-history-and-tradition-activity-6935667739432804352-Lyb-/
Due to a shortage of horse population at Rocky Mountain Turf Club (RMTC), Horse Racing Alberta has approved an emergency measure to approve a third (3rd) entry for a Trainer in a single race. The third entry can only be used for a sixth (6th) entry for a trainer to make a race go.
All horse transfers must be approved by the Board of Stewards before 12:00 noon on the Sunday prior to entry day. This emergency measure will be in effect for the remainder of the RMTC Spring meet ending on June 26th, 2022, and for the one race day at Millarville on July 1st, 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Doug Fenske, Director of Regulatory and Supervisor of Racing at 780-415-5101.
Dated at the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 31st day of May 2022.
Kent Verlik
Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) Penalty Guidelines for Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Standardbred Racing Rule and Licensee Violations
As part of our commitment to modernizing our existing rules, policies and processes, HRA has completed a review of its penalties, including suspensions and monetary fines, to ensure they adequately deter racing participants and racing officials from violating the Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta. This document outlines the updated penalties for Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Standardbred horse racing rule and licensee violations.
A cross-jurisdictional review of violation penalties was conducted to ensure that HRA penalties are appropriately aligned with other Canadian provinces. Representatives from the various stakeholder organizations, including the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta, Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division), Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association, Alberta Community Thoroughbred Racing Association, and “A” and “B” Racetrack Operators were consulted and provided their input into the process. The penalty guidelines were subsequently reviewed and updated by the HRA Regulatory Director and Supervisor of Racing, the Board of Stewards and the Board of Judges and then approved by the HRA Regulatory and Licensing Committee.
What follows (on the Penalty Matrix page) is not an exhaustive list of the penalties but rather a list of the most common violations. These guidelines provide recommended penalties only. Each violation has its own set of circumstances, which may lead to different penalties than those shown below. When considering penalties, the Board of Stewards and/or the Board of Judges will take into account the licensee’s horse racing rule and licensee violation penalty history. All other penalties will be at the discretion of the Board of Stewards and/or the Board of Judges.
Visit the Penalty Matrix by Racing Infraction Category page
Visit the updated Penalty Guidelines Used for Equine Drug and TCO2 Offences page
Effective at the start of the 2022 Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse race meet at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino.
Veterinary scratches for lameness or sickness will remain on the Veterinarian List, at the discretion of the Official Veterinarian, for a minimum of six (6) days starting with the race day it was scratched from. Some horses may also have to provide a qualified work for the Official Veterinarian.
Dale Gibson, D.V.M
Official Veterinarian
April 20, 2022
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Doug Fenske, Director of Regulatory and Supervisor of Racing at 780-415-5101.
Dated at the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 28th day of April 2022.
Doug Fenske
Director, Regulatory &
Supervisor of Racing
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
Commencing with the 2022 racing season, the registration papers of claimed horses will not be released before the close of the last entry day of the “A” Circuit (Century Mile and Century Downs) without the permission of the Board of Stewards.
All claimed horses must remain in Alberta until the end of the Alberta racing season in accordance with Rule 336 (1) (c).
Permission may be granted pending the following requirements:
(a) the horse has restarted for a claiming price equal to or lower than which it was claimed;
(b) is nominated for an out of province stake race or an Alberta nominated stake race with a purse of $50,000.00 or more;
(c) is reclaimed in the same ownership registered at the commencement of the race meet.
By Order of the Board of Stewards
If you have any questions, please contact Doug Fenske, Director of Regulatory and Supervisor of Racing at
Dated at the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Doug Fenske
Director, Regulatory & Supervisor of Racing
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
Effective immediately, horses have to be examined with endoscopy by a Horse Racing Alberta licensed Veterinarian to verify the horse does have pulmonary hemorrhage.
Veterinarians must present Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) signed forms to the Commission Veterinarian prior to entry day. No forms will be accepted from trainers and will not be accepted on entry day.
Dale Gibson, D.V.M. Official Veterinarian
If you have any questions, please contact Doug Fenske, Director of Regulatory and Supervisor of Racing at
Dated at the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Doug Fenske
Director, Regulatory & Supervisor of Racing
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
DIRECTIVE NO.
ALL BREEDS
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules\ Part 1 Administration of Horse Races and Veterinary Care \ Division 4 exercise induced pulmonary
hemorrhage
The following rule has no changes.
EIPH Program Certification – Major Thoroughbred / Major Quarter Horse / Major Standardbred currently states:
No 2-year-old Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, or Standardbred will be eligible for the EIPH Program.
Notice to Industry
NEW CHANGES TO LASIX RULE IMPLEMENTATION
Effective April 1, 2022, horses have to be examined with endoscopy by a Horse Racing Alberta licensed Veterinarian to verify the horse does have pulmonary hemorrhage.
Veterinarians must present EIPH signed forms to the Commission Veterinarian prior to entry day. No forms will be accepted from trainers and will not be accepted on entry day.
Dale Gibson, D.V.M.
Official Veterinarian
Disqus Comments
DIRECTIVE NO.
ALL BREEDS
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are as follows:
DIRECTIVE NO.
ALL BREEDS
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are as follows:
Chapter 2: Licensing Rules \ Part 2 Racing Participants: Designation and Licensing \ Division 1 Racing Participant’s Licences Subdivision 2 \ Race Horse Owner’s Licence
The following rule has no change.
Rule 45 g Application for race horse owner’s licence currently states:
(1) An applicant for a *race horse owner’s licence must apply to Horse Racing Alberta on the *prescribed form.
(2) The application must
(a) give the name and address of all the owners or proposed owners of the *race horse or horses in respect of which the application is made,
(b) name the *race horse or horses owned or proposed to be owned,
(c) specify the name under which each horse will run,
(d) specify the interest or proposed interest of each owner in each horse
(e) specify to whom winnings are payable in respect of each horse and the proportionate share of winnings payable to each person,
(f) specify who is entitled to enter, declare, nominate and scratch horses from a *horse race,
(g) if the applicant is not an individual, the person or persons entitled to represent the owner,
(h) the terms of any contingency, lease or other arrangement for each horse, and
(i) any other information *Horse Racing Alberta requires.