The Century Downs harness racing show introduction video for 2022 - a joint Shinelight / HRA project
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 2 Race Meetings \ Division 5 Race Day Subdivision 3 Testing for drugs, medications and foreign and prohibited substances
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 268 g Repeat of tests
(1) If a licensee is found culpable by the judge/stewards board with respect to a positive test for a prohibited drug in a horse under the licensee’s care, the licensee may, at their own expense, arrange for a repeat test at a laboratory accredited by a recognized national accrediting body under ISO/IEC 17025, and is also known as a laboratory that does analysis on equine samples, on any residue of the urine, blood or saliva originally tested, if in the opinion of the official laboratory that has handled the initial testing
(a) there is sufficient quantity of the residue remaining for a proper test to be conducted, and
(b) the sample has not suffered degradation to the extent that the retesting results would be inconclusive.
(2) Once a test of a sample has been requested, any movement of that sample is under the control of Horse Racing Alberta, the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and the official laboratory that handled the initial testing.
(3) A request for the release of an official sample residue must be made by the Originator (owner or trainer) to the Provincial Regulatory Body and the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency within 21 calendar days from the date of issue indicated on the Certificate of Positive Analysis.
Rule 268 g Repeat of tests previously stated:
If a licensee is found culpable by the judge/stewards board with respect to a positive test for a prohibited drug in a horse under the licensee’s care, the licensee may, at their own expense, arrange for a repeat test at a laboratory accredited by a recognized national accrediting body under ISO/IEC 17025, and is also known as a laboratory that does analysis on equine samples, on any residue of the urine, blood or saliva originally tested, if in the opinion of the official laboratory that has handled the initial testing
(a) there is sufficient quantity of the residue remaining for a proper test to be conducted, and
(b) the sample has not suffered degradation to the extent that the retesting results would be inconclusive.
(2) Once a test of a sample has been requested, any movement of that sample is under the control of Horse Racing Alberta, the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and the official laboratory that handled the initial testing.
Originator (owner or trainer) to the Provincial Regulatory Body within 21 calendar days from the date of issue indicated on the Certificate of Positive Analysis. All requests are to be made in writing and must include the name and address of the chosen referee laboratory along with payment in full for shipping and handling related to the transportation of the sample residue to the referee laboratory. Requests must also include confirmation that the referee laboratory will accept and analyze the sample for the drug indicated in the Certificate of Positive Analysis.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
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
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 1 Administration of Horse Races and Veterinary Care \ Division 1 Appointment of Officials, Facilities and Record Keeping Racing Officials
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 112 g First aid and ambulance facilities
(1) A *licensed operator shall provide and equip a first aid room and have present on their premises, or within easy call, a licensed physician, registered nurse, or qualified attendant and shall have present during morning workouts, qualifying races and during the regular racing program an ambulance or mobile first aid vehicle, equipped and operated by the St John Ambulance or equivalent, for participants and patrons.
(2) A *licensed operator shall have during morning workouts, qualifying races and during the regular racing program, a qualified person who has completed the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5th Edition (SCAT5) training for concussion assessment.
(3) A *licensed operator shall have a horse ambulance available in the stable area on race days for the removal of injured animals.
(4) Provide a horse ambulance available to remove horses from the track.
Rule 112 g First aid and ambulance facilities currently states:
(1) An Association shall/may provide and equip a first aid room and have present on their premises, or within easy call, a licensed physician, registered nurse or qualified attendant and shall have present during morning workouts, qualifying races and during the regular racing program an ambulance or mobile first aid vehicle, equipped and operated by the St John Brigade or equivalent, for participants and patrons.
(2) An Association shall/may have a horse ambulance available in the stable area on race days for the removal of injured animals.
(3) Provide a horse ambulance available to remove horses from the track.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 2 Race Meetings \ Division 5 Race Day \ Subdivision 2
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 257 g What are winnings
(1) For the purpose of determining eligibility and allowances only, the winning of a fixed sum is the value of a *race to the winner.
(2) A Quarter Horse is considered a winner regardless of the money earned.
Rule 257 g What are winnings currently states:
(1) For the purpose of determining eligibility and allowances only, the winning of a fixed sum is the value of a *race to the winner.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 4 Claiming Rules
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 336 g Limitations on sale and racing of claimed horses
(1) A claimed *horse in thoroughbred racing must not
(a) be sold or transferred to anyone, in whole or in part, except in a *claiming race, for at least 60 *days after the date of a *claim, unless the *stewards board permits a transfer to another *trainer;
(b) return to the same stable or to control or management of its former *licensed owner or trainer for at least 60 days after the date of the claim, unless the horse is reclaimed;
(c) be raced outside of the Alberta circuit from which it was claimed from for the balance of that Alberta circuits *racing season without the permission of the stewards board.
Rule 336 g Limitations on sale and racing of claimed horses currently states:
(1) A claimed horse in thoroughbred racing must not
(a) be sold or transferred to anyone, in whole or in part, except in a claiming race, for at least 60 days after the date of a claim, unless the stewards board permits a transfer to another trainer;
(b) return to the same stable or to control or management of its former licensed owner or trainer for at least 60 days after the date of the claim, unless the horse is reclaimed;
(c) be raced outside Alberta for a balance of the Alberta racing season without the permission of the stewards board.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 2 Race Meetings \ Division 2 Entries and Nominations
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 164 t Limitation on entries
A *horse may only be entered in a major and minor race meeting if:
(d) in the case of a horse that has not started for 30 days or more but has had a race of five furlongs or more during the current calendar year, the horse must have, in the presence of an official clocker, one qualifying workout of at least 4 furlongs within 30 days of the day of the race for which it is entered, and the results have been filed with the racing secretary.
Rule 164 t Limitation on entries currently states:
A *horse may only be entered in a major and minor race meeting if:
(d) in the case of a horse that has not started for 30 days or more but has had a race of five and one half furlongs or more during the current calendar year, the horse must have, in the presence of an official clocker, one qualifying workout of at least 4 furlongs within 30 days of the day of the race for which it is entered and the results have been filed with the racing secretary.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 3 Horse Racing Misconduct \ Division 2 Rule Violations
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 292 g Prohibition on entry
(1) If on the race day or at any other time a *horse tests positive in Alberta for any of the following classes of drugs, the horse shall be declared by the *judges/stewards board to be ineligible to race according to the penalty structure below after the date of identification of the horse with the positive test and, will be placed on the *judges/stewards list.
A horse may be eligible for a reduced penalty, if the owner/trainer provides a negative test result at their own expense and under the supervision of the Official Veterinarian.
(a) Class I: 90 days for first offence- reduced penalty considered after 45 days.
(b) Class II: 60 days for first offence- reduced penalty considered after 30 days.
(c) Class III: 15 days for first offence- reduced penalty considered after 7 days.
(2) If a horse tests positive in a jurisdiction outside Alberta for any of the following classes of drugs, the horse shall be declared by the judges/stewards board to be ineligible to race in Alberta according to the penalty structure below after the date of identification of the horse with the positive test.
A horse may be eligible for a reduced penalty, if the owner/trainer provides a negative test result at their own expense and under the supervision of the Official Veterinarian.
(a) Class I: 90 days for first offence- reduced penalty considered after 45 days.
(b) Class II: 60 days for first offence- reduced penalty considered after 30 days.
(c) Class III: 15 days for first offence- reduced penalty considered after 7 days.
(3) In subrules (1) and (2), Class I, Class II and Class III means the substances with that classification in the Uniform Classification Guidelines of Foreign Substances, published by Racing Commissioners International or if there is no such classification, as determined by Horse Racing Alberta.
Rule 292 g Prohibition of entry currently states:
(1) If on the race day or at any other time a *horse tests positive in Alberta for any of the following classes of drugs, the horse shall be declared by the *judges/stewards board to be ineligible to race for 90 days after the date of identification of the horse with the positive test, and will be placed on the *judges/stewards list:
(d) Class I;
(e) Class II;
(f) Class III.
(2) If a horse tests positive in a jurisdiction outside Alberta for any of the following classes of drugs, the horse shall be declared by the judges/stewards board to be ineligible to race in Alberta for 90 days after the date of identification of the horse with the positive test:
(d) Class I;
(e) Class II;
(f) Class III.
(3) In subrules (1) and (2), Class I, Class II and Class III means the substances with that classification in the Uniform Classification Guidelines of Foreign Substances, published by Racing Commissioners International or if there is no such classification, as determined by Horse Racing Alberta.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules \ Part 5 General Rules
The following rules are AMENDED to read:
Rule 348 g Sales of race horses to be approved
(1) No sale of a race horse is effective unless it is first approved by the *judges/stewards board.
(2) No owner, breeder, trainer or other license holder (licensee) will knowingly sell, contribute or participate in the sale of any race horse racing in the Province of Alberta to any person, farm, facility, including those persons, farms, or facilities outside Canada or slaughterhouse for the purpose of slaughter. In addition, it is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure that the horse once sold will not end up in a slaughterhouse for the remainder of the life of the horse.
Rule 348 g Sales of race horses to be approved currently states:
(1) No sale of a race horse is effective unless it is first approved by the *judges/stewards board.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 4th day of April 2022.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA