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 rule is AMENDED to read:
Rule 290 g Prohibited substances on race day
(1)No person shall,
if a thoroughbred or quarter horse, after 10:00 am of the *race day, administer to a *horse entered in any form of racing in Alberta at any racetrack administer any of the following, or, if a standardbred, 4 hours and 15 minutes in advance of the first post-time on the day of the *race, administer to a *horse entered in any form of racing in Alberta at any racetrack administer any of the following:
(a) any *drug, *medication, or *foreign substance, including alkalinizing agents that could increase the bicarbonate buffering capacity of a horse, other than normal feed;
(b) any drug, medication, or foreign substance by way of injection by hypodermic syringe, including vitamins, minerals, food supplements, glucose, sugar, alkalinizing agents and alcohol;
(c) any drug, medication, or foreign substance by way of drenching or by rectal lavage with a dose syringe, tube or bottle, or by nebulizer including sodium bicarbonate, sugar, camphor, alkalinizing agents and alcohol.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a horse entered to race may be medicated on race day
(a) in an emergency or for a medical condition following which the horse will be *scratched, or
(b) with a medication approved by *Horse Racing Alberta for the control ofexercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage.
Rule 290 g Prohibited substances on race day currently states:
(1) If a Thoroughbred or Quarter horse
(a) A horse entered to race shall not be administered anymedications, drugs, or a foreign substance 24 hours before posttime of the first race of the day in which the horse has beenentered.
(b)Furosemide administration for Horse Racing Alberta ExerciseInduced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) program shall not beconsidered as a violation of Rule 290 g.
(c)No unauthorized contact between the horse entered and apracticing veterinarian 24 hours prior to the horse racing will bepermitted except for the Official Veterinarian.
(d) Veterinarians are prohibited from any contact with the horseentered to race 24 hours to post time of the first race on the dayof racing.
(e) If a veterinarian shall have to act in the capacity of a veterinarianfor a horse entered to race within 24 hours prior to post time ofthe first race on an emergency basis, the veterinarian andtrainer shall notify the Board of Stewards as soon as reasonablypossible in the circumstances and the horse will be scratched.
(f) If the horse entered to race has had contact with a veterinarianwithin 24 hours of the medication ban, the horse shall bedisqualified for the race it is entered in and any purse moniesshall be redistributed.
(g) Any horse that has been entered to race and has beenadministered any medication within the 24-hour medication ban,will be withdrawn or disqualified from the race.
(2) If a standardbred, no person shall,
administer to a *horse entered in any form of racing in Alberta at any racetrack administer any of the following, 4 hours, and 15 minutes in advance of the first post-time on the day of the race, administer to a *horse entered in any form of racing in Alberta at any racetrack administer any of the following:
(a) any *drug, *medication, or *foreign substance, including alkalinizing agents that could increase the bicarbonate buffering capacity of a horse, other than normal feed;
(b) any drug, medication, or foreign substance by way of injection by hypodermic syringe, including vitamins, minerals, food supplements, glucose, sugar, alkalinizing agents and alcohol;
(c) any drug, medication, or foreign substance by way of drenching or by rectal lavage with a dose syringe, tube or bottle, or by nebulizer including sodium bicarbonate, sugar, camphor, alkalinizing agents and alcohol.
(3) Despite subsection (1) and (2), a horse entered to race may be medicated on race day
(a) in an emergency or for a medical condition following which the horse will be *scratched, or
(b) with a medication approved by *Horse Racing Alberta for the control of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage.
Dated in the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 04 day of March 2024.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
Spring Examination:
- April 17th
- Location: Century Mile Racetrack and Casino
- Registration Period: March 1 - April 15th
Mid-Summer Examination:
- July 11th
- Location: Century Mile Racetrack and Casino
- Registration Period: May 1st - July 9th
For more information or to register please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (587) 416-5461
The deadline for Registration for the Olds College Racetrack Programs is approaching
Get the skills you need to be a Professional Groom or Exercise Rider – Employment Guaranteed!
The Olds College Racetrack Programs have a tradition of excellence in horse racing in Alberta. Graduates from the Olds College Racetrack Programs are skilled and confident and can be found grooming, riding, driving and training in the sport of racing in Canada and the United States and Internationally.
The Olds College Racetrack Programs have two course streams: Professional Racetrack Groom and Professional Exercise Rider. Students in both courses learn the fundamentals of horse management and the racing industry.
Both courses provide a solid horsemanship foundation for students. Core modules include:
- Horse care and management
- Barn safety and cleanliness
- Regular horse health and emergency care
- Anatomy and Conformation
- Exercise physiology
- Nutrition
- Lameness, Stable and Exercise bandages
- Personal bookkeeping and financial management
Students have classroom sessions as well as hands-on learning with horses at the Olds College and at Century Mile Racetrack. Students work with retired and active racehorses and the hands-on experience sets them up for success when they move to the racetrack and begin working in racing stables.
Groom and Exercise Rider students are required to complete a practicum at a racetrack, training facility or breeding farm. They are then placed into work experience stables and are paid employees while they complete their mandatory courses and training hours.
Registration is still open!
Century Downs (CDR) and Century Mile (CMR) Industry Updates
Project Updates:
- Century Downs Re-sloping/Grading of Racetrack.
- Status update: Completed. Track has been land surveyed and reset to the original design with GPS heavy equipment
- Century Downs installing insulation, heat, accessible wash racks, and hot water in Barn #3, #4, #5, #6. Scheduled to be completed by April 1, 2024, or sooner.
- Status update: Insulation ordered. Contractors quoting on heating/ mechanical/ electrical
- Century Downs installing racetracklights. Scheduled to be completed by April 1, 2025, or sooner.
- Status update: Initial drawings of light fixtures received. Light fixture and electrical infrastructure fit-up quoting underway
Racing and Backstretch Updates:
- CDR and CMR focusing on best practices to ensure safe racing conditions for the Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and Quarter Horses. In collaboration with the horsemen and HRA, and prior to each race meet CDR and CMR:
- Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) will conduct a racetrack inspection determining and confirming the track’s suitability to conduct safe live racing. Any deficiencies or recommendations identified will be addressed using all reasonable efforts to resolve in a timely manner
- Ensure each racetrack accommodates standardized and consistent sloped turns suitable for each breed to race on interchangeably
- Ensure a suitable and safe racing surface supervised by a dedicated and experienced Track Superintendent for each breed
- HRA and industry are establishing an A-Track Safety and Improvement Subcommittee to monitor and report on the progress and performance of the investments being undertaken at CDR and CMR as indicated above in point 1.
- We are excited to announce that Kendall Sheets has accepted the Track Superintendent position alongside of Senior Track Superintendent Doug Love. Kendall brings years of experience working both Harness and Thoroughbred tracks. Congratulations Kendall!
Fun Facts – Did You Know?
Century Mile and ASHA will be hosting the Santa (Chris Brown) vs Grinch (Phil Giesbrecht) Race Dec 22, 2023 after the first race.
Download the PDF version with the link below.
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