PIROPLASMOSIS

EFFECTIVE MARCH 14, 2018

Any horse coming from Texas or New Mexico must provide a negative PIROPLASMOSIS certificate issued in the last 6 months before being allowed on any Alberta racetracks.

Doug Fenske
Manager, Racing Supervision & Security
HORSE RACING ALBERTA

2017 O’Brien Finalists Announced

On Wednesday, December 20, Standardbred Canada announced the finalists for the 2017 O’Brien Awards, which honour Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season. The winners will be announced at the annual O’Brien Awards Black Tie Gala on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale hotel in Mississauga, Ont. This will mark the 29th edition of the O’Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O’Brien, an outstanding horseman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Seven past O’Brien Award winners are looking to add to their trophy collections and are either defending titles or are nominated in a new division. Past winners include: McWicked, Ariana G, Hannelore Hanover, Marc Campbell, Richard Moreau, Louis-Philippe Roy and the partnership of Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

In the driver of the year category, Doug McNair and Louis-Philippe Roy are the two finalists. McNair, a resident of Guelph, Ont., was a finalist for this award in 2013. He tops the charts in earnings for drivers in Canada with almost $5.9 million in purse money, while driving 315 winners postward. (as of December 19) He’s enjoying a career year and is the regular driver for O’Brien Award finalists, Stay Hungry, Bettors Up, The Joy Luck Club, and Sandbetweenurtoes. Louis-Philippe Roy, of Mont-Joli, Que., is also having a career year. Having won the Future Star O’Brien Award for 2016, Roy has become a regular driver on the Woodbine Entertainment Group Circuit and currently sits in second for wins in Canada with 369 trips to the winner’s circle to his credit while driving horses to $5.6 million in purse earnings.

Richard Moreau is looking to add to his trophy collection with another O’Brien Award in the Trainer of the Year category and is up against fellow nominee Gregg McNair, who is looking to clinch his first national title. Richard Moreau, of Puslinch, Ont., is the defending Trainer of the Year and is looking to take home his fifth consecutive O’Brien bronze.  Moreau, who trains O’Brien finalist Sandbetweenurtoes, leads all Canadian trainers in the wins column with 269 wins to his credit and over $3.6 million in earnings. Gregg McNair of Guelph, Ont., is enjoying a productive 2017 campaign with 63 winners and over $1.6 million in purse earnings recorded in Canada. McNair trains and co-owns O’Brien finalist The Joy Luck Club.

Marc Campbell of Winsloe, PEI, is a finalist for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship along with Guy Gagnon of Gatineau, Que. Campbell, who won this award in 2012, is enjoying a career season in the sulky, as he has recorded 245 wins and over $574,000 in purse earnings. On the training side, Campbell has 126 victories and almost $370,000 in earnings this season. Campbell topped the charts for training and driving at both Red Shores properties – Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside. Guy Gagnon is a regular trainer-driver at Hippodrome 3R and Rideau Carleton Raceway, where he topped the driver's standings for wins in 2017. To date this year, Gagnon has driven 199 winners and horses to earnings of almost $900,000. On the training side, he’s sent 77 winners postward and his stable has earned in excess of $334,000.

Two Shadow Play fillies, Kendall Seelster and Percy Bluechip, are the nominees in the two-year-old pacing filly division. Kendall Seelster hit the board in 10 of her 11 season starts with four wins and over $453,000 in purse earnings. The two-time Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner took a mark of 1:51.1 in her commanding victory in a division of the Champlain Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack. Percy Bluechip, co-owned and conditioned by Dr. Ian Moore, who also managed her sire, scored five wins in nine races on the season and racked up over $440,000 in earnings. In addition to four wins in Ontario Sires Stakes events, including the season-ending Super Final, the talented filly also posted a wire-to-wire victory in the Eternal Camnation at Mohawk Racetrack.

Somebeachsomewhere colts Pedro Hanover and Stay Hungry are finalists in the two-year-old pacing colt division. Pedro Hanover won five races in eight starts and almost $350,000 in earnings. He took a mark of 1:51 in the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final at The Meadows, his richest payday of the season. Stay Hungry won six of nine races and bankrolled over $557,000 during a season that saw him score wins in a division of the Champlain Stakes, and an elimination of the Metro at Mohawk Racetrack. His crowning moment came in a sweep of the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park where he took a nose victory in his elimination and came back one week later to score a neck victory in the final.

Bettors Up and The Joy Luck Club are competing for O’Brien honours in the sophomore pacing filly category. The Bettors Delight filly, Bettors Up, put together an outstanding season, finishing first or second in ten of her 17 races while adding over a half million dollars to her bankroll. She scored a career best 1:49.4 effort at Mohawk Racetrack in the Fan Hanover Final. The Joy Luck Club is the other finalist in this category on the strength of a productive campaign that included 14 victories and over $333,000 in earnings for the Camluck filly and included an Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final victory at Mohawk Racetrack.

Classic Pro and Mateo earned nominations in the three-year-old pacing colt division. Classic Pro won four of 14 starts and earned over $293,000 on the season. Two of those wins were in Ontario Sires Stakes events and one of those gave the Shadow Play colt his mark of 1:51. Mateo, sired by Alberta stallion Blue Burner, hails from the west and posted 15 top three finishes from 16 races and over $232,000 in earnings. His richest payday was a victory in the Western Canada Pacing Derby at Northlands Park. He also won several Alberta Sires Stakes events over the season.

Two millionaire daughters of Somebeachsomewhere, Sandbetweenurtoes, and Pure Country are the two finalists for Older Pacing Mare honours. Sandbetweenurtoes was a model of consistency, hitting the board in 24 of her 30 starts and earning over $243,000, while primarily competing in the Fillies and Mares Preferred races at Mohawk and Woodbine Racetracks. Pure Country had five wins and $471,000 in earnings this season which included a victory in the Breeders Crown Mare Pace.

McWicked and Sintra are the Older Pacing Horse finalists. McWicked was awarded an O’Brien for his outstanding three- year-old campaign in 2014. Now six, the son of McArdle had seven wins in 27 races and almost $600,000 in earnings. His richest payday came in winning the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs. He also posted runner-up efforts in an elimination and the final of the Breeders Crown. Sintra’s first year in the Older Pacing Horse division was productive as he won nine of 19 races and over $617,000. The son of Mach Three won Canada’s oldest harness stakes event, The Canadian Pacing Derby at Mohawk Racetrack, to take home the lion’s share of the $615,000 purse. He also won a leg and the final of the Graduate Series.

On the trotting side, Kadabra Queen and Smoke And Mirrors, both daughters of Kadabra, are the two-year-old filly nominees. Kadabra Queen won five of 10 races and over $328,000 on the season. All five of her victories were in the Ontario Sires Stakes, including a win in the season-ending Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack, her final start of the season. Smoke And Mirrors won two races and over $176,000 in purse earnings. Her richest payday was a runner-up finish in the Super Final.

Alarm Detector and You Know You Do are the finalists in the juvenile trotting colt division. The Chapter Seven colt Alarm Detector was almost perfect in his debut season, winning six of seven races and $276,000. Stakes victories included the Define The World and an elimination and final of the William Wellwood Memorial. You Know You Do won five of 12 races and over $401,000 while scoring wins in the Bluegrass, a division of the Champlain, and sweeping the Peter Haughton Memorial.

Ariana G, a winner of an O’Brien at two, came back as a sophomore (trotting filly) stronger than ever. The Muscle Hill filly won 12 of 15 races during her million-dollar season. Her major victories included the Breeders Crown, Elegantimage, the Simcoe, the Hambletonian Oaks, the Delvin Miller Memorial and the New Jersey Sire Stakes final. The other finalist in the sophomore trotting filly division is Magic Presto. Despite an abbreviated season, the Kadabra filly had five wins and earnings of over $417,000, which included a victory in an elimination of the Hambletonian Oaks and a solid runner-up effort in the final.

International Moni and R First Class earned nominations in the three-year-old trotting colt division. International Moni won nine of 15 races and $620,000 this season, which included wins in the Erskine, a Breeders Crown elimination, a Kentucky Futurity elimination, the Bluegrass, a division of the Simcoe, an elimination of the Hambletonian and a sweep of the Goodtimes. R First Class boasted 11 top-two finishes in 12 starts for $307,000 in earnings. The son of Kadabra won three of six Ontario Sires Stakes events including the Super Final.

Hannelore Hanover is back to defend her title in the Older Trotting Mare division and is up against Emoticon Hanover. Emoticon Hanover finished on the board in 12 of 13 starts and earned $446,000. The daughter of Kadabra won the Breeders Crown, the Allerage, the Miss Versatility, and the Joie De Vie. Hannelore Hanover won 10 of 17 races this season while also posting five runner-up finishes. The Swan For All mare scored victories against male rivals in an elimination and final of the Breeders Crown Open Trot, the Allerage, and the Maple Leaf Trot. She also swept the Armbro Flight.

Musical Rhythm and Odds On Amethyst are the Older Trotting Horse nominees. Musical Rhythm, a son of Cantab Hall, was a solid preferred campaigner on the Woodbine Entertainment Group Circuit and finished the year with six wins and $178,000 in purse money. Odds On Amethyst, a son of Muscle Hill, scored 10 wins and surpassed $215,000 in earnings, while also primarily competing in the preferred and free for all trotting ranks.

In the Armstrong Breeder of the Year category, partners Marvin Katz of Toronto, Ont., and Al Libfeld, of Pickering, Ont., will defend their title against first-time finalist Stan Klemencic of Trenton, Ont. The Katz-Libfeld partnership has evolved into one of harness racing's most respected breeding enterprises. From the ten horses bred by this partnership and that raced in 2017, there were 27 wins and earnings of just over $1.5 million. Their top horse was O’Brien finalist Ariana G, a winner of over $1.1 million. Breeder Stan Klemencic had 18 horses that raced in 2017, with 57 wins and over $1.6 million in earnings. Leading the way was Breeders Crown champion What The Hill, a winner of more than $1 million.

The Future Star Award finalists are Brett MacDonald of Manotick, Ont., and Maxime Velaye of Mirabel, Que. In only his third season of full time driving, MacDonald, who was a finalist in this category last year, posted some very impressive numbers. The 21-year-old competes regularly at Rideau Carleton Raceway, and has driven 110 winners and horses to almost $590,000 in purse money. Trainer Maxime Velaye conditioned 23 winners and horses to over $323,000 in purse money. Although he raced mainly at Hippodrome 3R and Rideau Carleton Raceway, he also competed in the Ontario Sires Stakes events with a pair of sophomore colts, trotter Capteur De Reve, and pacer Histoire Enchantee.

One of the 24 horse nominees will be honoured as Canada’s Horse of the Year. The winners will be announced at the O’Brien Awards Gala on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ont.

A complete list of the finalists and their respective owners follows.

 

2017 O’Brien Award Finalists


Pacers


Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer

Kendall Seelster
Owned by 1187422 Ontario Inc., Ottawa, ON

Percy Bluechip
Owned by Shadow Two Stable, Puslinch, ON
James B & Wilma J MacKenzie, Ennismore, ON
Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc., Hudson, QC

Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer

Pedro Hanover
Owned by Brad D Gray, Dundas, ON
Denise Guerriero, Toronto, ON

Stay Hungry
Owned by Bradley J Grant, Milton, ON
Irwin Samelman, Las Vegas, NV

Three-Year-Old Filly Pacer

Bettors Up
Owned by Bradley J Grant & Teresa Davidson, Milton, ON
Michelle Y McEneny, Waterdown, ON

The Joy Luck Club
Owned by R A W Equine Inc., Burlington, ON
Mark Horner, St Marys, ON
R Gregg McNair, Guelph, ON

Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer

Classic Pro
Owned by Dr. Ian Moore, Puslinch, ON
R G McGroup Ltd., Bathurst, NB
Serge Savard, St Bruno, QC

Mateo
Owned by Christine Cutting, Airdrie, AB
Jim R Marino, Surrey, BC

Older Pacing Mare

Pure Country
Owned by Diamond Creek Racing, Wellsville PA

Sandbetweenurtoes
Owned by Bradley J Grant, Milton, ON

Older Pacing Horse

McWicked
Owned by S S G Stables, North Boston, NY

Sintra
Owned by Brad D Gray, Dundas, ON
Michael E Guerriero, Brampton, ON
Menary Racing Inc., Rockton, ON


Trotters


Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter

Kadabra Queen
Owned by Harness Horsepower Inc., Campbellville, ON
Frank Monte, Markham, ON

Smoke And Mirrors
Owned by Melvin Hartman, Ottawa, ON
David H Mc Duffee, Delray Beach, FL
Little E Llc, New York, NY

Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter

Alarm Detector
Owned by Thomas R Rankin & Elizabeth C Rankin, St Catharines, ON
Claude Hamel, Ayer’s Cliff, QC
Santo Vena, Brampton, ON

You Know You Do
Owned by Howard A Taylor, Philadelphia, PA
Order By Stable, Boras, Sweden
Bud C Hatfield, Columbus, OH
Mkatz Alibfeld Sgoldband, Toronto, ON

Three-Year-Old Filly Trotter

Ariana G
Owned by Marvin Katz, Toronto, ON
Al Libfeld, Pickering, ON

Magic Presto
Owned by Melvin Hartman, Ottawa, ON
Herb A Liverman, Miami Beach, FL
David H Mc Duffee, Delray Beach, FL
Little E Llc, New York, NY

Three-Year-Old Colt Trotter

International Moni
Owned by Moni Maker Stable, Enfield, CT

R First Class
Owned by Thomas A Rankin & Elizabeth C Rankin, St Catharines, ON

Older Trotting Mare

Emoticon Hanover
Owned by Determination, Montreal, QC

Hannelore Hanover
Owned by Burke Racing Stable Llc, Fredericktown- Weaver Bruscemi Llc, Canonsburg, PA
Frank D Baldachino, Clarksburg, NJ
J and T Silva Stables Llc, Long Beach, NY

Older Trotting Horse

Musical Rhythm
Owned by Santo Vena, Brampton, ON
Nunzio Vena, Bolton, ON
Claude Hamel, Ayer’s Cliff, QC
Benoit Baillargeon, Guelph, ON

Odds On Amethyst
Owned by William G Cripps, Acton, ON
Charles M Gazzola, Waterloo, ON
Patrick J Hudon & Adam Kean, Rockwood, ON


People Awards


O’Brien Award of Horsemanship

Marc Campbell - Winsloe, PE
Guy Gagnon - Gatineau, QC

Armstrong Breeder of the Year

Al Libfeld / Marvin Katz - Pickering, ON / Toronto, ON
Stan Klemencic - Trenton, ON

Driver of the Year

Doug McNair - Guelph, ON
Louis Philippe Roy - Mont-Joli, QC

Trainer of the Year

Gregg McNair - Guelph, ON
Richard Moreau - Puslinch, ON

Future Star Award

Brett MacDonald - Manotick, ON
Maxime Velaye - Mirabel, QC

Come out to Century Downs Racetrack and Casino and watch some familiar WPCA drivers race Standardbred horses.

Drivers competing on Saturday include:

  • Colt Cosgrave
  • Chad Fike
  • Jordie Fike
  • Dustin Gorst
  • Barry Hodgson
  • Jim Nevada

Bring the family out for a kids colouring contest, face painting, balloon twisting, candy scramble, meet a race horse and much more.

Meet the WPCA drivers, Miss Calgary and the Airdrie Rodeo Royalty.

  • Harness racing starts at 1:10 pm
  • Autograph session 1:30 pm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 27, 2017 - Century Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ Capital Market®: CNTY) announced today that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission has approved the Company's proposed Century Mile Racing Entertainment Centre project near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This is one of the key approvals needed for the Company to move forward with the project.

In September 2016, the Company was selected as the successful applicant by Horse Racing Alberta to own, build and operate a horse racing facility in the Edmonton area, which the Company will operate as Century Mile. Century Mile will be a one-mile horse racetrack, complete with barns, ample parking and a multi-level racing entertainment centre. The racing entertainment centre will include a gaming floor with initially 550 slot machines, an off-track betting area, food and beverage outlets, indoor and outdoor viewing areas as well as a grandstand. The proposed location is on Edmonton International Airport land, just south of Edmonton and positioned off Queen Elizabeth II Highway close to the City of Leduc. This highway is the main corridor between Edmonton and Calgary and one of the most heavily used highways in western Canada. It is also next to a regional shopping centre, retail markets, the RedTail Landing Golf Club and close to hotels, which are either already completed or under construction. The location has the potential to capture the south Edmonton and Leduc County markets.

The Company estimates that the project will cost approximately CAD 50.0 million ($37.5 million based on the current exchange rate) and construction will take approximately 15 months to complete. Commencement of construction of the Century Mile project is subject to the receipt of development and other permits.

The Company is now seeking to obtain financing for construction and may use a combination of available cash, bank borrowings, project financing, joint venture or other debt or equity financing to fund the project.

"We are thrilled about this opportunity and believe Century Mile has the potential to be even more successful than Century Downs, the racetrack and racing entertainment centre we opened two years ago in north Calgary", the Company's Co CEOs Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger said. "We thank the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission as well as Horse Racing Alberta for their trust and approval and will work diligently with them and other authorities to begin and complete construction as soon as reasonably possible", they continued.

About Century Casinos, Inc.:

Century Casinos, Inc. is an international casino entertainment company that operates worldwide. The Company owns and operates Century Casino & Hotels in Cripple Creek and Central City, Colorado, and in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the Century Casino in Calgary and in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. Through its Austrian subsidiary, Century Casinos Europe GmbH ("CCE"), the Company holds a 66.6% ownership interest in Casinos Poland Ltd., the owner and operator of eight casinos in Poland. The Company, through CCE, also holds a 75% ownership interest in both Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, which began operations in the north metropolitan area of Calgary, Alberta, Canada in April 2015, and Century Bets! Inc., which began operating the pari-mutuel off-track horse betting network in southern Alberta, Canada in May 2015. The Company operates 13 ship-based casinos with four cruise ship owners. The Company manages the operations of the casino at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino. The Company, through CCE, also owns a 7.5% interest in, and provides consulting services to, Mendoza Central Entretenimientos S.A., a company that provides gaming-related services to Casino de Mendoza in Mendoza, Argentina. The Company continues to pursue other international projects in various stages of development.

Century Casinos' common stock trades on The NASDAQ Capital Market® under the symbol CNTY.

For more information about Century Casinos, visit our website at www.cnty.com.

This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27 A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of Century Casinos based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future results of operations, operating efficiencies, synergies and operational performance, the prospects for new projects and projects in development, including the prospects and potential for and anticipated timing and costs of the Century Mile project, and plans for our casinos and our Company. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" under Item 1 A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Century Casinos disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.

MEMORANDUM TO:

Provincial Regulatory Bodies
Canadian Horse Racing Associations
Horse Persons Groups

SUBJECT: ARCI Model Pool Rule Changes

On December 9, 2016 the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) Board of Directors adopted a proposal to amend the RCI Model Rules to include a variation on the Group bet, and the addition of the Exact {n}. As per section 143 of the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations, Canadian race-course associations may apply to operate bets described in Chapter 4 of the RCI Model Rules (arci-004-105).

An updated version (6.4) of the ARCl's Model Rules of Racing will soon be available online at Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rules.

Should any Canadian race-course association have a recommendation to add or to change any type of pari-mutuel pool rule, please contact CPMA.

Sincerely,
Steve Suttle

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
P.O. Box 5904, LCD Merivale
Ottawa ON K2C 3X7
Tel/Tél: 613 759 6100

ATTENTION: INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS

Be advised that Horse Racing Alberta commencing at the beginning of 2017 licensing, will be enforcing the Workers Compensation Board's (WCB) rules.

We are beginning with all trainers either having a WCB number or a letter from WCB stating why they are not required to have coverage, before a license application will be accepted. We are starting with trainers as WCB themselves are not clear on the coverage needed for other participants. Horse Racing Alberta suggests all participants check with WCB themselves, or inquire within their own associations, as all horsemen's associations are being kept up to date with requirements needed.

Please find a Notice to Horsemen (page 2 of pdf download attached) attached from the Board of Stewards and Judges that will be hung at the racetracks and put on the Horse Racing Alberta website. Please read as it is very clear the procedure to be followed for trainers to be approved for a license.

Doug Fenske
Manager of Racing Supervision & Security
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
October 20, 2016

 

-- PAGE 2 --

 

NOTICE TO HORSEMEN

Commencing with the 2017 horse racing licensing season, it will be MANDATORY for all trainers to have a Worker's Compensation Number or a letter from Worker's Compensation Board documenting why the applicant does not need to have coverage, before the application will be accepted.

Worker's Compensation Board applications are available on-line here (WBC Account Registration).

By Order of the Steward's/Judge's Board

October 20, 2016

 

The Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic weekend on September 17th and 18th had a good crowd in attendance to watch over 50 horses compete for $350,000 in purse money on race day Saturday along with a ‘Made in Alberta’ marketplace followed by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) Alberta Division sale on Sunday bringing in over half a million dollars.

The Fall Classic races on Saturday were a great lead in to sale day as six of the seven races were won by CTHS Alberta sale graduates! The last race on the day, the Alberta Premier’s Futurity, was presented by Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier to the connections of undefeated multiple stakes winner Norm’s Big Bucks. Thank you to the sponsors of the Fall Classic races – True North Holdings Inc, Red Diamond Stable, Highfield, Peaceful Valley Stable, White Windows Thoroughbreds and Horse Racing Alberta.

The 2016 Thoroughbred sale was held on Sunday in the EXPO Centre at Northlands and offered buyers the opportunity to bid on their own potential stakes winning horse from the 100 quality yearlings on offer.

$51,000 was the price paid by Riversedge Racing Stable for Hip #75, the top selling yearling in this year’s CTHS Alberta Sale. Bred and consigned by Highfield, the dark brown filly by Exhi out of Fabulous Brush is a full sibling to the 2015 sale topper and stakes winner, Norm’s Big Bucks. Exhi is a stakes winner of over $800,000 and also sired Alberta runner and multiple stakes winner Victory Day. The son of Maria’s Mon currently sits in second spot on the Bloodhorse list of 2016 Canada leading second crop sires.

Results from the yearling portion of the 2016 sale show a total of 62 yearlings sold for $511,700 down 27% from $716,300 for 63 sold in 2015. The average yearling price this year of $8,253 is down 27% from the 2015 average of $11,369. The 2016 Alberta sales numbers are similar to earlier results from CTHS Alberta sales prior to 2015 and 2014 and in alignment with the downward trend found at the British Columbia and Ontario CTHS sales this year.

The top selling yearling is an Alberta bred! Owners of Alberta bred thoroughbreds have the opportunity to share in additional bonus money through the Owners Breeding Support portion of the Alberta Breed Improvement Program. In 2016, $1,204,815 is available to be paid to the owners of winning Alberta bred race horses.

For more information, please contact:

Jean Kruse, Manager - Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division)
#218, 1935 – 32nd Avenue N.E.
Calgary, Alberta  T2E 7C8
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.cthsalta.com
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The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta currently require all racing participants to have workers' compensation or "WCB":

Rule 100 Insurance and Other Coverage

1) A person who has a license in a horse-related occupation on their payroll as an employee at a "race track must, during their employment

a) ensure the employee is properly covered for worker's compensation under the Workers Compensation Act, or

b) if the Act does not apply, with such disability and liability insurance as is acceptable to the judges/stewards board, or both

2) A "trainer or other person shipping-in "race horses from outside Alberta must satisfy the judges/stewards board that their employees have coverage equivalent to the coverage described in subsection {1). (at page 37)

Horse Racing Alberta will be enforcing the requirement that employees in a horse related occupation have WCB coverage. Current License holders should ensure they are in compliance. In the future, in order to successfully obtain a License in Alberta, all applicants are required to:

(1) provide their employer's WCB number, or

(2) if the Act does not apply, provide appropriate proof on insurance coverage as is acceptable to the judges/stewards board.

WCB is compulsory for businesses involved in the following activities:

  • horse ownership,
  • horse training operations,
  • riders/jockeys while performing duties other than competing, such as feeding, training, exercising, and general horse care,
  • related transportation of horses, and
  • operation, maintenance and cleaning of barns, stables, corrals, pastures, and training facilities {e.g. race tracks, show jumping courses, riding trails, etc.).

More information on WCB premiums for horse racing related businesses can be found at the following link:

https://my.wcb.ab.ca/rm/wcb.ratemanual.webserver/lndustryDescription.aspx?ID=1206

The Alberta Horse Racing Rules are AMENDED as follows:

Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules, Division 5 Race Day — After the Race.

The following rule is AMENDED to read:

 

Rule 268 g Repeat of tests

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 the mandatory three tests to be repeated 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 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.

 

Rule 268 g previously stated:

If a licensee is found culpable by the judges/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 the mandatory three tests to be repeated at a federally accredited laboratory, approved by Horse Racing Alberta, in the presence of the licensee's witnesses, 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.

(3) A request for retesting of a sample must be submitted to the judges/stewards board no later than 45 days after the licensee has been advised of the positive findings, and must be accompanied by sufficient funds to cover all aspects of the retesting procedures.

 

Dated at the City of Edmonton in the Province of Alberta this 1 day of August, 2016

Rick LeLecheur, Chairman
Horse Racing Alberta

The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta, Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules,

Part 6 Standardbred Racing Division 7 Driving Rules.

The following Rule 458 s and Directive No. 082 - 2015 is AMENDED as follows:

 

Rule 458 s Obligations of driver

1. A driver violates these rules if the driver

a. fails to obey the starter's instructions;

b. wilfully backs off the starting gate after having been in position;

c. allows another horse to pass needlessly on the inside, or commits any other act that helps another horse to improve its position;

d. takes up or slows up in a manner in front of other horses so as to cause confusion or interference among the trailing horses;

e. lays off a normal pace and leaves a hole when it is well within the horse's capacity to keep the hole closed;

f. drives in a careless, reckless or unsatisfactory manner;

g. fails to set or maintain a pace comparable to the class in which the driver is racing, considering the track conditions, weather and circumstances in the race;

h. fails to properly contest an excessively slow pace having regard to the horse's ability , track conditions, weather and circumstances confronted in the race;

i. backs off from any position and subsequently comes on when challenged;

j. fails to report an interference or any other infraction that occurs during a race and was noticed by the driver;

k. lodges a claim of foul, violation of these or any other rules, objection or complaint which the judges board considers frivolous;

I. drives a horse in a manner that prevents the driver from winning a race;

m. drives a horse to perpetrate or aid in a fraud or corrupt practice;

n. drives a horse in an inconsistent manner;

o. uses a whip exceeding 3 feet 9 inches in length plus a snapper that is longer than 6 inches in length, or is of a colour not clearly visible and acceptable to the board of judges;

p. uses a whip or crop in a brutal, excessive or indiscriminate manner;

q. kicks a horse or allows their foot to come into contact with a horse by having their foot out of a stirrup;

r. uses a whip to interfere with or cause disturbance to any other horse or driver;

s. strikes a wheel disc with a whip.

 

2. Whipping violations

a. The use of the whip shall be confined to the areas above and between the sulky shafts, The one handed use of the whip shall be limited to the striking of the shafts of the sulky or the saddle pad ;

b. Using the whip in a one handed striking motion when, in the opinion of the judges, it does not appear that the horse is advancing its position in the race or is not in contention;

c. Any blatant or exaggerated movements of the whipping arm which will result from raising the elbow above the driver's shoulder height or allowing the hand holding the whip to reach behind the driver while striking with the whip;

d. Whipping under the arch or shafts of the sulky, using the whip as a goading or poking device, or placing the whip between the legs of the horse;

e. Whipping after the finish of the race;

f. Causing visible injury to the horse by leaving welts, cuts or other marks resulting from the use of the whip;

g. Excessive use of the whip is prohibited and one handed whipping is restricted as follows:

a. Drivers are prohibited from using the whip in a one handed striking motion from the start of the race until the horse reaches the ¼ mile pole .

b. From the 1/4-mile pole until the horse reaches the 7/8 mile pole, the driver may strike the shaft of the sulky or saddle pad in a one handed motion for maximum of 3 strikes, but must pause after each strike (no repetitive whipping).

c. Once the horse has reached the 7/8 mile pole, the driver may, in one handed motion, strike the shaft of the sulky or the saddle pad in a reasonable and responsible manner, no more than 3 strikes.

 

(The term "Striking the horse" or "one handed striking motion" shall not be construed as to mean a light tapping with the whip, at any point in the race, while maintaining a line in each hand.)

Any person found in violation of this Rule will be subject to penalties as contained in and authorized by Horse Racing Alberta.

 

Rule 458 s and Directive No. 182 - 2015 previously stated:

(q) (deleted) butt ends, punches, or jabs a horse;

(t) (deleted) uses a whip

(i) On or below the level of the shafts or the seat of the sulky;

(ii) between the legs of the horse, or

(iii) in an unconventional manner;

(v) {deleted) fails to keep a hand in each hand hold from the time the horses are called for the race by the starter until the finish of the race. The hand holds must be adjusted so the lines are tight at all times. Whipping is limited to wrist action with minimal shoulder and elbow movement.

 

Dated at the City of Edmonton in the Province of Alberta this 15 day of August, 2016

Rick Lelecheur, Chairman
Horse Racing Alberta