Wednesday, 07 September 2022 20:31

2023 Budgets Approved for Purse Support, Breed Improvement, and Horse Population Incentive Program

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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.

“A” CIRCUIT SCHEDULE

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

Read 1624 times Last modified on Thursday, 08 September 2022 13:26