B. Discussion of the Issue and Problem
What specific problems or concerns are involved in this issue?
Almost 60% of standardbred trainers currently ship in to race at Alberta’s A tracks. More than 80% ship in to race at the province’s only Standardbred B track, the Track on 2.
The existing ship-in time requirement – 4.15 hours before the first race goes to post, poses a significant economic and logistical burden as well as safety risk, particularly in early spring and winter, when driving conditions are hazardous. Trainers, many of whom are also drivers, often must transport horses during early morning or late-night hours, sometimes with limited rest.
With Alberta's standardbred racehorse population and race days increasing, these burdens are set to worsen. Given the limited stabling space at Century tracks, we forecast an increase in trainers stabled off track.
The current ship-in-time requirements for standardbreds in Alberta are misaligned with those of other standardbred jurisdictions competing for the same horses and trainers. This discrepancy puts Alberta at a competitive disadvantage in attracting new trainers and, consequently, horses to the province.
Aligning Alberta’s standardbred racing rules with those of other jurisdictions is essential. While each breed has unique needs, the benchmark for rules should be based on comparable jurisdictions for that specific breed. Alberta must create conditions that attract new stables.
Some of the key differences between thoroughbred racing (TB) and standardbred racing (SB) in AB and in North America:
1. Standardbred horses do NOT require morning vet checks. Standardbreds are observed and assessed by the commission veterinarian during race warm up. This is standard practice.
2. There is a much higher number of SB racehorses that ship-in to race vs TB racehorses 59% of SB trainers ship in to race whereas a significant majority of TB horses are stabled on track (> 95%).
We urge HRA to adopt a streamlined, practical and standardized approach to the ship in time requirement, which we believe:
• Supports the economic well-being of Standardbred trainers across the province
• Create conditions conducive to racing in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lacombe; and
• Foster the growth and competitiveness of Standardbred racing in Alberta.
Who does the issue affect?
Key stakeholders include trainers, drivers, owners, HRA and the racetracks.
What existing HRA rules relate to this issue?
218 g Race horses shipped in (amended 04/23)
(c) (d) (e) (f ) (g) horses must arrive as follows: (i) a thoroughbred or quarter horse entered for a *race at any racetrack in Alberta must arrive at the *race track no later than 10:00 am on the *day of the race for a Veterinarian check regardless of post-time; (ii) a standardbred horse entered for a race at any racetrack in Alberta must arrive at the race track no later than 4 hours and 15 minutes in advance of the first post-time.
C. Possible Solutions and Impact
What solution does this proposal provide?
Solution #1 (preferred)
Amend the ship-in time requirement to 2 hours before the horse’s respective published post time (for non Lasix horses only). A ship-in time requirement schedule would be posted by the respective racetracks. A separate ship-in time schedule is published for horses administered Lasix, with the time requirement being 4.15 hours before the horses scheduled post time.
Solution #2 (alternative)
Amend ship-in time requirement for non-Lasix horses to 2 hours before the first race goes to post.
How will the solution fix the problem?
This solution helps alleviate the significant financial and quality of life burden placed on trainers and stables. It also improves safety conditions. The solution also removes a barrier to attracting new trainers and horses to Alberta and harmonizes with other standardbred racing jurisdictions.
In Ontario, an important source for new trainers and horses, horses must arrive one hour in advance of the post time for the race in which that horse is entered. In a number of US states, they need to be on-track in their ship in or paddock stalls 2 hours in advance of their respective post time. Here is an example to illustrate the severity of the issue: in Ontario and other jurisdictions, if a trainer has one horse entered in the 10th race with an approximate post time of 10:00 pm, the horse must arrive on the grounds and be in the paddock by 9:00 pm (the exception is horses being administered Lasix).
In Alberta, assuming the first race goes to post at 6:15pm, that same horse and trainer would have to arrive by 2:00 pm in the afternoon for a race going to post at 10:00 pm. The travel time to ship from the Edmonton area to CD and the Calgary area to the Mile is up to three hours for some of our trainers. That represents approximately 9 hours of downtime for a trainer, away from his/her stable. Standardbreds race 50% of the time in Calgary and 50% of the time in Edmonton. For a trainer shipping in from the Edmonton area to Century Downs or from the Calgary area to Century Mile there is an additional 3 hours of downtime if you include driving time.
How will the change affect any entities or stakeholders?
The racetracks will have to create a ship-in schedule with arrival times corresponding to the scheduled post times for both non-Lasix and Lasix administered horses. This is a standard approach for most racetracks in North America.
How will you or your organization be affected by the proposed change?
What are the benefits of the proposed change?
• A reduction in the economic and quality of life burden on trainers.
• Safer conditions.
• Less downtime for trainers. With more time, trainers have more time to complete their workout and care routines for their stables.
• The majority of our trainers are unable to hire additional employees due to a limited number of racing days as well as the rising prices of feed, fuel, bedding and general horse supplies.
• Equine athletes require cardiovascular workouts every morning. If trainers cannot complete their proper training programs, the horses’ health may be in jeopardy. Specifically, this puts horses at risk rhabdomyolysis or induced pulmonary hemorrhage.
What are the possible drawbacks of the proposed change?
HRA sited four hour and 15-minute ship-in times as a means of supporting integrity. There are other strategies that can be employed to maintain integrity that don’t create an economic and quality of life burden for the stables that ship-in to race. Meadowlands is a premier A track facility with a reputation for maintaining high integrity standards, yet their ship in time requirements are not as stringent. Other jurisdictions employ alternative integrity strategies including but not limited to technology-driven surveillance and out-of-competition testing. Further, these racetracks and racing authorities leverage intelligence to employ a targeted approach to retention and required ship in time. Employing a targeted, intelligence-based approach, we believe will be a more effective integrity strategy and a preferred alternative to the current 4.15-hour ship in rule.
D. Please identify any affected stakeholder groups that expressed support or opposition.
(These stakeholders may include the racetracks, breed registries, owners, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, or others.)
For those stakeholder groups that have expressed an opinion, please list the points on which they agree or disagree, and the arguments they have expressed.
Track on 2: A letter of endorsement is attached from the Track on 2.
ASHA: a letter of support is attached from ASHA President Bret Litke.
Are there any affected stakeholder groups that have not been consulted on this proposal?
Please attach any formal letters of support or opposition by stakeholder groups. Files must be .pdf, .doc, .docx, or .txt format and under 3072k for the system to accept the submission. You can add a maximum of 3 attachments.
See attachments link below or click here
E. Attach the rule language you are proposing. Please show new language in a new paragraph below the current wording. If you are proposing that current rule language be eliminated, please indicate the text to be deleted with [delete: sample deleted copy]
218 g Race horses shipped in (amended 04/23)
(ii) a standardbred horse entered for a race at any racetrack in Alberta must arrive at the race track no later than 2 hours in advance of their respective post time.
OR Note: ship in time requirements for each race are posted by the racetrack via a SHIP in schedule. There is a schedule for both non-Lasix and Lasix horses.
Note: standardbred horses who are on Lasix must arrive 4:15 hours in advance of their scheduled post time.
A standardbred horse entered for a race at any racetrack in Alberta must arrive at the race track no later than one hour before the first race goes to post.
Note: standardbred horses who are on Lasix must arrive 4.15 hours ahead of their scheduled post time
F. Do any racing jurisdictions currently have a version of this rule in effect? If yes, please attach copies of those rules.
AGCO Standardbred rule:
26.12 It shall be the responsibility of a trainer to have the horses under his or her care, and which are programmed to race, and properly equipped and in the paddock at least one hour before the scheduled post time or by the time prescribed by the track.
This is the RACJ Standardbred rule:
236. The trainer shall ensure that a horse participating in a race is brought to the paddock at least 2 hours before the post time of the race, unless exempted by the racing judges, and that the horse remains there until it is called onto the racing strip for the race.
AGCO – Thoroughbred rule:
AGCO Thoroughbred rule
Qualifications of Horses for Ship-in Stalls: Horses being shipped into Race must be on the grounds not later than two (2) hours prior to the post of the first Race. AGCO Rule TB 3.09, unless otherwise noted.
Woodbine Mohawk Standardbred Track Rules
4.9 Pre Race Requirements: All horses declared to Race must be in the Paddock of the Racetrack where the Race is being conducted at least 1 hour before the scheduled post time of the Race for equipment check purposes (tattoos, etc.).
Based on a review of standardbred racetracks in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware, there are no specific ship in rules. Alternatively, trainers are required to adhere to a paddock schedule supplied by the racetrack. The usual time to report to the paddock is 2 hours prior to the race. The exception is Lasix horses who are required to be in the paddock 4 hours prior to their scheduled race. Included is an example paddock schedule from the Meadowlands, one of the premier SB horse racing tracks in North America. They publish both Lasix and non-lasix arrival times. Arrival times on the grounds are targeted to specific race times.
G. Review the Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta and identify any other Rules this change would affect and submit proposed amendments to those rules to comply with changes that would be made by this proposal.
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