Media Releases
In this section you will find Horse Racing Alberta's latest Media Releases and Industry Advisories
March 17, 2008
Tributes for McLellan
by Jonathan HuntingtonDwight McLellan is being remembered for his unwavering passion for horse racing. “If I was to single out one person who had a dream and vision for horse racing, it was Dwight,” said Dr. David Reid, the chairman of Horse Racing Alberta. “It was his dream that kicked off UHA.”
McLellan was the president of the United Horsemen of Alberta, the main financial backers of the proposed $240-million racetrack in Balzac. However, McLellan lost a long battle with a brain tumour last week. He died March 11 at the age of 44.
“I was first struck by Dwight’s calm and unassuming manner,” said Northlands Park chief racing executive Les Butler. “Shortly thereafter his words and actions left no doubt that a fire burned within. “He was determined, driven and focused. All the time he never had to abandon the charming camaraderie which so characterized him. He was a sportsman, a business man and a good friend, even to those who were only casual acquaintances.”
Stu Simon gained a friendship with Dwight while training thoroughbreds for his father Roy McLellan. “He cared for his family very deeply and had a passion for horse racing,” remembered Simon. “His two biggest loves were horse racing and his family.”
March 13, 2008
UHA President Dwight McLellan loses battle with tumor
by Jonathan HuntingtonThe Alberta racing industry is mourning the loss of Dwight McLellan - the driving force behind the proposed new racetrack for the Calgary market.
After a lengthy and courageous battle with a brain tumour, McLellan died on Tuesday night. He was just 44-years-old.
McLellan had been the leader of the United Horsemen of Alberta for several years, guiding the group through several obstacles in the pursuit to build the $240-million racing facility in Balzac - just north of the Calgary airport.
Holding the title of UHA president, McLellan had charisma, charm and wit. With construction started on the racetrack and a projected opening date of spring 2009, the remaining UHA staff will surely move forward with even more determination to make McLellan’s dream of a top-class racing facility a reality.
Funeral arrangements haven’t been announced. Follow this website in coming days for tributes to McLellan.
March 8, 2008
Alberta-owned hoss on Kentucky Derby trail
by Jonathan HuntingtonDespite an outside post position and a less-than-ideal trip, Calgary-owned Yankee Bravo finished a solid third in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby on Saturday at the Fair Grounds.
Providing the three-year-old colt remains healthy for trainer Patrick Gallagher, he should continue on the road toward the Kentucky Derby.
Co-owned by Richard Bonnycastle of Calgary, Yankee Bravo had a clean break from Post 8 on the fast track in New Orleans on Saturday but was taken to the back of the pack by jockey Alex Solis.
The former European-based runner remained along the rail as the nine-horse field bunched-up into the final turn in the one-mile and one-sixteenth test.
But as Yankee Bravo reached the top of the stretch he was still at the back of the field and buried behind a four-wide wall of thoroughbreds.
Needing racing room, Solis finally found an opening but any hope - if there was any - of catching highly-touted Pyro was gone.
Pyro won by three lengths with Yankee Bravo three and a half lengths behind in third.
Sent off at 12-1 odds - triple the price of the 4-1 morning line - Yankee Bravo returned $5.20 to show.A son of Yankee Gentleman, Yankee Bravo lost for the first time in four career starts.
However, Pyro is considered a major threat on the Kentucky Derby trail after finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall.Yankee Bravo has now earned $202,000 in his short career after receiving $60,000 for third place.
The Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday in May. Yankee Bravo will likely have one more prep race.
March 3, 2008
HARNESS BETTING RISES
By Jonathan HuntingtonWagering on the opening weekend of harness racing action at Northlands Park inched slightly higher than last year’s figures.
A total of $399,103 was bet worldwide on the first three cards (Feb. 29 - March 2) at the Edmonton track, up one per-cent from the opening three programs in 2007.
In dollars and cents, betting is up $5,122 over last year.
When the financial numbers are crunched even further, Northlands hosted 29 races on opening weekend this season, down from 30 races last season.
On a per race basis, handicappers wagered an average of $13,762 per contest to start this meet.
March 2, 2008
NEW TRACK STILL ON TRACK
By Jonathan HuntingtonDespite constant rumours flying around, the proposed $240-million racetrack near Balzac is still on schedule.
“They are still committed for a spring opening in 2009,” said Dr. David Reid, the CEO of Horse Racing Alberta, in today’s edition of the Edmonton Sun.
The United of Horsemen of Alberta are still the major financial backers in the project, which is located east of Highway 2 and north of the Calgary airport.
“They have completed the first barn,” continued Dr. Reid in the Sun story.
“And three quarters of the track is rough graded.”The entire track can’t be rough graded quite yet because a road has to be closed before that task can be completed.
The entire Sun story can be viewed at edmontonsun.com.
March 1, 2008
FOOTPRINT - 2007 HORSE OF THE YEAR
By Jonathan HuntingtonA stellar Canadian Derby victory last summer has brought Footprint even more riches. The outstanding gelding is the 2007 Horse of the Year in this province. Footprint’s ownership group received the award on Saturday night (March 1) during the annual thoroughbred awards gala at Stampede Park. “The thrill of winning the Canadian Derby hasn’t left me,” said Footprint’s co-owner Derek Milen in the Sunday edition of the Edmonton Sun.
“I experience wonderful memories of that day at least several times a week. “I must have watched the derby replay at least twenty times over the winter. The derby trophy is prominently displayed on my living room mantle and my eyes drift towards it daily.” Footprint captured the Canadian Derby by just over one length last August at Northlands Park, beating American-invader Gandolf.
A winner of exactly $320,000 last year, Footprint also captured the champion three-year-old colt honour.And jockey Real Simard - who enjoyed his second career Derby victory with the Kentucky-bred runner last summer - was named 2007 Horseperson of the Year. Simard was a key character in the feel-good story of 2007 in Alberta thoroughbred racing. A fan favourite, the veteran pilot openly talked about the possibility of retiring as he approached Derby Day. Knowing he might never get another chance to win Alberta’s richest race, Simard tasted the Derby victory for the first time since 1998 when he won with A Fleets Dancer.
But Footprint’s camp wasn’t the only big winner at the awards show. Owner Max Gibb watched his stable grab three awards, including champion Alberta-bred with She’s Italian. Now a five-year-old mare, She’s Italian also earned the champion older mare honour for 2007. Teagues Fight made it a hat trick for Gibb when he garnered the champion older horse crown. Trainer Greg Tracy’s barn also collected three titles. Tracy was named top trainer thanks to 56 wins and almost $775,000 in purse earnings last year. His stable also swept the two-year-old categories (Brazen Son - colt, Littlemiss Allison - filly).
The other award winners:
Ka Blui - champion claimer
Laketon - sprinter
Tanika - three-year-old filly
Rickey Walcott - leading jockey
Horizon Farms - leading breeder
Barry Buker - special appreciation award
Bar None Ranches - leading owner
Tiger Trap - freshman sire
July 19, 2007
CALGARY STAMPEDE SUPPORTS RACING INDUSTRY DURING TRANSITION
CALGARY, AB – Horse Racing Alberta and the Calgary Stampede have reached an agreement that will bring horse racing back to Stampede Park in 2008 to assist Alberta’s horse racing industry during the 2008 transitional period.
In this agreement, Stampede Park will host a spring Thoroughbred meet in 2008 and host simulcast racing broadcasts until the end of 2008.
Dr. David Reid, Chairman and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta said, “This is absolutely great news for Alberta horsemen and for the horse racing and breeding industry in the province. We are very grateful to the Calgary Stampede for allowing the industry to continue their racing activities next year. When we originally scheduled the closing of Stampede Park’s racetrack for this summer, we truly anticipated our new track to be up and running in 2008.”
United Horsemen of Alberta CEO Max Gibb said, “Unforeseen permit and construction delays have held up our race track project and we are grateful to the Calgary Stampede for assisting with the transition. Stampede Park allowing horse racing to return next year is very good news for our industry during a crucial time in our history.”
Dr. Reid said, “I certainly second that. More than 8,100 Albertans are involved in our industry, which annually contributes $385 million to our economy. We don’t want to lose any of the momentum and growth we have built up over the past few years.”
“We have hosted horse racing at Stampede Park for more than a century and we remain committed to helping the industry – we feel our continued support into 2008 is good for the horse racing and agriculture industry,” said Vern Kimball, Chief Executive Officer, Calgary Stampede.
Kimball noted that this decision will not impact the Stampede’s development plans, saying the organization remains on track for developing the southeast corner of Stampede Park, including building new agriculture facilities, over the next two to three years.
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For more information call:
Jeff Robillard, Manager
Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
(780) 918-6622Doug Fraser
Media Relations Manager
Calgary Stampede
(403) 261-0242
June 29 , 2007
PDF posting of the 2006 Annual Report(4.6 MB, Acrobat PDF - you will need
Acrobat Reader software to view)
TELEVISION BROADCASTS INCREASE TO 13 SHOWS IN 2007
EDMONTON, AB — Horse Racing Alberta is pleased to confirm its 2007 television schedule for the broadcast of 13 premiere horse races. All 13 races will be broadcast live on CTV Alberta in the 4 to 5 p.m. MST timeslot.
Race Breed Date Silver Buckets Standardbred Saturday, May 12 Northlands Filly Pace Standardbred Saturday, May 26 Western Canada Pacing Derby Standardbred Saturday, June 9 Alberta Derby Thoroughbred Saturday, June 16 Wild Rose Thoroughbred Saturday, June 30 Ky Alta Thoroughbred Saturday, July 14 Don Fleming Handicap (The Klondike) Thoroughbred Saturday, July 28 Sonoma Thoroughbred Saturday, August 11 Canadian Derby Thoroughbred Saturday, August 25 Speed to Spare Thoroughbred Saturday, September 8 Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity Quarter horse Saturday, September 22 Alberta Fall Classic
(2 hour special from 4 to 6 p.m.)Thoroughbred Saturday, September 29 ASHA Breeders Stake Standardbred Saturday, October 20 “In order to attain a consistent presence on television, the industry came together to develop a schedule of our key stakes races that would ensure television coverage almost every second Saturday from May to October 2007,” says Dr. David C. Reid, Chairman and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta. “I’d like to thank the racetracks, horsemen’s organizations and CTV for working together to create such an impressive calendar. Our viewership numbers continue to increase each year, and we are delighted to be able to add another three races to our schedule.”
The broadcast team of Jonathan Huntington, Crystal Leriger, Dawn Lupul and Jeff Robillard will return in 2007. The 2007 telecast will be produced by White Iron Productions.
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
November 21, 2006
Alberta live horse racing TV audience numbers continue to increase for a third straight year
EDMONTON – The average audience for The Horses live horse racing show on the Canadian Television Network
(CTV Alberta) increased for a third straight year.The findings were recently released by CTV (source Nielsen National People Meter Service). The audience research highlights include: an average program audience increase of 45% in 2006; the average number of people seeing a part of each race (audience reach) increase by 9%; the Nat Christie Memorial attracted over 100,000 viewers while the Fall Classic show was seen by 324,000 viewers; and the television show promotional campaign delivered over 22 million viewer impressions and spoke to 82% of Albertans in 2006.
“This is yet another example of how being seen on television as a mainstream sport builds interest and awareness of our industry,” explains Dr. David C. Reid, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Alberta. “I would like to thank our industry for the co-operation and help on the shows as well as our television partners CTV and White Iron Productions. In the near future, our industry will release the 2007 TV schedule that will offer an even more comprehensive and broader TV schedule, highlighting major Alberta racing events.”
CTV continues to be very happy with The Horses live television show. “The horse racing industry is a very important part of Alberta’s history and economy, and we are delighted to be part of its success,” stated Lloyd Lewis, Vice President and General Manager of CTV Edmonton. “We’re proud to bring the provinces best race events to our viewers.”
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-918-6622
November 8, 2006
Horse Racing Alberta wins Best of Show for a 3rd year in a row
Edmonton, AB — Horse Racing Alberta recently received awards in four categories at the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA) Awards including Best of Show for a 3rd consecutive year. The annual CAMA Awards recognize excellence in marketing and communications within the national agricultural sector.
The branding campaign “The Horses – There’s A Horse For Everyone” won the following categories:
- Best of Show – Consumer Directed Campaigns
- Consumer Directed Campaigns – Television/Radio
- Consumer Directed Campaigns – Education Materials
- Consumer Directed Campaigns – Sales Support Materials
“It is always an honour to be recognized for our marketing efforts outside of the horse racing industry,” says Dr. David C. Reid, Chairman and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta. “Horse racing and breeding are proud partners in agriculture and we are thankful for the acknowledgement given by CAMA. I’d like to thank our industry partners and our advertising agency Y&R for another successful year.”
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
September 21, 2006
TRIBUTE TO PROVINCE TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2006
EDMONTON, AB – Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) announced today it will officially recognize the significant contributions of Premier Ralph Klein and the Province of Alberta in the horse racing and breeding industry. The Premier challenged the horse racing and breeding industry to come together to create a blueprint for its future. This visionary thinking by the Premier has allowed the industry to turn itself around and become growth orientated.
A dedication ceremony will take place after the 2nd race (approximately 1:40 p.m.) on Saturday, September 23 outside of the paddock and walking ring at Northlands Park. Dr. David Reid, Chairman and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta and Jim Campbell, President of Northlands will unveil a statue and announce a new standardbred stakes race named in the Premier’s honour, thus establishing a permanent token of the industry’s gratitude.
The ceremony also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Alberta Fall Classic, which celebrates Alberta-bred racing excellence.
“Without the support, guidance and long-term vision of our Premier and the Government, our industry that involves over 8,000 Albertans and has an economic impact in the province of $385 million would have been severely threatened,” states Dr. Reid. “Racing has enjoyed many well deserved successes in the past few years. Few of these could have been attained without the empowerment and trust of the Province and the hard work of its industry partners.”
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
August 31, 2006
HORSE RACING ALBERTA ANNOUNCES 2007 RACE DATES
CLARIFICATION OF 2007 RACE DATESEDMONTON, AB – Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) today clarified the live racing schedule for 2007.
‘A’ CIRCUIT
There will be a total of 111 thoroughbred racing days and 105 standardbred racing days as follows:
Northlands Park in Edmonton was awarded a total of 166 days of racing; this includes 61 thoroughbred days from June 22 to September 30 and 105 standardbred days from February 23 to June 17 and from October 5 to December 22 on the traditional race days. In July, Sunday racing will be dropped and Thursday evening racing will be added for the remaining part of the year. Additional standardbred race days may be added to enhance the live racing schedule at a later date.Stampede Park in Calgary was awarded a total of 50 days of thoroughbred racing from March 23 to June 17 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
COMMUNITY CIRCUIT
There will be a total of 112 community circuit race days as follows:
Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge was awarded 51 days of runners. They will run from May 5 to July 2 and September 1 to November 4 on most Fridays, as well as Saturdays and Sundays, plus four long weekend Mondays (May 21st, July 2nd, September 3rd and October 8th).Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie was awarded 60 days of racing. Standardbred racing will run from June 22 to August 19 on most Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (except for June 29 to July 1). Standardbred racing will resume on August 29 until September 30 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (except for September 1 and 2). The traditional flat runners (all breeds) will run a minimum of 21 days from July 6 to August 19 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Millarville will continue with their traditional Canada Day races on Sunday, July 1st.
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
June 9 , 2006
PDF posting of the 2005 Annual Report(2.6 MB, Acrobat PDF - you will need
Acrobat Reader software to view)
April 20, 2006
HRA TO BROADCAST A CLOSER LOOK AT BROTHER DEREK
EDMONTON, AB - - Albertan Cecil Peacock is living the dream of every thoroughbred owner in the world - to own a horse that will run in the Kentucky Derby.
Find out how Peacock made his dream a reality. On Saturday, June 3 on the Canadian Television Network (CTV) Alberta from 3 to 4 p.m.(MST), Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) and WhiteIron Productions will broadcast a one-hour documentary on how Cecil Peacock, his horse Brother Derek, trainer Dan Hendricks and jockey Alex Solis navigated their ways to the Run for the Roses.
“This is a unique and inspiring story with a great Alberta connection,” says Dr. David C. Reid, Chairman of HRA. “Brother Derek is one of the favourites going into the Kentucky Derby and all of Alberta will be cheering for him on Derby Day.”
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Horse Racing Alberta
(780) 415-5284
December 21, 2005
DR. DAVID C. REID VOTED
CAM FELLA AWARD WINNERMississauga, Ontario -- Standardbred Canada today announced that Dr. David C. Reid, Chairman and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta has been voted the 2005 recipient of the Cam Fella Award.
The Cam Fella Award will be presented to Dr. David Reid at the annual O’Brien Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga.
Named in honor of the World Class Standardbred horse, Cam Fella, the award recognizes extreme recent meritorious service to the Canadian harness racing industry.
Under the guidance of Dr. Reid in his role as Chairman of Horse Racing Alberta, Alberta’s horse racing industry has experienced continued growth and success over the past three years. He is the driving force on the Horse Racing Alberta Board of Directors that transformed a once divided industry into a cohesive unit. Alberta’s racing climate is strong, viable and growing due in large part to Dr. Reid’s enthusiasm, vision and leadership.
Dr. Reid was a catalyst in the renewal of the industry from the development and inception of a blueprint for the industry’s future to the implementation of this strategy that saw the provincial government create Horse Racing Alberta in 2002.
Under Dr. Reid’s guidance, horse racing’s economic impact grew by $191 million from 1999 to 2004 highlighted by increases in attendance and handle. Alberta has led the country in breeding initiatives, viability of ownership, marketing efforts, backstretch and paddock conditions under Dr. Reid’s leadership.
When the Edmonton resident isn’t working on behalf of the horse racing industry, he is recognized as a world leader in sports medicine. Dr. Reid is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Adjunct Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and Honorary Professor of Physical Education at the University of Alberta. He is also Chief of Medical Staff for the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos.
Standardbred Canada established the Cam Fella Award in 1997 and fittingly its namesake was the first recipient acknowledging Cam’s unparalleled contributions to the sport of harness racing. In 2000, the Honourable Michael D. Harris, former Premier of the Province of Ontario, was recognized for his government's initiatives to revitalize horse racing. Minister Mitchell Murphy, Provincial Treasurer for the Province of Prince Edward Island and formerly the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry was the recipient of the 2003 Cam Fella Award for his efforts in establishing and developing harness racing as a key industry in Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada.
In 2004 Armstrong Bros. Farms was honoured with the award for their tremendous and unprecedented impact on all aspects of the Canadian and North American Standardbred racing industries.
A national committee of 16 representing the Standardbred community vote by secret ballot to determine the Cam Fella Award winner. A winner must receive a majority of the votes.
Canadian-owned, trained and driven, Cam Fella was an outstanding racehorse in the early 1980s winning 56 races, over $2-million in purse money and two consecutive Horse Of The Year titles in North America. As a stallion, Cam sired numerous world champions and horses with earnings in excess of $106-million. Unfortunately Cam suffered from testicular cancer and in early 1997, was retired from breeding. He died in May of 2001 at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he had lived for several years and served as an outstanding ambassador of the Standardbred breed.
The creation of the Cam Fella Award was the harness racing industry’s way of ensuring that Cam’s contribution to the sport is never forgotten.
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For more information, please contact Kathy Wade Vlaar at (905) 858-3060.
September 26, 2005
HORSE RACING ALBERTA FINALIST FOR NATIONAL AWARD
FOR MARKETING EXCELLENCEEdmonton – Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) is one of three finalists for Marketing Campaign of the Year in the TIAC National Awards for Tourism Excellence presented by The Globe and Mail.
Thirty-five companies and individuals were selected as finalists in 13 categories representing the best of Canada’s tourism industry. The two other finalists in the category of Marketing Campaign of the Year are Air Canada, and Nova Scotia Tourism and Culture.In a first for the North American racing industry, Horse Racing Alberta launched an integrated brand and tourism advertising campaign in 2004 that supported an overall Alberta brand of Western heritage. It introduced packaging initiatives, developed with Travel Alberta and local industry, to promote travel to racetracks. The campaign included ads that connected emotionally with audiences by using creative horses' names (e.g. Bye Bye Boredom) and personalities, outdoor billboards, and live TV shows broadcast across Alberta and neighbouring provinces.
By October 2004, brand awareness of horse racing as an entertainment option had increased 14% over 2003, and the campaign had succeeded in positioning horse racing as a fun event for a younger demographic.
The winner will be presented the award at a gala dinner on October 25, 2005, at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Québec City, Québec, during Canada’s Tourism Leadership Summit.
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
September 22, 2005
PDF posting of the 2004 Annual Report(3.5 MB, Acrobat PDF - you will need
Acrobat Reader software to view)
May 10, 2005
HORSE RACING ALBERTA TAKES BEST OF SHOW AT AD RODEO
Edmonton – Horse Racing Alberta (HRA), together with Ogilvy & Mather Calgary, won four first places finishes, including Best of Show, at the 2005 Anvil Awards on May 6th. These awards follow on the heals of a 2005 Alberta Film and Television Award for Best Promo for a Canadian Program or Series received by HRA and White Iron earlier in the month.
The Anvil Awards, also known as Ad Rodeo, is Calgary’s annual celebration of creative excellence in the profession of advertising. Besides Best of Show, the HRA campaign also won in the categories of Outdoor Series, Point of Purchase and Craft Art Direction.
The competition was open to any company or individual in the marketing and communications industry provided the concepts originated in Calgary and ran in 2004. A panel of communications specialists from some of the most prestigious agencies in Canada, the United States and Europe provided the judging.
“I am really pleased that Horse Racing Alberta’s advertising efforts stand out in the eyes of these international experts,” says Dr. David C. Reid, HRA Chairman & CEO. “We’ve set a corporate standard for ourselves of excellence and innovation in all our programs – so being recognized in this manner is tremendously rewarding.”
This is the second year HRA has entered the Anvil Awards. In 2004, HRA and Ogilvy & Mather received two first place Anvils and seven Merit Distinction Awards.
Horse Racing Alberta is a private non-for-profit corporation that represents all segments of the horse racing industry and is accountable to the people of Alberta. Under the Horse Racing Act, the corporation is mandated to govern, direct, control, regulate, manage, market and promote horse racing in all its forms.
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
February 8, 2005
ALBERTAN WINS COVETED HORSEMAN AWARD
EDMONTON, AB — Keith Clark of DeWinton, Alberta has won the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship as recently presented by Standardbred Canada.
The Horsemanship Award was created in 2003 to recognize the horseperson in Canada that best exemplifies the standard of horsemanship demonstrated by Joe O’Brien.
“ Keith is always a fan favourite,” says Dr. David Reid, Chairman of Horse Racing Alberta. “This past year he led Alberta drivers in earnings and wins, bringing in over $1 million in both training and driving charts.”
Dr. Reid continues, “I am pleased that Keith’s talents and skills are being recognized nationally.”
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284 or 780-918-6622
TELEVISION BROADCASTS INCREASE TO 10 SHOWS IN 2005
EDMONTON, AB — Horse Racing Alberta is pleased to confirm its 2005 television schedule for the broadcast of 10 premiere horse races. All 10 races will be broadcast live on CTV Alberta in the 4 to 5 p.m. timeslot.
Race Breed Date Filly Pace Standardbred Saturday, June 11 Alberta Derby Thoroughbred Saturday, June 18 Western Canada Pacing Derby Standardbred Sunday, June 19 Millarville 100th anniversary Flat racing Friday, July 1 Sonoma Thoroughbred Saturday, August 13 Canadian Derby Thoroughbred Saturday, Aug. 27 Nat Christie Memorial Stake Standardbred Sunday, Aug. 28 Breeders Race Standardbred Saturday, Sept. 3 Alberta Fall Classic
(2 hour show from 4 – 6 p.m.)Thoroughbred Saturday, Sept. 24 Canada Quarterhorse Cup Futurity Quarterhorse Sunday, Oct. 2 Due to demand by our customers, we have added three more races to this year’s line up of televised horse racing,” says Dr. David C. Reid, Chairman of Horse Racing Alberta. “In 2005, Millarville will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of horse racing, and new this year, we will televise the $100,000 Canada Quarterhorse Cup Futurity.”
The 2005 telecast will be once again produced by White Iron Productions.
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For more information, call:
Jeff Robillard , Manager, Communications & Marketing
Horse Racing Alberta
780-415-5284
2004 Release - Click here
2003 Releases - Click here
2002-2001 Releases - Click here
