The 27th running of the Alberta Breeders Fall Classic is coming to Century Downs in Calgary this Saturday - seven races of the best Alberta bred thoroughbreds.
Quarter Horse sensation Timbersknightryder has a 2nd career as a barrel racer — and shares a special bond with Nicole Groeneveld as she attends North West College in Wyoming on a full scholarship.
The Western Canadian Triple Crown connects the $125,000 Manitoba Derby (August 7), the $200,000 G3 Canadian Derby in Alberta (August 26) and $125,000 G3 British Columbia Derby (September 16).
In addition to $450,000 in purse money, there will be an additional $100,000 bonus should a horse win all three of the prestigious Derby events.
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$125,000 Manitoba Derby Assiniboia Downs Monday, August 7, 2023 |
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$200,000 Canadian Derby (G3) Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Saturday, August 26, 2023 |
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$125,000 BC Derby (G3) Hastings Racecourse Saturday, September 16, 2023 |
Download a pdf guide below (Download Attachments:)
NOTICE TO INDUSTRY
RE: Positive case of West Nile Virus at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino
West Nile virus is a disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus that causes encephalomyelitis, a brain and spinal cord infection. There is a positive case at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino and positives in other areas of central Alberta.
It is highly recommended by Official Veterinarian Dr. Dale Gibson to vaccinate your horses for West Nile for the best protection. For prevention, spray or wipe your horses with insect repellent. Note, a 48-hour withdrawal of insecticide is a precautionary measure for horses that are entered to race.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Dale Gibson, Official Veterinarian for Horse Racing Alberta, at
Dated at the City of Edmonton
in the Province of Alberta
this 18 day of May 2023.
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
HORSE RACING ALBERTA
Assiniboia Downs, Century Mile and Hastings Park jointly announce the $550,000 Western Canadian Triple Crown race series.
- The Manitoba Derby - August 7, 2023, $125,000 purse
- The Canadian Derby - August 26, $200,000 purse
- The British Columbia Derby - Sept. 16, $125,000 purse
- Triple Crown Bonus - $100,000
Three Races - Three Provinces - One chance at racing glory!
Horse Racing Alberta is pleased to be offering the Respect in the Workplace course to HRA licensees. Respect is one of our core values, and the training will provide licensees with an awareness of the role we all play in working in a respectful environment. Licensees will be receiving an email with further details, or they can check with the License Clerks at the racetracks to register.
This is your chance to take an online training program that will:
- Provide awareness of the role we play in working in a respectful environment
- Provide clear understanding of what bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination mean and how to prevent these behaviours
- Encourage everyone to contribute to a safe, healthy, and respectful workplace
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Respect in the Workplace?
Respect in the Workplace is a comprehensive online training program that addresses the topics of bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination in our workplace. Through many vignettes and role play, it describes appropriate strategies for dealing with those behaviours. The training was created by Respect Group and Horse Racing Alberta has endorsed the program.
What is a respectful workplace?
A respectful workplace is one that is healthy, safe, supportive and inclusive, and honours diversity. It is a place where everyone is valued; communication is polite and courteous; people are treated with respect; conflict is addressed in a positive and civil manner; and disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated. If you are licensed by HRA, you are expected to conduct yourself respectfully.
Why implement a training program about respect now?
Respect is an essential part of who we are in horse racing. We strive to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all licensees—one that promotes human rights and personal dignity and is free from any disrespectful behaviour.
Is the training mandatory?
Per the Occupational Health and Safety Code, all employers in Alberta must have employees complete certain training courses, including recognition and the appropriate response to violence and harassment and the procedures for obtaining assistance. By accessing this course through HRA, the training is free.
How long will it take me to complete the training program?
The training takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. You can start and stop as desired, and the program can be completed incrementally and at your own pace. Please try to complete the training within 2 weeks of starting it.
Why should you participate?
We all want to be a part of a workplace where we feel valued, safe, and respected. Respect in the Workplace provides greater awareness of the shared responsibility we all have to help foster such an environment. This training provides standard tools and common understanding to empower everyone to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
How do I access the training?
The training is available online. You will be emailed a URL link to register for and access the course. This is an important step to ensure we have an accurate list of licensees who have successfully completed the training.
Sit with anyone who works with horses for ten minutes, and you will undoubtedly hear stories of the good and the bad, from long ago and more recently, and always about the one that got away.
These stories are what we want to hear from you!
Send them to us. If you found it interesting, then other people in the horse industry probably will too. Whether it’s about people, horses, or even other four-legged critters, these stories are best when shared.
Also, we are revamping the Horse Racing Alberta website. What changes do you think we should make? What content would you like to see?
Drop us a line and tell us what’s on your mind. Give us the best that you have, and we will do our best so everyone else gets to enjoy it too!
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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.
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
Alberta has a vibrant history and tradition of horse racing, and I was pleased to sign a 5-year extension to Horse Racing Alberta’s funding agreement, providing certainty to trainers, breeders, and the industry.
Travis Toews,
Treasury Board President & Finance Minister
MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti at Legislative Assembly of Alberta
LinkedIn link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/travis-toews-78a00045_alberta-has-a-vibrant-history-and-tradition-activity-6935667739432804352-Lyb-/