They’re at the post… Well, almost.
While the harness horses have been racing in Calgary at Century Downs for a month, thoroughbred racing returns Saturday May 4 for the 2024 season - post time 3:45 - at Century Mile in NIsku.
Optimism is everywhere.
Purses are up. The horse supply - thanks in large part to special programs to increase the number of both harness and thoroughbred horses - is solid. The training conditions at Century Mile for spring training were excellent. Both breeds come off outstanding yearling sales. Slot revenue is up.
“Everything looks good,” said Kent Verlik, chief executive officer for Horse Racing Alberta.
“We originally had purses of $13.5 million last year for thoroughbred racing. That was our budget. But things went well enough that we were able to add another $350,000.
“This year our budget for thoroughbreds is $14.5 million. And, depending on how everything goes we may be able to prop that up even more. The slots are doing really well at the Racing Entertainment Centres.
“Next year we are looking at purses of $15 million and then $16 million for 2026.”
Verlik said while total wagering was down slightly last year that was largely due to losing 15 race days due to wildfires in Alberta and B.C. and the resultant unsafe-to-race smoke levels from the fires.
“We were down 4 per cent in our handle which was $119.2 million but we lost 6 per cent of our race dates. Had we not had the fires I’m convinced we would have been ahead of last year.
“Last year was the hottest in the history of the planet.”
For B.C., in particular, it was the most destructive fire season on record with more than 2.84 million hectares of forest and land burned; tens of thousands of people had to be evacuated from their homes.
Wildfires are already raging in B.C. and Alberta again this year with one fire categorized as out-of-control.
“I’m hoping we get lots of rain,” said Verlik. “It’s our biggest concern.
“The export handles were also down a bit - $31.3 million last year compared to $32.4 million in 2022. Foreign simulcasts were down too: $81.8 million compared to $84.9 million the previous year.
“Those two were also a reflection of the wildfires.”
A number of initiatives to bring new thoroughbred and harness horses to Alberta like the Breed Improvement Program and the Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program have had very positive results and are in place again this year.
The Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program sees the HBPA of Alberta (the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association) pay 50 per cent or up to $7,500 - whichever amount is less - on claims or purchases at public sales outside of Alberta.
Claimed horses must not have ever run in Alberta and claim prices must be a minimum $3,000 claim tag.
“This is the third year of that program and it has been a big help the last two years,” said Dan Hurley, president of the HBPA of Alberta.
“We’ve had good success with bringing in new horses and it looks like it will again.”
As a few examples trainer Colleen O’Hagan claimed several horses at Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco as did trainer Rod Cone for owner Al Pitchko.
Tim Rycroft has four horses he is brining to Alberta from Toronto while his dad, Tom, claimed three horses from Ontario including Silent Runner for $32,000 who had been running in $80,000 claiming races.
And, trainer Craig Smith was busy again in Florida.
Harness racing has a similar program with the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) paying up to 50 per cent or $6,000 for horses bought or claimed outside of Western Canada.
“All in all everybody is anxious to get racing again,” said Hurley. “Purses are up so that’s a good start.”
Another good start was the racetrack itself.
“Track conditions were really good for spring training,” said Hurley. “I talked to a lot of trainers and everyone I talked to was positive. That’s a major help.
“It’s time to get going. It’s been a long time since last October. Hopefully enough horses are ready to run.”
Verlik said last year’s Alberta Yearling Sales for harness and thoroughbred racing are also indications of good things to come.
The Thoroughbred Yearling Sale saw 43 yearlings sell for over $600,000 compared with $443,600 in 2022. The average price was up 27 per cent to $14,135 while the median increased over twofold - $10,000 compared with $4,750 in 2022.
“And the harness sale did even better,” said Verlik of the ASHA Yearling Sale where 50 yearlings were sold for $1,222,197 - up 17 per cent from the previous year - for a record average of $24,444 which was a 35 per cent increase from the previous year which had been the record.
Two yearlings went for over $100,000: Hip No. 36 Strutsville - by Huntsville out of the Western Ideal mare Strut My Stuff - going for $132,000 and Hip No. 11, Zelensky Rules, by Captaintreacherous out of the Bettors Delight mare, Luck Be A Lindy, bringing down the hammer at $130,000.
Those figures said volumes about another Alberta breed program - buying mares in foal in Alberta.
“Improve the breed; improve the horse population,” stated Verlik, who said he is probably most satisfied by having a three-year date agreement.
“That way we don’t have to argue every year. Everybody knows where they are going to be and when.
“It’s probably the first time we have a three-year calendar.”
And harness racing?
“Things are looking very good,” said Bret Litke, the new, energetic president of Alberta Standardbred Horse Association.
“The foundational pieces are all really good. We’ve got more horses, more good horses, more race dates, we’re coming off the best Yearling Sale ever and the purse structure is the second highest in Canada outside of Woodbine and Mohawk in Ontario.
“Our purses for 2023 were $5,359,950. This year they are $5,640,000,” said Litke, 30, whose father, Daryl, was one of Alberta’s top trainers and drivers.
“Let’s go. Let’s grow.
“We’re in a healthy spot. But there is more competition for gambling dollars than ever before with the proliferation of sports betting.
“That’s why we are constantly looking at getting more sponsors and partners,” said Litke, who is a manager with the Jobs, Economy and Trade Ministry.
“We’ve got a lot of young trainers who are doing great.
“We set a Century Downs betting record last year on Packwood Grand Day when they bet $332,000 to easily breathe previous record of $256,000.
(Packwood Grand advertises their group as ‘The most fashionable event of the summer’ and a ‘Celebration of old world leisure and sophistication.’ They have earmarked July 27 for this year’s festival of racing.)
“More fans are interacting with our product,” continued Litke.
“Awareness is growing. On track attendance is growing. It’s not uncommon to see the tarmac full on a nice afternoon.
“Our B meet at Lacombe is strong and has 17 dates.
Also ready and anxious to run are the quarter horses.
“This year looks very promising,” said Jerry Stojan, president of the Alberta Quarter Horse Association, who is perennially the champion owner and winner of the Champion Challenge Program the last four years.
“The number of race horses is up; we have more horses than ever. And most importantly interest in our sport is up. People are wanting to be a part of this sport.”
Stojan said purses are very similar to last year.
“It’s an exciting time for us,” said Kathy McNiven, a volunteer spokesperson for AQHA.
“The quality of horses now is unbelievable. You have to have a good horse to race in Alberta now. The bloodlines are more diverse and stronger.”
McNiven said she is most happy with the changing demographics of Quarter Horse Racing.
“We’re getting lots of new owners and they are younger.
“We’re drag racers with the horses exploding out of the starting gate.
“It’s a totally different sport than thoroughbred or standardbred racing.”
But like thoroughbred and standardbred racing McNiven said last year’s AQHA Yearling Sale was also up significantly.
No question. It’s a most promising season for all three breeds in Alberta.
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