Alberta Downs Takes Unique Approach to Races

The simple sentence posted at 10:50 a.m. July 17 on the Alberta Downs Facebook page was not especially surprising to anyone following the twists and turns of the small track this summer: "There will be no racing today at Alberta Downs."

While the western province's regulator has not awarded the Lacombe track dates, and area horsemen are not supporting the meet, Alberta Downs owner Bobby Allen—with a big assist from Thoroughbred owner Andy Stronach—is trying to offer racing. But Allen has found that pulling off an unsanctioned meet is no easy task.

After offering a pair of race dates in June and one in July, the track cancelled its planned July 10 races. It cancelled July 17 races and launched Tuesday racing July 19. But the July 19 card was cancelled when test sample collectors were not available. Alberta Downs has scheduled racing for Tuesday, July 26—with the same entries as July 19—listing 59 horses entered in seven races.

Like the previous four race days conducted beginning June 12, Allen said nearly all the horses scheduled to run July 26 are being supplied by Andy Stronach, son of multiple Eclipse Award-winning owner and breeder Frank Stronach.

While the track offered races July 3, there are no charts of race outcomes. After initially posting some basic results, Equibase pulled those results as well, because the races were not fully sanctioned by the province's regulator, Horse Racing Alberta.

Past performances are available for the July 26 card from Equibase, with limited information for some of the races at the current meet. Of the 59 horses entered Tuesday, 32 (52%) have raced in all three previous June and July dates at Alberta Downs.

With HRA not recognizing the races, Allen has opted to privately pay needed regulatory functions on race day for his unsanctioned races: stewards, sample collectors, etc. He noted that HRA did not specifically prohibit him from racing.

"I talked to HRA about getting some race days and they did finally give me some race days, but I have to pay everything. There's no regulatory support of any kind," Allen said. "I had to pay all of the stewards, get my own horses, my own jockeys, and not take any from the fair circuit, which I've done."

Doug Fenske, manager of racing, supervision, and security for HRA declined to comment on the situation. HRA chief executive officer Shirley McClellan did not return a phone call for comment.

With local horsemen not supporting the races, Allen reached an agreement with Andy Stronach to bring in horses. Many of the horses—all females—had competed in a five-race series of two-furlong races offered at The Stronach Group's Portland Meadows racetrack in January and February. Because Allen's dirt track is not in condition for Thoroughbred racing, all of Tuesday's races are scheduled for the turf, with race distances ranging from a quarter-mile to seven furlongs. 

Clearly the emphasis of the seven races scheduled July 26 is on the gambling product, as nearly all of the horses are owned by various state and provincial racing clubs connected to Stronach. The races offer only a $1,000 purse. Previous racing conditions were "by invitation only," but Tuesday's races are all listed as allowance events. The races include a Pick 6 wager.

The Sunday race dates were not picked up by simulcast outlets in Canada. Allen said the only off-track location to offer the races for wagering was The Stronach Group's Gulfstream Park, as an initial plan called for the Alberta races to start shortly after the final Gulfstream race each Sunday. Allen said he and Stronach thought they could get $90,000 in handle per race, but without the off-track wagering, he acknowledged falling well short of that goal.

Allen is feeling better about this Tuesday's card. He said The Stronach Group's XpressBet.com will offer wagering on the Alberta races as will outlets in Arizona, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Allen said the races are needed to keep attention on his track and he thinks many of the horses currently racing in the series will stay in Alberta to be bred.

"They're all mares. They're cheap but all well-bred," Allen said. "The idea is to keep some of these mares here and have them foaling horses. Breeding is down in Alberta. The goal was to get the track going properly, give everybody a chance, and provide a spark for the breeding. There are hardly any foals here anymore."