The horses are back at Evergreen Park. Live pari-mutuel racing returns to the Gordon Badger Stadium this Saturday, and will live there every weekend until August 26th.
Races are every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the J.D.A. Raceway and are free for families to watch. Evergreen Park Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Moon says horse racing in Grande Prairie can be traced back to the early-1900s.
“There was some wagering on a race in 1910 from 101 Avenue and 101 Street, where the Farmer’s Market is now located, down to Bear Creek and back. Officially, pari-mutuel racing started in Grande Prairie several decades ago when the race track was part of the fairgrounds, located in the area where Crystal Park School is now located.”
Highlights of the upcoming season include the Grande Prairie Derby on July 22nd, the Peace Country Derby on July 29th, the Alberta Derby on August 5th, and the Race for the Cure on August 26th. Moon argues the entire racing season has an economic impact in the millions of dollars.
“A ‘village’ of people including jockeys, owners, trainers, Horse Racing Alberta personnel and others move to Grande Prairie for two months.”
The season kicks off July 7th at 6:30 p.m.
