Horses are about to hit the track for the season at JDA Raceway at Evergreen Park. Over the next two months, the venue will host a number of events including five Bank of America Challenge Races, two more than last year.
They include Bank of America Evergreen Park Championship Challenge (440 yards); Adequan Evergreen Park Derby Challenge (400 yards); John Deere Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge (350 yards); Evergreen Park Distaff Challenge (400 yards); and the Evergreen Park Distance Challenge (870 yards).
The Challenge races at Evergreen Park are used as a regional qualifier with the winners advancing to the Bank of America Challenge Championship at The Downs in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 26th. Over $100,000 in purse money comes along with the five races with the biggest being the Bank of America Championship at $35,000.
JDA Raceway is the only facility in Canada hosting Bank of America Challenge competitions. All the other regional qualifiers are from tracks in the United States and Mexico and, tentatively, one in Brazil.
An average of 40 quarter horses races happen at Evergreen each year, along with 10 or more stake races including larger events like the J.D.A. GP Derby, Alberta Derby and Mr.Mike’s Race For The Cure. Race season starts on July 6th and runs until August 25th.
In July, Friday and Saturday races start at 6:30 p.m. while in August, Fridays and Saturday events start at 6 p.m. All Sundays races will be held at 1 p.m. All events are free to attend.