The Rocky Mountain Turf Club returns Saturday for the 30th year of racing in Lethbridge.
Turf Club CEO Max Gibb says it was 30 years ago he was approached to take over the race track for what he says at the time was supposed to be “a couple of years” after the Lethbridge and District Exhibition closed the racetrack for economic reasons.
“We started with $600 purses and 30 days [of racing]. This year we will have 32 days with an average purse is over $7,000 and our derby purse will be $12,000,” Gibb says.
The Rocky Mountain Turf CEO explains there are over 300 people employed by the racing industry on the local backstretch and in Southern Alberta, there is a $240 million economic benefit that is a direct result of horse racing. This benefit includes hay and grain purchases, transportation and tourism.
“Horse racing has been going for over 130 years here in Southern Alberta and it used to be that every town, Tabor, Cardston, Sterling, Vulcan would have a two-day rodeo and a two-day race meet… I’m just thrilled that the history and the economics can still keep happening in Southern Alberta and Lethbridge. ”
Those involved in the local horse racing industry come from around the world, with jockeys travelling to Lethbridge from places such as Jamaica and Mexico. The horsemen taking part come from all over including Grande Prairie, Raymond and Montana.
“An interesting part is 35 per cent of our horsemen are First Nations and the horse to them is a spiritual and a positive, meaningful thing. We’re so happy that horse racing and the horse industry is still thriving and doing well.”
Rocky Mountain Turf Club horse racing gets underway on Saturday, May 3rd, the same day as the Kentucky Derby. Saturday will be the only day races run the first weekend and then will run Saturday and Sunday every open weekend followed in May, June, September and October.
