In the face of continued COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta, the province's horse racing industry is currently working with health officials in an effort to create a return-to-racing plan.

The following statement was made by Horse Racing Alberta on Wednesday (April 7).

On Tuesday (April 6), Jason Kenney, premier of Alberta, announced that expanded restrictions are back in place across the province as the result of an increased risk from variants of COVID-19. The news is testing the resiliency of the racing industry, and horsemen's concerns were discussed during the COVID-19 Response Planning meeting Wednesday (April 7).

Horse Racing Alberta, tracks and horsemen's organizations are committed to working together to ensure the health and safety of racing participants, as well as a strategy to move racing forward.

Horse Racing Alberta is working with the Alberta Health Emergency Operations Centre Stakeholder Relations Team to establish protocols that would allow live racing to resume without spectators. The request has been made for the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association to resume their spring race meet in a bubble, like other sports. Training at Century Mile, The Track On 2, Century Downs and Rocky Mountain Turf Club will continue with all essential personnel fully following all COVID-19 prevention protocols.

The financial impact of the continued closure of racing entertainment centres is being assessed, and a special meeting of the board has been called for next week.

Horse Racing Alberta has initiated conversations with different levels of government, and continues to stress the importance of racing within the provincial economy.

(HRA)