Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) announced on Thursday, Nov. 28 that its 2025 budget has been approved and includes marked increases to purse allocations and horsemen’s programs across all breeds.

“We are thrilled to announce a $22.1 million investment in Alberta’s horse racing industry through purse allocations, breed improvement and various industry programs,” said Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer of HRA. “Alberta continues to lead as Canada’s most attractive destination for horse racing outside of Woodbine. We want to make it clear to the industry that horse racing in Alberta is a smart investment.”

HRA Board Chair Diana McQueen highlighted the Board's balanced approach: “In developing the budget, the Horse Racing Alberta Board sought to balance both short-term needs and long-term objectives. The HRA Board believes these strategic investments are crucial to continually strengthening the future of Alberta's horse racing industry.”

Purse Funding Allocation

Leading with purse allocations, HRA announced a significant increase of 7.38 per cent in 2025 purses, bringing the total to $16 million shared across all breeds. HRA stated that this boost underscores Alberta’s commitment to supporting the racing industry and its participants. HRA also noted that outside of Ontario, Alberta continues to maintain the most lucrative purse structure in Canada, offering substantial opportunities for Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racehorse owners and trainers.

Breed Improvement Program Funding Allocation

The Breed Improvement Program (BIP) has grown to $5.1 million, providing vital support to organizations including the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Alberta Division, Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association of Alberta, Alberta Community Racing Association, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association and Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association. According to HRA, program metrics have shown that investment in this program increases the racing population by fostering stronger breeding operations and elevating the overall quality of the racing stock.

Incentive Program Funding Allocation

Developed in 2022, the Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program (RPIP) was designed to facilitate an increase in field sizes and the overall horse population in Alberta. The Racehorse Shipping Incentive Program (RSIP) supports ship-in costs associated with moving horses around the province to facilitate the availability of horses at each racetrack. The HRA Board voted to support the continuation of these programs in 2025, allocating a budget of $700,000 to further strengthen the province’s racehorse population.

Industry Marketing Grant Co-Op

HRA also supports its stakeholder marketing efforts through the HRA Co-Op Marketing Grant Program valued at $300,000, split between racing breed associations and “B” racetracks. This increase represents one-third of the total HRA marketing budget, directly empowering stakeholders to effectively promote their racing product.

The programs have been approved by the HRA Board of Directors for 2025.

(With files from Horse Racing Alberta)