The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) had a second successful year in 2024 with programs that supported its mission to “work together to create and encourage partnerships and programs that will promote and grow harness racing by engaging the general public with the racing community.”

The BGRA’s programs are supported by various sponsors and donors. In addition to financial contributions from Tom Rankin and the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, the BGRA recently received a generous donation from Standardbred owner/breeder Marv Chantler. The Grand River Agricultural Society and Hanover Agricultural Society also made donations for having the VR display at their tracks. 

Equine Guelph continues to support the BGRA through providing complimentary Horse Behaviour & Safety courses to Literary & Art Derby finalists that are 13 years of age and over.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous contributions of these individuals and organizations within the industry,” said Karen Hauver, Director of the BGRA. “Their support makes it possible for us to provide our programs.”

Volunteers are also an integral part of the work the BGRA does and the Alliance would like to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to its dedicated team who helped out at so many events throughout the province.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” said Jane Belore, BGRA Director.

The BGRA has been involved in outreach, contests and events to support its mission. Some of the highlights of the past year include:

• Two contests (Youth Literary & Youth Art Derby) were coordinated by the BGRA. The Youth Derby Awards Night was hosted at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 5 with 21 finalists and their family members on site for a VIP experience that included paddock tours, a harnessing demonstration, rides on double seated jog carts, the Drive To Win VR experience, and a meet and greet with drivers Anthony Haughan, Doug McNair, Ron Waples and Scott Young.
• A very successful Open House event was hosted by owner/breeder Tom Rankin at his St. Catharines, Ont. breeding farm on May 25, with more than 200 guests stopping by to meet the mares and foals.
• It was a busy year for the Virtual Reality Driver To Win display, which was made available to most tracks in Ontario as well as several off-track venues. From the 19 events this year, more than 1,800 people experienced virtually driving in a harness race, bringing the total number of participants taking a turn in the racebike to more than 2,600 during the past two seasons.

Plans for 2025 are already in the works.

(BGRA; Photo of the Youth Derby winners on Oct. 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park)