The Alberta Standardbred Horse Association has announced that horsemen are invited to a meeting in the west end of the Northlands Park grandstand Tuesday, December 16. ASHA racing manager Fred Gillis has also provided comments.

The meeting is to begin at 12:00 noon. Purse structure, stakes schedule, and other details will be unveiled at that time.

“There are some tight time frames through the course of the year,” ASHA racing manager Fred Gillis was quoted as saying in an article by Horse Racing Alberta. “Our winter meet ends on February 28th, we’ve got less than 48 hours to vacate the barns at Northlands to make way for thoroughbred spring training and we can’t get into Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie until March 28th. So we’re going to have to find a few places where horsemen can train during March. The Olds agricultural facility is one location and we’re looking to see what else we’ve got.

“We also want a stronger simulcast product out of Grande Prairie and we’re looking to see how that’s going to be provided and funded. We’ve got a stronger and longer schedule of racing at Evergreen Park this year and we want it available to our fans across the province.”

(With files from HRA)