The clock is ticking toward a possible harness meet in Lacombe in April. Plenty of work is being done

behind the scenes but there is no official word on whether there will be a short spring campaign.

"I'm hopeful," said Alberta Standardbred Horse Association racing manager Fred Gillis. "There is a chance -- and a lot of people are working to make it happen. You have to go through AGLC, CPMA, HRA and Standardbred Canada. I give it a 75% chance. It would replace the 'B' part of Grande Prairie."

In a perfect world, Gillis would like to see the 14-day meet start April 18 with cards on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The campaign would end June 7 with Grande Prairie starting June 12. "In a perfect world, $30,000 a day (would be the purse level)," said Gillis on a possible Lacombe meet.

The ASHA annual general meeting is set for Sunday in Edmonton, but a firm announcement on Lacombe isn't expected. Gillis has set a personal goal of giving horsemen a definite answer on Lacombe by February 20. Lacombe is a central Alberta town located north of Red Deer with a population of nearly 11,000.

(Horse Racing Alberta)