A paddock meeting with Alberta harness horsemen yesterday answered some questions on a possible spring meet in Lacombe

- but the biggest question still looms.

Fred Gillis - Alberta Standardbred Horse Association racing manager - still can't confirm there will be a 14-day meet in the central Alberta town starting April 18. "I can't say 100% (there will be a meet). I guess if we were putting it in racing styles, we are deep in the stretch," said Gillis. The ASHA racing boss was hoping he could announce a Lacombe meet at yesterday's paddock meeting at Northlands Park.

The new goal is to have a decision next Thursday. "I don't know if there are a lot of major hold-ups, but there are some bumps in the road, yet," continued Gillis, who didn't want to get into specifics. Some key items that still need to be clarified include whether there will be a grandstand. There is also the issue of whether there will be on-site betting at the new track - which is just short of being a one-mile oval. "Max (Gibb, one of the partners behind the Lacombe proposal) is going to try hard to have on-site wagering," added Gillis. "Simulcast (of races) is another issue. It's not there - but it's not dead."

If the meet goes forward, it would operate on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with the final day on June 7. With Gillis promising purses of $30,000 a day, the bottom level purse would be $2,500 and the open class at $5,000.

As for stabling at Lacombe, it will begin March 1 with 166 stalls.

(HRA)