Horse Racing Alberta recently established a committee to prepare and recommend a plan for the future of horse racing in Alberta

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The working committee is comprised of six members of Horse Racing Alberta's Board of Directors as follows:

Bill Andrew - Standardbred breeders representative
Les Butler - 'A' track representative
Dr. David Chalack - 'A' track representative
Ken Drysdale - Community track representative
Shirley McClellan - Chair, Horse Racing Alberta
Jim McFadyen - Thoroughbred active representative

"The mandate for the committee is to prepare and recommend a plan for racing in Alberta for 2010 and 2011," Andrew told Trot Insider. "There are no limits on the scope of our recommendations."

"Our intention will be to bring a plan for the future back to our board for discussion and review."

Members of the committee were hand-picked by the HRA Board.

"Our initial meeting is next week," continued Andrew. "Our aim is to bring recommendations to the HRA Board so that our industry has sufficient time to plan for 2010 and 2011."

The owner of Meridian Farm stresses that time is of the essence for the racing industry, especially without a permanent spot in the crucial Calgary market for three years running.

"The delay in construction of a racing entertainment center in Calgary by the United Horsemen of Alberta (UHA) is the principal cause of the lack of 'A' track racing in Calgary. As a result there has been tremendous pressure on our lone operating 'A' track at Northlands to do their best to accommodate both standardbred and thoroughbred racing."

According to Andrew, the committee will look at scenarios that may include but are not limited to:

i) racing at the UHA track and Northlands in 2010 if UHA decides to proceed and if construction is completed prior to the middle of 2010.

ii) preparing an interim plan for racing in 2010 if UHA decides to proceed and if construction is not completed by the middle of 2010.

iii) in the event that UHA decides not to proceed with the project, to look at other venues for 2010 with an emphasis on exposure to the southern Alberta (Calgary) market for a portion of the 'A' days for one or both breeds.

iv) recommend a course of action to secure a long term 'A' track racing venue for Calgary should the UHA group decide not to proceed.

"The committee will look at race days, race dates, location of training and racing," continued Andrew. "Additionally, we will discuss the impact of the various scenarios on funding for purses, breeders programs and capital programs."