Horse Racing Alberta's Chief Executive Officer Kent Verlik announced in a statement issued last week that John Charles “Chuck” Ibey has assumed the position of Director, Regulatory and Supervisor of Racing with the organization.
Ibey has been involved in the horse racing industry his whole life. In Alberta, he has held a trainer licence since 1985. He served over 20 years as a Director on the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA), represented Alberta on the Standardbred Canada Board of Directors, and recently served three years as the Breeders Chair. In 2021, Ibey had to resign from the ASHA Board and divest himself as an owner so he could take on the position of a Harness Judge at Horse Racing Alberta (HRA). Over the past year, in addition to serving as a Judge, he also served as a Security Investigator for Out-of-Competition Testing and provided security in the Retention Barns for major stakes races.
In addition to his lifelong experience in the Alberta horse racing industry, Ibey has also had a distinguished, 35-year career with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). During this time, he served in Patrol Division, Detention Unit, Communications and Administration. He was also a Division Information & Intelligence Officer meeting with counterparts in other Divisions of EPS as well as other Police Services. He was also a Field Training Officer and many times acted in the capacity of an Acting Director and Acting Sergeant.
In his new role with HRA, Ibey will be responsible for the training, supervision and staffing of all HRA Regulatory positions. He will lead the continuing development of a Regulatory Modernization strategy and implement and maintain an effective compliance program and internal control system, including out-of-competition drug testing, searches and seizures of unauthorized medication, medical supplies and equipment as necessary. He will also spearhead the research, development and introduction of new rules, repealing old rules or modifying existing rules in the best interests of horse racing in Alberta.
In addition, Ibey will play a key role in developing positive relationships with key racing officials, racing participants, racetrack operators and other industry stakeholders in Alberta, other Canadian and North American jurisdictions, the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) and the Association of Racing Commissions International (ARCI).
(With files from Horse Racing Alberta)