The clock is ticking! The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) Youth Contests are set to close on Aug. 31, 2025, and Ontario students are encouraged to get their entries in before it's too late.
These popular contests, created in honour of the late Bill Galvin, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, celebrate creativity, storytelling and passion for the sport. For the Youth Literary Derby, Ontario students in Grades 3 to 8 may submit either a poem or a short story about something Standardbred related. There are junior (Grades 3-5) and intermediate (Grades 6-8) divisions for this contest.
Young artists can submit drawings or sketches with a Standardbred theme for the Youth Art Derby. In addition to the junior and intermediate divisions, a senior division has been added for Ontario students in Grades 9-12.
The contests have been graciously supported and sponsored by prominent St. Catharines, Ont.-based Standardbred breeder and owner Tom Rankin since their inception. Divisional winners will receive $250, second place will receive $150 and third place in each division will receive $100. Equine Guelph will be offering its Youth Horse Behaviour and Safety online courses to winners that are 13 years of age or older.
“We’ve been so impressed by the entries we’ve had in past years,” said Karen Hauver, founding director of the Racing Alliance. “It’s clear that Bill Galvin’s legacy continues to inspire young people to connect with the sport, not just as spectators but as storytellers and artists.”
Complete rules and details for these contests can be found on the BGRA website at bgracingalliance.ca.
(BGRA)