Last hurrah for Alberta's 111-year-old track
Thoroughbred racing has been conducted at Northlands Park since 1905. It could end at the close of the 2016 meet, which begins with a nine-race card Friday.
“As of right now, this is the final year,” said Northlands general manager Scott Sinclair. “We plan to go out with a bang.”
The site where Northlands sits is being redeveloped, and the new plans do not include a racetrack. Horse Racing Alberta, which regulates horse racing in the province, is asking for “expressions of interest” to own and operate a track in the Edmonton area.
“There might not be racing in the future at Northlands,” said Sinclair, “but we have a strong and vibrant industry in Alberta, and racing will be here for a long time.”
The 73-day meet runs through Oct. 22. The highlight of the year is the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby on Aug. 20. The Canadian Derby is the only graded race on the stakes schedule.
“Derby Day is going to be a huge day for us,” said Sinclair. “We plan on having a major concert after the last race. Our attendance is usually around 10,000 for the Derby, but we are planning on having around 20,000 this year. We are moving post time from noon to 1 p.m., with the last race going around 7:45.”
Sinclair is expecting the meet to start out strong. Northlands is the northernmost track in North America, and it can be difficult for trainers to have their horses ready at this time of year. Recent opening-weekend cards were made up of mostly 3 1/2-furlong races.
“We opened the track earlier this year, and it paid off,” said Sinclair. “We have two solid nine-race cards, with none of the races at 3 1/2 furlongs.”
Greg Tracy, the leading trainer the past two years, figures to get off to a strong start. Most of the horses he has entered in eight of the nine races on opening day will likely be favored.
Rico Walcott will be shooting for his sixth straight riding title.
The opening-day feature is an optional $35,000 claiming race for fillies and mares going six furlongs. Eustacia looks like the horse to beat. In her only sprint for Tracy at Northlands last year, she romped in the $50,000 Chariot Chaser. She was also an easy winner of the one-mile, $51,000 Red K. Smith Handicap.