There was no doubt by mid-August who the top jockey at The Horses At Evergreen Park was going to be.

Trevor Simpson led pretty much from the start of the season and widened the gap as each race weekend was completed.

Simpson ended up with 27 wins, 14 seconds and seven thirds after 74 rides over the 15-day summertime race meet at J.D.A. Raceway. He collected $129,973 in purse money along the way.

Larris Allen was second (51-13-16-11) and $79,125 collected while Orlando Foster finished third among (70-10-11-16) with $67, 601 in winnings.

Simpson had a win percentage of 36% while Allen was 25% and Foster 14%.

The battle for top trainer was a little closer.

Garry Marks ended up best over July and August with 14 wins, six seconds and a third with 29 starts and $57,245 in earnings while Lyle Magnuson was second (58-11-15-13) with $73,328 in purse money and Jason Coney of Grande Prairie third (42-10-10-7) and $49,844.  

Evergreen Park finished up the summer racing season on a high note. The handle of $1,074,096 was a record for The Horses At Evergreen Park.

Biggest single day was Sunday when bettors spent $111,865. It was the largest race card of the year with nine races. There were 104 races over the course of the summer over 15 race days. Average handle per race day was $71,606 and average per-race was $10,327. The increase in online betting was a major factor in the plus-$1M final handle.

Racing in the province continues at Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge on the B Circuit and at Edmonton Century Mile and Balzac’s Century Downs on the A circuit. Many of the horses, jockey and trainers from the Grande Prairie meet will be headed to Lethbridge.