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The Horses at Evergreen Park 2024 is in the books and it was another great summer of racing at J.D.A. Raceway.
Fourteen of the 16 scheduled race days were completed. Two had to be cancelled because of a shortage of horses.
There was only one day (August 24) when weather might have been a problem, but the very forgiving J.D.A. track allowed all five races to be completed even though the wet stuff, which started the day before, kept coming down all day.
The Horses this year came very close to matching or beating the handle record of $1,520,283 set in 2023.
This year, according to stats man Jay Backwell, betters spent $1,496,417 over 97 races for an average of $106,866 per day – about $24,000 short of the record.
There were two stakes races on the final day – the Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure and the J.D.A. Raceway Stakes.
Causin Micheif - owned by Garry Marks, trained by Darcy Peterson and Murray Reynolds and ridden by Garfield Gordon – was the easy winner over Loud Fusaichi and Landy Kyle in the four-horse race over six furlongs.
Marks pocketed the majority of the $15,750 in purse money.
The day, sponsored by Mr. Mike’s, was a an event to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer.
Garfield was back in the saddle for the J.D.A. Race pushing Saburo’s Grace (photo left in white) to a neck victory over Father O’Flaherty, with Orlando Foster on board, in a race that went over six furlongs with a purse of $16,050.
Foster had the last laugh, though, winning Top Jockey award for the Evergreen Park meet.
Lyle Magnuson, who was the Top Trainer of 2024, is Saburo’s Grace’s trainer while Barbara Norlander is the owner.
Lanny Mac finished third in that race while the Evergreen Park Racing Club horse Real Justice ended up sixth, but had a great season with two wins.
Many of the horses that spent the summer at Evergreen Park will finish up the season at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club over September and October.
Racing fans who want to continue to get their bet on off track can do so year-round at the Wild Horse Casino & Lounge, which is open until 1 a.m. daily.
There was also an amazing brunch that started the day at The Horses At Evergreen Park on Sunday.
But, the highlight of Derby Day was the competition on J.D.A. Raceway featuring the GP Derby and GP Oaks.
A small field of four horses started the Derby and when it was over Shining Tiger (photo right) took the roses, and $14,310 in prize money in a race that had $26,190 up for grabs.
Jockey Anastasios Chalaris was on board for owner Khan Mohamad and trainer James Brown.
Shining Tiger, who’s previous eight starts in 2024 were at Century Mile in Edmonton and Turf Paradise in Arizona, finished 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Harbor Dance and 2 ½ in front of third place finisher Innocent Man.
The race was over 1 1/16 miles and was for three year olds. Shining Tiger finished the race in 1:50.47 - well off the record of 1:44.23 set by Regal Max in 2018.
A field of five fillies competed in the GP Oaks and it was local owner/trainer Tom Rycroft and his wife Carole who pocketed $14,575 for finishing first with Who’s That Baby. The Rycrofts now race out of Century Mile, where Who’s That Baby has good success this year with three seconds and a third.
Maramax, another horse out of Century Mile, was second by a head to Who’s That Baby while Kulsum, another Century Mile horse, was well back in third.
Jockey Jose Asencio was behind the reins of the winner in a race that went over a mile for three year olds. Who’s That Baby finished in 1:42.28, well back of the J.D.A. Raceway mile record of 1:37.40 set by Shootitinthebush in 2014.
HOOF BEATS: The Derby 50/50 was won by Leslie Vanterve of Beaverlodge. She took home half the pot of $2,715 … Fallen Lindstorm was chosen as the best-dressed female; Travis Brown won the prize for best-dressed male; and siblings Maylee and Andrew Sierens shared best-dress child. The adults are both from Grande Prairie and the kids Whitecourt … Simms, who competed in Race 7, is the son of Triple Crown winner America Pharoah. He finished fifth on Sunday in a field of six horses …. Racing continues next weekend including Baconfest on Sunday. First post is 1:15 p.m. both days.
The signage will be going up soon. And when it’s completed it will read: Neil’s RV Campground @ Evergreen Park.
The local RV service and repair company has taken over the naming rights for the camping facility at Evergreen Park – which started out as Stompede Campground and had been McGoverns RV & Marine Campground for the last several years.
The agreement with Neil’s is for five years. The company is owned by Jenn and Neil Dawe.
“Neil's RV decided to take on the naming rights at the campground because we feel it will be a good fit with our business model of progressing the camping lifestyle and encouraging more people to experience the outdoors,” Neil said. “When we first met campground manager Owen Terry, and his wife Velma, we were happy to see their excitement of bringing us on as sponsors of the campground and discussing what opportunities we can create to enhance the profile at the Park.”
Owen and Velma appreciate the hands-on approach Neil’s is planning.
“Velma and I are excited and look forward to having the Dawes and Neil's RV as sponsor of the campground,” Owen said. “The Dawes’ enthusiasm and approach about campground sponsorship will help make Neil's RV Campground @ Evergreen Park a place camper wants to visit.”
Jenn says Neil’s would like to be involved in social days at the Park where campers would be encouraged to get out and meet their neighbors with events like a poker rally, potluck nights, chili cook-offs and more.
“We have also discussed potential seminars at the park on taking care of your RV or how-to sessions like winterizing and using and storing your RV,” she said.
The campground is open from May 1 to September 30, but campers interested in booking for the 2024 season and one of the 70-plus camping sites can do so online through the Evergreen Park website at www.evergreenpark.ca
Call us out to lunch if you like, but for $10 you will be too!
The Wild Horse Casino & Lounge $10 Express Lunch has kicked off offering a different meal every day.
The Express Lunch goes 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. It is available in the Wild Horse Lounge as well as the Pines Family Restaurant.
There were several story lines at the final day of racing at The Horses At Evergreen Park on Sunday, August 27.
And trainer Kathy McNally was in the middle of a couple of them.
McNally, from Grande Prairie, trains Big Cyn (photo above in red) and High Kelly Babe.
Both horses were winners on the final day.
Big Cyn won the Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure Stakes and first place money of $4,637 out of a total of $8,750 available.
Big Cyn, owned by Tracie Gillis and ridden by Garfield Gordon, broke out at the start, set the pace and kept to task en route to the win by ¾ of a length in a field of five horses. Causin Mischief was second and Just Class third in the six furlongs run.
In what was one of the more heartwarming wins of the season, Evergreen Park Racing Club horse High Kelly Babe, trained by McNally, finished her racing career with a victory in Race 6 taking home $3,445 of the $6,500 purse.
High Kelly Babe, over the six furlongs, stalked the pace, found some stretch and prevailed against five other horses. She finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of runner-up Quality Plus, who finished a neck in front of third place finisher Cmon Sharon.
The Club horse had two wins, a third, sixth and seventh in five races in 2023 and overall after two years of racing had three wins, two seconds and two third after 14 starts and career earnings of $12,265.
Babe has been sold and retired from racing and will start her new life on a farm in the Peace Country.
The other Club horse, Ynotgiveitago, will continue racing and will be at Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge for the fall racing season.
There was another double-race going into the weekend – for Top Jockey and Top Trainer.
Trevor Simpson ended up the top rider from the summer racing season with 12 wins, five seconds and four thirds.
Early on Sunday it looked like Larris Allen was going to give Simpson a run with a win and second in the first two races to Simpson’s second in the third, but in Race 4 Allen was tossed off his horse in the stretch and his race day was done. Neither Allen or the horse, Unusual Account, were seriously injured, but Allen was shaken up enough not to be able to ride the rest of the day.
Lyle Magnuson had a win, second and a fourth and walked away with the Top Trainer award. Garry Marks and Travis Robson were trailing Magnuson by two wins heading into the weekend and they each picked up one victory, both falling two wins short.
The 13-day race card was also a big success for Evergreen Park. Over 13 race days $1,520,283 was wagered averaging $116,944 per race day and $17,677 per race.
The final day was called Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure, which is a fundraiser for the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Winner of the 50/50 was Jade Prime of Grande Prairie with ticket number B-2428. She took home half the pot of $4,810.
The day also included the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum Dino Derby.
The Horses At Evergreen Park will return for another season of live pari-mutuel horse racing in July 2024.
JOCKEY, TRAINER AWARDS DOWN TO WIRE
Who will be on the stage at the end of The Horses At Evergreen Park to collect the Top Jockey and Top Trainer awards from Evergreen Park Racing Manager Pat Hill on Sunday might not be decided until the very last race.
Heading into the finale (1:15 p.m. first post) Trevor Simpson is the top jockey.
He has collected 15 wins, 13 seconds and nine thirds after riding 55 horses since the first race of the summer season on July 8.
Right on his tail is Larris Allen (in white in photo), who has 15 wins, six seconds and seven thirds after 57 races in the saddle.
Simpson is also the top money-earner among the top 10 jockeys with $107,228 in purse money while Allen is a close second at $102,473.
Both jockeys are scheduled to appear in five races on Sunday.
They are both slated to be in the gates for the feature race of the day – the Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse Casual Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure Stakes. That is Race 7 with a scheduled 3:45 p.m. start.
Allen is on the pre-race favorite Just Classy, out of gate No. 3, in that race while Simpson is on Causin Mischief out of Gate 5.
The purse for that race is almost $9,000.
Third in the jockey standings is Jose Rocha (56-8-9-9) while Blandford Stewart is fourth (46-8-7-10) and Andre Powell fifth (47-8-4-8), but it’s a two-way race between Simpson and Allen as the other jockeys don’t have enough rides this weekend to catch Simpson.
Lyle Magnuson has had his photo taken in the winner’s circle more than any other trainer during the 2023 pari-mutuel season at J.D.A. Raceway. He has 10 wins, three seconds and four thirds after 33 races.
In the hunt are Garry Marks (32-8-10-7), Travis Robson (46-8-7-9) and Clint Rycroft (30-8-7-6). Robson has won the most money at $70,874 with Marks next at $58,681; Rycroft with $50,681; and Magnuson fourth at $49,810.
All three chasing Magnuson are in enough races this weekend to catch or overtake him.
Evergreen Park Racing Club horse High Kelly Babe, racing for the fifth time this year looking for her second win, is entered in Race 6 with a 3:20 p.m. start.
You can click on the icon to the right to watch all of Sunday's racing live.
After Sunday the horses move to Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge for racing in September and October.
The Horses At Evergreen Park is into the home stretch!
Just five race days remain out of 16 scheduled at J.D.A. Raceway for 2023.
And every weekend there is something different on the menu.
This Sunday, August 12, it’s Memorial/Pioneer Day.
On that day The Horses At Evergreen Park will be saluting those involved in the sport – jockeys, owners, trainers and others – who are no longer with us.
Both the Sprint Series Leg 2 and Distaff Series Leg 3 races will be held on August 13 and Race No. 7 features Evergreen Park Racing Club horse High Kelly Babe. There are a total of nine races on the day.
You can watch the races live by clicking on the Live Streaming icon to the right.
The following weekend there are two events – Family Days August 19-20 and Open Farm Day on the 20th.
Family Days there will be fun events, prizes and fun stuff for families.
Open Farm Day goes noon to 5 p.m. August 20 and includes:
- Wagon rides
- Face painting
- Horse Racing Alberta jockey horse demo
Local farmers will also be showcased in a Farm to Table “Lunch-Tizer” - items prepared by Evergreen Park chefs and featuring products from local farms around the area. Each item will be $4, and “Lunch-tizers” are available between 1-3 p.m.
On the 20th the Marathon Series Leg 3 hits the track as well as the ACTRA Alberta-bred Stakes.
The season wraps up August 26-27 with the Sunday being the big one – Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure and the Dino Derby.
Purple Day is a fund-raiser for pancreatic cancer research. Everyone is invited to dress up in purple with prizes for best dressed.
The Dino Derby is an awareness for the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum and includes an information booth, dino dig and, of course, the dino races on the track as soon as the horse races end.
Admission to racing and all events at The Horses At Evergreen Park is free. First post for all horse races is 1:15 p.m.
Part of the 14-race card at The Horses At Evergreen Park this weekend is Leg 2 of the Marathon Series. It is Race No. 4 on Sunday.
Over 1 1/16 miles the Marathon Series, and the GP Derby, are the longest races during the 16-day summer pari-mutuel run at J.D.A. Raceway.
There are six horses entered in the Marathon – Doc Ross, Flash Of Glory, Cozy Bear, Kvothe, Ocanera and Meet At Jakes. Purse is $9,000.
Leg 1 of the seven-horse Marathon on July 23 was won by Cozy Bear with Doc Ross second, Meet At Jakes fourth, Kvothe fifth and Flash of Glory sixth. Final leg of the Marathon goes on August 20.
The two days of races are split evenly with seven each day starting at 1:15 p.m. There is no admission fee to watch.
Sunday is Baconfest. There will be eight bacon-themed items available at $3.50 each. It starts at 12:30 p.m. and continues until 3:30 p.m.
Those unable to attend can watch the races live by clicking on the icon to the right.
GP OAKS AND GP DERBY WINNERS IN A BREEZE
With all the fancy hats and amazing brunch the actual horse racing can sometimes get lost in the excitement of Derby Day at The Horses At Evergreen Park.
On Sunday the Grande Prairie Oaks and Grande Prairie Derby were the two featured races.
Both were won in relatively easy fashion.
First up was the Oaks, where five horses started racing over a mile.
The appropriately-named Northern Missile (in yellow in photo) really was.
She won by almost eight lengths winning ahead of runner-up She’s A Cool Cat and third place finisher Flashing Joker.
Ridden by Juan Apango took most of the purse money. A total of $14,575 of the $27,500 available. The horse is owned by Charlie Weaselhead, Warner Many Bears and Max Gibb. Travis Robson is the trainer.
In the Derby six horses left the starting gate chasing a purse of $28,000 over a 1 1/16 of a mile.
Crossing the finish line first was Altitude finishing handily ahead of Flashin Aces and Yes No Maybe So.
Both the Oaks and Derby were for three-year olds. The Oaks was for fillies.
Keishan Balgobin was in the saddle helping owner Robert Cameron and trainer Dean Camrose add $14,840 to their winnings.
A Sprint Series race was also held on Sunday with Bourbon Bandit (ridden by Orlando Foster, trained by Travis Robson and owned by the group of Charlie and Darcy Weaselhead and Terri-Lynne, Tony and Derrick Fox) finishing ahead of El Dorado and Bernalinho.
Sunday’s races marked the half-way point of the season at Evergreen Park. It continues weekend until August 27 with the finale being the Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure and the Dino Derby. Post time each Saturday and Sunday is 1:15 p.m.
By Jay Black At The Track
I am still shaking my head in disbelief!
This is incredible that $198, 321 was wagered on a nine-race card at Evergreen Park on Sunday, July 23.
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer track.
That's a per-race average of $22,035 - which is also a record. The previous record was set in 2020 with a handle of $138,394 and the record per-race average was set in 2021 with a total of just over $18,000 bet per race on a seven-race card.
The handle was helped in part by the Wiener Dog Derby. which brought in a big local crowd. This also increased the betting time between races slightly too to give the dogs time to race.
The race card was mixed with four thoroughbred overnight events, two thoroughbred stakes series and three quarter horse challenge race finals whose purses totaled over $150,000 in Canadian funds.
After five race days, the 5/8ths oval in Grande Prairie is averaging $116,389 per race card and $16,165 per race (36 races).
On The Track: The quarter horse challenge races were won by: O Seeyalater (Larris Allen) in the Adequan Derby from the Wes Oulton barn.
Trainer William Leech saddled the other two challenge race winners. Flight Club (JB Botello) in the Bank of America Championship Challenge for the second straight year and Pretty Sweet Jess (Alan Rizo) who was a surprise winner in the John Deere Juvenile Final.
The thoroughbred stake series first legs were won by; Timberlake (Alan Rizo) who finished second but was placed first through disqualification and Cozy Bear (Andre Powell) took the first leg of the claiming series.
Rider Jose Rocha scored two victories on the card. First with Catwalk Queen, who narrowly edged Wicked Woman, and Andre Powell in a very exciting third race finish, and then he took the win with Papichulo in the eighth race.
Jockey Trevor Simpson got two wins as well by winning the sixth race with J Cruz, and then in the finale with McKenzie Red, who he brilliantly guided through traffic around the final turn.
Racing resumes at Evergreen Park on Saturday July 29th and Sunday July 30th. Sunday will be Grande Prairie Derby Day and we expect another large crowd on hand for that day.
Post Time each day is 1:15 pm. If you cant make it to the trck, wagering online is available at Hpibet.com in Canada and Xpressbet.com in the U.S.
Prime Boiler Services 50/50 Winner: Winner of the Prime Boilers Services 50/50 at Sunday's racing was Hans Anderson of Grande Prairie. He took home half the pot of $6,075 with winning ticket number C-2395. Proceeds from the 50/50 go to Tiny Hands Of Hope.
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If you can only make it out to one weekend this summer at The Horses At Evergreen Park this is probably the weekend you should be at J.D.A. Raceway.
There are 16 races over the two days including seven on Saturday and nine on Sunday. And dog races to boot!
Saturday’s feature race is Leg 1 of the Sprint Series. Six horses leave the gate (3:20 p.m.) in that one with the Park Pick being No. 1 horse, with Jose Rocha on board, to take home the largest portion of the $9,000 purse.
Sunday will the busiest, and one of the most important, race days of the season.
It starts in Race 1 with the Adequan Challenge Final. Six quarter horses are entered in the $30,000 event over 400 yards with the Park Pick being No. 2 Noble Rearing – owned by locals Jerry Stojan and Kevin Lyons and ridden by J.B. Botello. William Leech is the trainer.
Race 2 is also a biggie – the $40,000 Bank of America Championship Challenge. That races is over 440 yards and five horses are leaving the starting gate. The Park Pick in that one is coming out of the No. 3 gate – Flight Club. The horse is owned by Charles Stojan, trained by Leech and ridden by Botello.
The third big quarter horse race of the day is No. 4. This one has a purse of $40,000 and travels 350 yards. Bitterroots Wagon – owned by Buckey Stockwell and Glenn Wills, trained by Stockwell and ridden by Alexander Marti – is the Park Pick in that one.
Winners of the three quarter horse races are, basically, Canadian champions and will have earned the right to compete at the Bank of America Championships being held in Grand Prairie, Texas at Lone Star Park on October 21.
The three races are sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association and Evergreen Park. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
If you can only make it out to one weekend this summer at The Horses At Evergreen Park this is probably the weekend you should be at J.D.A. Raceway.
There are 16 races over the two days including seven on Saturday and nine on Sunday. And dog races to boot!
Saturday’s feature race is Leg 1 of the Sprint Series. Six horses leave the gate (3:20 p.m.) in that one with the Park Pick being No. 1 horse, with Jose Rocha on board, to take home the largest portion of the $9,000 purse.
Sunday will the busiest, and one of the most important, race days of the season.
It starts in Race 1 with the Adequan Challenge Final. Six quarter horses are entered in the $30,000 event over 400 yards with the Park Pick being No. 2 Noble Rearing – owned by locals Jerry Stojan and Kevin Lyons and ridden by J.B. Botello. William Leech is the trainer.
Race 2 is also a biggie – the $40,000 Bank of America Championship Challenge. That races is over 440 yards and five horses are leaving the starting gate. The Park Pick in that one is coming out of the No. 3 gate – Flight Club. The horse is owned by Charles Stojan, trained by Leech and ridden by Botello.
The third big quarter horse race of the day is No. 4. This one has a purse of $40,000 and travels 350 yards. Bitterroots Wagon – owned by Buckey Stockwell and Glenn Wills, trained by Stockwell and ridden by Alexander Marti – is the Park Pick in that one.
Winners of the three quarter horse races are, basically, Canadian champions and will have earned the right to compete at the Bank of America Championships being held in Grand Prairie, Texas at Lone Star Park on October 21.
The three races are sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association and Evergreen Park.
The three races are sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association and Evergreen Park.
Sunday’s big day continues in Race 5 with the $9,000 Distaff Series Leg 1 over 5 ½ furlongs. The Park Pick in that race is among eight entries is No. 1 Causin Mischief.
Race 7 Sunday is Leg 1 of the Marathon Series over one mile. Seven horses will be chasing $9,000 with the Park Pick being No. 3 Meet At Jakes.
The racing day ends with a 5 ½ furlongs jog among eight horses – including Evergreen Park Racing Club steed Ynotgiveitago, which leaves from the No. 7 gate.
And, if nine horse races isn’t enough excitement for the day, Sunday is also the third Wiener Dog Derby. The dogs, including a puppy race, will be entertaining between horse races throughout the day.
It all starts at 1:15 with the first post. There is no admission charge.
(Note: The Sunday, July 16 race card was cancelled because of smoky conditions.)
The Evergreen Park Spring Series Leg 1 and Distaff Series Leg 1 highlight a weekend of racing at J.D.A. Raceway July15-16.
Six horses are entered in the $9,000 Sprint over 5 1/2 furlongs with No. 1 Eldorado Storm the Park Pick to finish first with Top Of The Rock, out of the No. 4 hole, selected as the runner-up and Bourbon Bandit, out of gate No. 6, expected to end up third. That race is the fourth of the day.
Eight horses are entered in the $9,000 Distaff - Race 5 Sunday - with Causin Mischief, out of the No. 1 gate, as the Park Picks favourite. War Maiden lines up as the second choice, No. 4 gate, and Just Classy, out of No. 8, picked to finish third. That race is also 5 1/2 furlongs.
There are six races on the Sunday card with half of those full fields of eight horses. Saturday features six races with two of those having seven horses start.
Evergreen Park Racing Club members will be paying special attention to Race 2 on Saturday. Club horse High Kelly Babe is making its first start of the season at The Horses At Evergreen Park, She is up again four other horses in a six furlongs run for $6,000.
Admission is free and first post both days is 1:15 p.m.
There are two draws this weekend. Adults can enter to win a package provided by Pipestone Creek Golf Course/Windsor Ford that totals $560 and kids to enter to win a camping package valued at $300 supplied by Happy Trails.
If you can't make it to J.D.A. you can watch the live stream by clicking on the icon to the right.
You can bet on the races by clicking here XPRESSBET.com or here Hpibet.com. It is available for Canadian bettors.
By Jay Black At The Track
All I can say is WOW!
I can’t believe this is happening to the little track I have been a part of for the past 19 years.
In Grande Prairie Alberta, at Evergreen Park's J.D.A Raceway, the pari-mutuel numbers reached a respectable $75,256 on opening day July 8, then followed that with an eye-popping $121,194 on the second day.
Even more remarkable is that all that was required was seven races each day. Having gone through the worst of betting times with this track really makes this wagering upsurge very special and gratifying.
The per-race average on the weekend came out to $14,032 a race. Not bad for a track who used to be satisfied to do that for the entire card. Heck, I have seen Wednesday non-simulcasted cards do less than $1,000 here, and I have seen race meets where the average was less than $10,000 a day.
The main thing that has helped Evergreen Park is adding XPRESSBET.com to enable Americans to bet on their product. It costs the track a bit of money for the service, but it is well worth the results. Another online wagering service that carries the Grande Prairie track is Hpibet.com. It is available for Canadian bettors.
It is not just this year that the numbers have been up at this 5/8ths mile track, the trend has been on a steady rise since 2020.
That year Evergreen Park set a single day record handle of $138,394 and then in August of 2021 there was a day where they averaged over $18,000 per race on 7 races for a final total of $126,173.
A similar uptrend in betting has been happening at Assiniboia Downs for a few years now. They found a time slot that worked for them when Covid had people confined to home. They didn’t mess with the formula and continue to prosper with that time slot. They average over $1,000,000 handle a day on just seven races per card.
Racing resumes at Evergreen Park on Saturday, July 15th and Sunday, July 16th. Post Time each day is at 1:15 pm. Don't forget to support your local horse race track wherever you may be!
Revenue Canada Charitable Registration # 107446668RR0001