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.

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!

RACING STARTS JULY 8 AT J.D.A. RACEWAY

It’s free and it’s fun!

That describes The Horses At Evergreen Park and starting on Saturday, July 8 everyone will get a chance to take advantage of that free fun.

The only live pari-mutuel horse racing available in the Peace Country continues Saturdays and Sundays until August 27.

The highlight day of the season is Derby Day. This year the Grande Prairie Oaks and Grande Prairie Derby will be held on Sunday, July 30. As always it includes a fancy brunch and a chance for women men and children to dress up in their finest Derby attire and win prizes.

July 23 the always-popular Wiener Dog Derby will be held while the Baconfest returns August 6; Memorial/Pioneer Weekend is August 12-13; Family Weekend August 19-20; Open Farm Day August 20; and the season wraps up with the Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure on August 27. The Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum Dino Derby as also tentatively scheduled for August 27.

There are over 20 races on the stakes schedule this year highlighted by the GP Derby Races and Paint the Park Purple and including several Bank of America competitions – the John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Adequan Derby Challenge and Bank of America Challenge. All the finals for these prestigious quarter horse races are on July 23.

The Bank of America race winners in Grande Prairie will advance to the Bank of America Challenge Championship at Lone Star Race Track in Grand Prairie, Texas on Oct. 21.

Again this year there will be events for kids, including the largest sand pile in the Peace Country, along with a beverage tent, indoor and outdoor betting kiosks and mobile food concessions. Every weekend there will be a draw for a prize for an adult and for a child.

All the races have a 1:15 p.m. start time.

For registration and more information on the Wiener Dog Derby go here. For a complete schedule of race day events go here.

NAMING RIGHTS AVAILABLE FOR  PAVILION

Evergreen Park is looking for a naming rights sponsor for a structure that includes one of the most iconic buildings in Grande Prairie.

Lewis Hawkes Arena has been part of the Grande Prairie landscape for over 50 years. It was erected in 1972 at the old County Fairgrounds on the east side of Grande Prairie.

When the "fairgrounds" moved south of the city in 1982 what was then called Lewis Hawkes Pavilion was taken apart bolt by bolt and re-built at Evergreen Park. Shortly after that move the Drysdale Arena, formerly called the Drysdale Centre, was added and the complex has been re-named Evergreen Park Pavilion.

In 2018 a renovation to the Drysdale Arena was completed including new tin, paint, a concession stand and washrooms and in 2022, the year it turned 50, the Lewis Hawkes Arena underwent a major face lift.

Over $1M was spent on new tin inside and out, bleachers to allow for up to 1,000 spectators, washrooms, box offices, manager office, concession, lounge, announcer booth, new lighting and ventilation, horse wash bay and more.

“The Hawkes was structurally sound, but it was in bad need of a renovation,” said Evergreen Park Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Moon. “With that renovation and the upgrades to the Drysdale Arena we have a beautiful pavilion that will serve the community for at least another 50 years.

“Whoever puts their name on this building can be proud of the fact it is an amazing facility that is getting busier and busier.”

The Park is looking for naming rights sponsor willing to commit for five years minimum at $40,000 annually.

The sponsor will receive large signage outside and inside the building, use of the building twice a year and other exposure at the Park in a variety of ways.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the naming rights can contact Moon at 587-298-0548.

FIND OUT ABOUT THE WILD HORSE CASINO & LOUNGE THROUGH ITS NEW WEBSITE

The Wild Horse Casino & Lounge has its own website.

You can find it here.

The website includes menus for both the Wild Horse Lounge and Pines Family Restaurant. The Lounge is open 9 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. and the Pines 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily.

Both start the day, from 9-11 a.m., with a $5.95 breakfast.

The menus list the wide variety of options at both the lounge and restaurant, including a kids' menu at the Pines. Daily and weekly specials are also listed.

Information about how to Play The Ponies, Betting 101, is available on the website. There are over a dozen screens in the Lounge showing live horse racing from across North America. Customers can watch and bet on all of those races.

The website also includes information for horsemen who set up at The Horses At Evergreen Park in the summer and replays from each year's The Horses At Evergreen Park races.

You can find out information, and register, for the Evergreen Park Racing Club off of the new website.

For more information phone the Casino at 780-539-5968 or the Lounge at 780-532-3265.