Page 7 - The Game January 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, January 2006 7
What’s In Store for Alberta in 2006?
By Jonathan Huntington
Is the Alberta thoroughbred industry in the early stages of an incredible year?
Or is the sport about to be hammered – again – by devastating developments off the track?
At the moment, there are drawings on the table in Edmonton for the expansion of the Northlands Park racing oval to seven furlongs from the existing five-eighths of a mile.
But with the price tag for the reno job likely north of $20 million, there are still hurdles to overcome before the project becomes a reality.
Down the highway in Calgary, there are plans for an $80 million world-class track near the international airport.
However, a shovel hasn’t touched the ground to start construction.
Obviously, the fate of both mega-projects could be decided this year.
If all the obstacles are removed in Edmonton and construction starts in Calgary, the table will likely be set for a racing boom in Alberta.
However, the track record in this province is anything but good when it comes to major projects turning into reality.
In fact, the track record is brutal.
Almost a decade ago there were plans for another state- of-the-art racing facility in Calgary – and it flopped miserably.
The project was called Resortport. It is now referred to as a significant blemish on Alberta’s racing resume.
Resortport died when financing fell apart.
Just a few years ago, the sport was hit with a double whammy: plans for a huge $40 million redevelopment at Northlands and a tempting racing venue in Red Deer died.
Northlands Park and Horse Racing Alberta – the sport’s governing body – unveiled plans in 2002 that would have produced two racing surfaces on the existing property.
The plans were tossed into the round file one year later thanks to a lack of funding and other logistical nightmares. In Red Deer, officials with Westerner Park were handed a 10-year licence from HRA in 2002 and
announced plans for a $5.2 million grandstand.
Less than a year later that dream was extinguished when Westerner Park admitted the costs had spiraled
beyond viability.
So, needless to say, there is some skepticism in Alberta
over the latest grand plans.
But, the realistic-thinking leaders of the sport are
anything but skeptical.
There is no panic. There is no doom or gloom.
In Calgary, there is major optimism.
“Horsemen shouldn’t be concerned,” said Dwight
McLellan, one of the key figures with the United Horsemen of Alberta, the main financial partner in the new Calgary facility, which is scheduled to feature a one-mile thoroughbred oval and a seven-furlong harness
track.
“This project is developing better than we ever
imagined.”
Added Dr. David Reid, the chairman of HRA:
“I think we’ll see some huge strides (with the Calgary track) early in the New Year.”
In Edmonton, the hurdles aren’t small, but they can be cleared.
“One is zoning and that will require some support of the surrounding community,” said Dr. Reid.
That means public hearings before city council will give its stamp of approval.
Then there is the hurdle involving Northlands’ other major events: Klondike Days, Canadian Finals Rodeo and Farm Fair.
If the seven-furlong track becomes a reality, it will slice through the middle of the Northlands’ property, eating valuable land that is used to stage the annual summer fair and other key events.
Can alternative plans be made to ensure those events still prosper if a track exists?
And then there is financing.
“How easy that happens or how difficult that is will depend on our contracts with government over the next few years,” added Dr. Reid.
Horse Racing Alberta officials are in the midst of negotiating those financial contracts with the government at the moment.
Usually the action on the track – visible to everyone – is the most entertaining.
But in 2006, the action off the track – away from almost everyone – might be the most intriguing.
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