Quarter horse owners from Canada and the United States will be looking north next summer when The Horses At Evergreen Park return for the July-August pari-mutuel racing season on JDA Raceway at Gordon Badger Stadium.

And for good reason.

The summer schedule in Grande Prairie this year includes five Bank of America Challenge races – three more than in 2018.

Evergreen Park will be hosting the Bank of America Evergreen Park Championship Challenge (440 yards); Adequan Evergreen Park Derby Challenge (400 yards); John Deere Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge (350 yards); Evergreen Park Distaff Challenge (400 yards); and the Evergreen Park Distance Challenge (870 yards).   

“The Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association and the American Quarter Horse Association have worked in conjunction with Evergreen Park for many, many years, bringing the Challenge races to the Evergreen Park each season,” said Evergreen Park Racing Manager Pat Hill.

The Challenge races at Evergreen Park are used as a regional qualifier with the winners advancing to the Bank of America Challenge Championship at The Downs in Albuquerque, NM on October 26. Over $100,000 in purse money comes along with the five races with the biggest being the Bank of America Championship at $35,000 American.

Two Evergreen Park regional winners appeared at the Bank Of American Challenge Championship at the Los Alamitos Race Course in California in November.

A horse named Singles Cruise (photo), owned by Janice and Barry Sather of Beaverlodge, finished a close fifth in the John Deere Juvenile Classic Championship while Glittering Blue, owned by Cody Eagle Bear, finished sixth in the Distance Challenge Championship.

JDA Raceway is the only facility in Canada hosting Bank of America Challenge competitions. All the other regional qualifiers are from tracks in the United States and Mexico and, tentatively, one in Brazil.

Evergreen Park hosts a long list of Challenge races including the Bank of America Championship Challenge, Merial Distaff Challenge, John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Adequan Derby Challenge, Pfizer Starter Allowance, Red Cell Distance Challenge, Zoetis Starter Allowance, Evergreen Park Bonus Challenge and Evergreen Park Maiden Challenge.  Some of these races have been renamed depending on the sponsorship.

“We also work in conjunction with the Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association each year to promote their stake races,” said Hill.  “Included in those races are the Jerry Stojan Memorial and the Grande Prairie Sprint. At just 110 yards the Sprint is the shortest race of the year at The Horses At Evergreen Park.”

Evergreen Park averages 40-plus quarter horses races each year, along with 10-plus stake races.

“Evergreen Park - along with Horse Racing Alberta, AQHRA & A.C.T.R.A. Associations, trainers & owners - takes great pride in hosting the ‘Class B’ track races in July and August,” said Hill.

Evergreen Park also hosts the Alberta Derby, Empire Oilfield Solutions Grande Prairie Derby and Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure, which is a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer research.

There will be 20 weekend racing days at The Horses At Evergreen Park next summer starting July 6 and winding up on August, 25.

TARA ENERGY SERVICES PUTS NAME ON MAIN BUILDING AT EVERGREEN - NOW TARA CENTRE

Evergreen Park is pleased to announce its newest, and most high profile, naming rights sponsor.

The Tara Energy Services name will now appear on the Park’s main venue – formerly called ENTREC Centre.

The facility will now be called the TARA Centre effective January 1, 2019 continuing for a minimum of five years.

Tara Energy Services’ main goal is to provide superior service and equipment to the oil and gas sector in Canada and the United States. With over 500 employees in both Canada and United States, Tara Energy has become one of the foremost providers of production testing and flow back services and equipment in North America.

In addition to its business activities, Tara Energy has always had a focus on contributing to and interacting with the local community through continued support of local non-profit and charitable organizations. They enjoy and take pride in their involvement of vital programs within the Peace Region and in other communities in which they operate.

“Securing the naming rights to this facility is a huge opportunity for Tara Energy Services,” said Scott Bissell (standing in photo right), one of the owners of Tara Energy Services in Canada and the USA. “We are pleased to align our Company with the Evergreen Park organization in continuing to provide entertainment as well as event space for special interest groups and not-for-profit foundations for people all over the Mighty Peace.

“Having a first-class facility such as the TARA Centre will allow Grande Prairie to prosper and grow for many years to come.”

Tara Energy Services was welcomed to the Evergreen Park “family” by General Manager Dan Gorman and Evergreen Park board president Brad Richards on Dec. 14 at a press conference.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Tara Energy and to having our feature facility named the TARA Centre”, said Gorman. “During our conversations with Scott the past few months it has become apparent to us both that our cultures are very similar.”

“Our belief in a strong ‘guest-first’ attitude and approach; great staff relationships; and support; and a belief in supporting and enhancing the community are part of both of our cultures.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Tara Energy Services as a major sponsor of Evergreen Park, and we look forward to working together on many ventures in the future.”

The TARA Centre at Evergreen Park is the main event space at the Park with over 225 events there in the last year. It was opened in 2008 and features 105,000 square feet of event space. The facility has hosted concerts by the likes of Dwight Yoakam, Serena Ryder, Big Wreck, Hedley, Blue Rodeo, Nelly and Paul Brandt and is used for trade shows, graduations and other events where large floor space is required. Fundraisers in the building raise over $1,500,000 annually for local charities.

“It is a great fit for both of us- we thank Scott and the Tara Energy Services team for choosing Evergreen Park to partner with,” said Gorman.

First even in the newly-named facility is XFFC’s Festival Of Fists 3, held on the same day as the naming rights announcement.

Seventeen times Evergreen Park Racing Club 2018 horses left the starting gate in 2018 and 11 times the Club steeds finished in a win, place or show position.

The Club had four horses running in races at Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge and in Grande Prairie at The Horses At Evergreen Park – Swiss Skimmer, Brave Julian, Supah Spirit and Diamond Cut.

Swiss Skimmer, born in California in 2012, put the most money in the Club coffers.

She netted $7,867 for the Club including $3,975 for winning a 6 ½ furlong race at Evergreen Park on August 19. Over the spring-summer racing season Swiss Skimmer also had a second, third, fourth and sixth.

The second, on June 30 in Lethbridge, came in a seven furlongs race and earned the Club $2,912.

Brave Julian, born in 2008 in California, crossed the finish line first in that race at Rocky Mountain Turf Club.

He also had a second, fourth and two fifths.

Both Diamond Cut and Supah Spirit raced in Lethbridge and Grande Prairie, but their appearances were limited because of injuries.

Supah Spirit, born in Arizona in 2013, had two seconds, a third and a fourth for the Club winning $2,722 in total racing twice in Lethbridge and twice in Grande Prairie.

Diamond Cut left the starting gate three times as a Club horse with two of those at The Horses At Evergreen Park.

She was born in California in 2012 and managed a second and two thirds racing as a Club horse while helping put $2,110 into the Club bank account.

Club membership was down about 25 over 2017, but it still turned out to be a break-even season with no red figures.

In 2017, the first year of the Club, the four Club horses – Extreme Spell, Red ‘N Black Attack, Dman Doughty and Command The Land - ran 13 times with four wins, two seconds and two thirds.

The Evergreen Park Racing Club 2019 will kick off in the spring with a social at Evergreen Park.

Anyone interested in being a member (just $250) can click on Online Tickets above and do so online or drop into or phone (780-532-3279) the Evergreen Park office.

SINGLES CRUISE A COMPETITIVE FIFTH IN LOS ALAMITOS

Singles Cruise broke well and was a solid second for most of the race, but was overtaken at the finish line by three other horses in the $125,000 John Deere Juvenile Classic Championship at the Los Alamitos Race Course near Los Angeles Saturday night.

Owned by Janice and Barry Sather of Beaverlodge, the two-year-old went into the California race - part of the Bank Of America Challenge - after dominating in Alberta this year.

The California-bred won three out of four races in Grande Prairie at The Horses At Evergreen Park including the Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge on August 19; the Jerry Stojan Memorial Stakes on July 27; and the Jerry Stojan Memorial Futurity Trial on July 8. On August 4 she was third in the EP Juvenile Challenge Trial.

She has won five of seven races she competed in during her first year of racing finishing up the summer at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge where, on Oct. 6, she was first in the Canada Cup Futurity Trial following that up with a win in the Canada Cup finale on October 21.

Going into Saturday's race Singles Cruises’ had earned almost $70,000.

She helped the Sathers pocket $7,500 for the fifth place in Los Alamitos.

Before the gate opened Singles Cruise was rated at 18/1 and lined up in the No. 2 slot to the right of favorite Kr Hi Five, who won the 350 yard race in 17.670.

Singles Cruise chased the winner in second for almost 325 yards before being caught by runner-up Stevieb Flashcash (17.793) and Jess Send It and Allyson Wonderland, who finished in a dead heat for third at 17.813

Singles Cruise, with jockey Saul Ramirez Jr. aboard, finished in 17.670 in the nine-horse field.

Another horse that competed at the Horses At Evergreen Park this past summer also raced at Los Alamitos Saturday - in the $100,000 Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship over 870 yards.

Glittering Blue, owned by Cody Eagle Bear and ridden by E. Gomez, was up against five other horses in that race and finished sixth.

PINES RESTAURANT & CASINO WINNER TAKES HOME $1M AFTER TOURNEVENT FINALE IN LAS VEGAS

Earlier this year Tanya (whose last name, at her request, will not be revealed at this point) competed in a TournEvent competition at the Pines Restaurant & Casino that earned her a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the TournEvent championship final - against other local casino winners from across North America.

Today the Grande Prairie woman can call herself a millionaire. She won the finale, the grand prize of $1 million and a cruise for two on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

The win came at the XS Nightclub at the Wynn/Encore Las Vegas Resort. She won out over 165 other competitors.

The tournament, operated by Everi Holdings Inc., is considered the premier slot tournament in North America.

"I would to congratulate Tanya and thank her for promoting Evergreen Park in Las Vegas in the TournEvent of Champions last night and how proud we are of her for winning the $1 Million Grand Prize," said Evergreen Park Racing & Gaming Manager Pat Hill. "I would also say thank you to Everi &  Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) for bringing these tournaments to Alberta and making them such fun events for our facility."

The 2018 TournEvent of Champions kicked off in May 2018 and featured three tour buses and The Money Man^®, Everi’s iconic brand ambassador, visiting 104 partner casinos traveling nearly 50,000 miles across the United States and Canada.

"We are absolutely thrilled that one of our customers won last night," said Evergreen Park General Manager Dan Gorman. "We are also proud of our Pines Restaurant & Casino management team of Pat Hill, Maureen Wydenes and Darren Weatherburn for their great job of hosting and promoting the Evergreen Park portion of the tournament."

More than 200,000 participants competed in TournEvent qualifiers to identify the top 166 players who competed in last night’s The Million Dollar Event for a share of more than $1.3 million in cash prizes, including the $1 million* top prize. The finale was streamed live on the TournEvent of Champions and Super Jackpot Slots Community Casino Facebook pages.

“On behalf of Everi, congratulations to Tanya from the Pines Restaurant & Casino, Evergreen Park, for beating the top slots players in North America to win the grand prize in the 2018 TournEvent of Champions,” said Ed Peters, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, at Everi. “The continued success of TournEvent of Champions is not made possible without the commitment of our partner casinos as they host TournEvent qualifying events that create the excitement on which this program thrives. We also want to acknowledge our dedicated promotions team for partnering with the 104 participating casinos over the last five months to create memorable experiences for their TournEvent players.”

As a precursor to The Million Dollar Event, Everi held a skill-based slot tournament based on the fiercely popular app Fruit Ninja™ earlier in the day in Everi’s booth at the Global Gaming Expo. Played on the company’s award-winning and industry leading TournEvent slot tournament solution, nearly all 166 TournEvent of Champion finalists and their guests competed for 14 spots in the Fruit Ninja tournament championship held that evening during The Million Dollar Event, with the winner taking home $5,000.

Tanya can receive her $1 million in periodic payments over 20 years or in a lump sum, present day cash value payment.

Everi is a leading supplier of technology solutions for the casino gaming industry.

After the seventh race on the final day of The Horses At Evergreen Park on Sunday, August 26 it was difficult to tell who had the widest grin – Nellie Pigeau, Blandford Stewart or Lyle Magnuson.Pigeau was happy because that race clinched her the Top Trainer award for the season at Evergreen Park.

Stewart, awarded Top Jockey for the GP season, was grinning because he was on the back of the horse, Closing Katie, that won the title for Pigeau.

And Magnuson, the top trainer at both The Horses At Evergreen Park and Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge last year (and also the trainer for the Evergreen Park Racing Club 2018) was smiling because he was happy for both of them.

Grande Prairie’s Pigeau (photo right) - who shows up with horses at all of the B Track races spring, summer and fall – won her first Top Trainer award. She entered races 62 times with 17 wins, 14 seconds and 11 thirds and won $67,809 over the summer season at J.D.A. Raceway at Gordon Badger Stadium.

Stewart, who is edging towards a half-million dollars in winnings over a career that started in 2009, rode 30 winners after 115 tries and had 29 seconds and 26 thirds for $144,360 in winnings.

Magnuson was a close second in wins with 16, had 12 seconds and 29 thirds and $65,809 in winnings in Grande Prairie in July and August.

Stewart (photo left) finished well ahead of runner-up Larris Allen in the jockey race. Allen had 25 wins, 18 seconds and 23 thirds after 94 mounts and $99,612 in winnings.

After nine races of on-and-off rain Sunday, the season ended on a sunny note for Race 10 – Mr. Mike’s Paint The Park Purple – Race For The Cure (top photo winners circle).

Fittingly enough it was Blandford behind the reins of Big Miss Steak in that one – six furlongs for a purse of $8,500 in the Purple Day stakes race.

That race was the final stakes race of the season as well as the season-ender for the Horses at the Park.

One race before was the $30,596 Evergreen Park Distance Challenge – over 870 yards.

Glittering Blue, with Stewart in the saddle yet again, won that for owner Cody Eagle Bear and trainer Alvin Cross Child.

Over the course of the season – 20 days of racing with three rain-outs (something very unusual for Evergreen Park – there were 21 “stakes” races.

The biggest of those was the Alberta Derby at Evergreen Park held on Sunday, Aug. 5.

The top four horses from that race – Regal Max, Shimshine, Gem Alta and Fort Mac – competed in the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton on August 25. That race was won by Sky Promise – a horse co-owned by Evergreen Park Racing Club 2018 manager Norm Tremblay. Shimshine was third.

The Alberta Derby was the top race for thoroughbreds at the Park over the summer while the highlight for the quarter-horses was the John Deere Juvenile Challenge. That race, a regional final, was over 350 yards for $31,000 in prize money. Singles Cruise, owned by Janice and Barry Sather, won and will head down to the United States in November for the big finale.

The season started on Saturday, July 7 as the horses, owners, trainers and others moved from Lethbridge to Grande Prairie after two months of racing in the southern Alberta City.

“It’s hard on the horsemen to travel from one meet to another, with such a short time frame, but everyone works together to make it happen and the excitement begins,” said Evergreen Park racing manager Pat Hill.

Hills says the Park works in conjunction with the Alberta Community Thoroughbred Racing Association, Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association, American Quarter Horse Association and Horse Racing Alberta.

“We worked with the Associations to provide top quality racing entertainment to our community,” said Hill of The Horses At Evergreen Park, one of only four venues in the province that offers both live and off-track horse betting.

Again, this year the Park catered to families at Gordon Badger Stadium.

“We are a family-oriented facility, having a kid’s zone and candy toss, along with other activities so that the little ones get to be a part of the action,” said Hill.

“We thank everyone for their continued support and we look forward to seeing everyone at The Horses At Evergreen Park again in 2019.”

Top trainer Pigeau, top jockey Stewart, and Magnuson too, are all in Lethbridge now as the B Track season continues September and October.

Anyone interested in following the horses they watched in Grande Prairie the last two months can continue to do so, and also bet, as those races will all be on screens at the Pines Restaurant & Casino at Evergreen Park.

J.D.A RACEWAY IS ON TRACK AT EVERGREEN

For the first time since it opened in 1982 the race track at Evergreen Park has a name.

For the next 10 years, at least, the complex will be known as J.D.A. Raceway.

J.D.A. Ventures, with locations in Grande Prairie and Whitecourt, has purchased the naming rights to the track.

“J.D.A. Ventures Ltd. is very happy to be sponsoring the Raceway at Evergreen Park,” said Jarvie Dawson of J.D.A., son of founder Jarvis Dawson. “The track is somewhere where friends and family get together, and as a family-owned company, that is something that speaks to the core values of our business. We are excited to be connected to such a large part of the community and all the memories to be made out at the track.”

The first memories will be formed next week when the chuckwagons and rodeo performers hit the track for the 41^st annual Grande Prairie Stompede.

“We’re very, very thrilled the track sponsor is such a strong community supporter as the Dawson family is,” said Evergreen Park General Manager Dan Gorman. “We would like to develop and grow and expand the track and add different things. So, we are going to work with the Dawson family and the Dawson group to be able to enhance and grow that.”

In many ways J.D.A. Ventures Ltd. history mirrors that of Evergreen Park.

J.D.A. owner Jarvis Dawson started – like the Grande Prairie Regional Agricultural & Exhibition Society (Evergreen Park) did with a county fair consisting of some tables of crafts and a few farmyard animals in downtown Grande Prairie in 1910 - from humble beginnings, worked hard to create something special and has seen his company grow to become an important part of the community.

Established in 1994 as a one-truck hotshot company operating out of an automotive shop (that’s where the “A” comes from in J.D.A.) today J.D.A. is a well-known light and heavy oilfield hauler operating out of branches in Grande Prairie and Whitecourt (established 2015) with over 150 pieces of equipment and 75-plus employees.

Jarvis is the middle son of teachers Martha and Leo Dawson and grew up in the community. In 1990, he married his wife Kim and they have four children - Mandy, Jarvie, and twins Dusty and Dylan. Kim has been his loyal and loving partner in life and in business.

At the age of 16 Jarvis started growing his infamous mustache, for which he is well known today, and thus began his career in the oilfield industry. In 1986, Jarvis bought a three-bay service station and worked as a power tong hand occasionally on weekends to meet the needs of his family. There was plenty of struggle in the early years, but it was at the service station where he got his feet wet as an entrepreneur and started learning the challenges of owning a business.

Jarvis is deeply committed to the community, local charities and organized sports. One of his joys as a young teen was raising a 4-H steer, and he continues to support the 4-H program. As his sons matured through hockey leagues, he began to support local team programs and still continues in that commitment with the donation of transportation for a number of sports teams including the J.D.A. Kings hockey team. A number of other community organization and charities have been recipients of the generosity of Jarvis and Kim.

The commitment to the community continues with the naming rights to the J.D.A. Raceway at Evergreen Park. The 10-year agreement is valued at $25,000 per year.

J.D.A. Raceway is part of a complex that includes Gordon Badger Stadium, the Pines Restaurant & Casino and the Pines Family Restaurant. While the track is active in the spring, summer and fall the facility is open year-round.

Jarvis Dawson came up with the name for the track.

“When he first said he wanted to call it J.D.A. Raceway I thought that sounded like a stock car track so I googled raceway and found there are a lot of horse racing tracks called raceways in North America,” said Evergreen Park Marketing and Sponsorship Manager Don Moon. “J.D.A. Raceway also rolls off the tongue very nicely so it’s a very appropriate fit.”

Following Stompede, Boots & Moccasins Chuckwagon Racing & Powwow Weekend will be held June 15-17 and then in July and August J.D.A. Raceway hosts The Horses At Evergreen Park. One of the bigger events of September is the South Peace Horse Club Trials. The track also hosts events like monster trucks, Nitro Circus, high school rodeo and more.

J.D.A. Raceway, considered one of the safest horse racing tracks in North American, is 7/8^th of a mile and is made of sand and loam with a clay base.

Fifty years of racing, winning and family.

That was pretty much the theme of the Salute to Kelly Sutherland & Chuckwagon Racing in Clarkson Hall at Evergreen Park on Saturday.

In an event put by Evergreen Park, the Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation and Stompede, Sutherland - who celebrated his 66th birthday the day after the event - was praised, kidded and cajoled by a group of speakers including long-time chuckwagon supporter Al Side; long-time Stompede volunteer Alex McDonald (who spoke on behalf of himself and former Stompede board member Glen Keddie, who couldn't make the event); former world boxing champion from Grande Prairie Willie deWit; Western Chuckwagon Association member Lane Kimble; Chuckwagon Heritage Association member Justin Tidd; and new Stompede president Trevor Denis.

Side's speech stretched back to the Kelly's early days in the sport in the 1960s and those involved, including people like Ralph Vigen, Dave Lewis, Tommy Sinclair, Tommy Dorchester, Archie Hackwell and Kelly's father Max. Hackwell was Kelly's first tarp sponsor and Max was an important builder of the sport. They, along with people like Side himself, Fred Tissington and others, were instrumental in forming Stompede in 1978.

McDonald, who spent years as a volunteer grooming the track at Stompede cutting figure-eights like no one else, said he was told by Keddie to "not blow smoke up anyone's  _ss".

He didn't, talking about several Sutherland "adventures" including one that featured some interesting evenings at Sutherland's bar in Clairmont. He also told a story about looking for Kelly on the grounds of the Calgary Stampede and found him behind the bucking chutes sharing knee-slapping laughs, and a few beers, with a "little" guy. McDonald said that was the first time he ever met former Alberta premier Ralph Klein, who became a very good friend of Kelly's.

De Wit, who is now a judge based in Calgary, had some good-natured jabs to hand out and also praised the toughness of chuckwagon drivers. He said it was appropriate on his last night of racing at the Calgary Stampede Kelly ended the night with blood streaming down from his head after, de Wit said, he had been kicked by a horse..

He added, "a horse whisper had spoken with the horse and the horse told him he had wanted to do that for a long time."

Kimble, one of the most successful drivers on the WCA circuit, credits Sutherland for getting him started in the sport.

He got some horsepower from Sutherland - 12-time Calgary Rangeland Derby champion and 12-time World Professional Chuckwagon Association champion - and several other WPCA drivers and, handily won his first-ever race held at Stompede using a foursome of steeds that had hundreds of races under their belt.

Chuckwagon racing was so easy  he was sure there would eventually be a sign - just like the one that says Home of Kelly Sutherland on it at the north entrance to the city - erected for him with "Home of Lane Kimble" on it.

On Day 2 of Stompede Kimble hit three barrels and at that point realized that winning over dozens of championships like Sutherland has might be a little more difficult than he thought. Put the sign on hold . . . winning races is more than just about having good horses!

Kimble praised Sutherland's dedication to the sport realizing, now that he has been in it for a few years, it's a year-round job of worry, planning and expertise.

He said he was also amazed with Sutherland's knowledge of horses relating a story about a time in Dawson Creek when he couldn't figure out why one of his horses wasn't pulling properly. He said he spent a lot of time trying to diagnose the problem checking out the horse from top to bottom and finally went to Sutherland, who walked into the barn and within seconds had it figured out. "Your horse has a pulled groin," said Sutherland, who walked out of the barn past a stunned Kimble scratching his head amazed at the quick, and correct, diagnosis.

Tidd and Denis, who have been heavily involved in the sport through their association with the Heritage Foundation and Stompede respectively, also heaped praise on Sutherland for putting Grande Prairie and the local chuckwagon racing scene on the map.

Mayor Bill Given gave greetings from the city comparing Sutherland to feisty just-retired councillor Helen Rice. County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Reeve Leanne Beaupre sent a recorded message telling Sutherland how much an inspiration he has been for County residents and those around the province, country and world.

And then Sutherland, who picked up the nickname ``King`` during his 50-year career, spoke.

His wife Debbie, who has been a backbone of the Sutherland racing operation for 50 years, was just 16 and Kelly 17 when they got married, he said.

He recalls telling his dad, Max, that he and Debbie were getting hitched. Kelly didn't have a job and money was a bit of a problem in the Sutherland family.

He said his dad was broke "and I was broker."

Max told him he wasn't going to work pumping gas so he phoned a friend and got him a job at a rig site in northern Alberta - three weeks on and a week off.

During one of those weeks off he and Debbie were married on a Wednesday and headed out on a honeymoon - to Pouce Coupe. They spent two days there and then "upgraded" for two more days to Dawson Creek . . . and then it was back to the rig for another three weeks.

Debbie and Kelly have three children - Tara, Mark (a WPCA driver) and Mandi as well as six grandchildren (grandson Dayton is also a driver) and one great-grandchild. Tara is married to WCA chuckwagon driver Dean Dreger. Kelly`s brother, Kirk, is also a driver as is Kirk`s son Mitch. Another brother, Murray, died in an accident several years ago.

Kelly, winner of the Grande Prairie Chuckwagon Stompede in 1979, talked about the importance of family and the role they played in his success. He said it was really tough on the family, sometimes with and sometimes without him, from May to September during chuckwagon racing season missing graduations, weddings and other events in Grande Prairie.

He said there are a lot of people who don't like him, but "they don't know me."

Those who know him know about him visiting children at a cancer clinic in Calgary three times a year to pick up their spirits and encourage them.

His father had cancer so Kelly has some experience with the disease. The doctors told Kelly that Max had six months to live after the initial diagnosis. When he told Max the bad news they agreed they weren't going to give up. They didn't, ensuring Max got treatment, kept positive and kept fighting. He lived for 13 years after that and that's the story Kelly can tell to those young people battling the disease thinking there is no hope.

Kelly, other speakers said, worked tirelessly to promote the sport and rolled his sleeves up to do such mundane things as spending hours picking rocks off of race tracks so drivers and horses would be safe; using his own resources to help shape tracks; sponsor events related to the sport of rodeo and chuckwagons racing; and helping out after the disastrous floods in High River.

He was also one of the first chuckwagon drivers who didn`t shy away from a reporter or camera and was, as Al Side said, ``a fresh face for the sport``.

Sutherland said it didn't matter if fans in the stands were cheering for him or against him, the important thing was they were there supporting the sport.

Kelly said, for years, he and former racing legend Tommy Glass of High River didn't get along.

"It never came to fisticuffs," he said, "but we did bump chests a few times."

That all changed in 2011 when the Royal Couple, Kate and William, visited Calgary.

Kelly said Glass had his nose a bit out of joint when he, and not Tommy, was selected to officially meet the couple while Glass had to remain in the seat of the chuckwagon.

Breaking all protocol Sutherland not only showed the Royals some photos and other items from the time the Queen was in Calgary and had her photo taken with Kelly at the Stampede, he also patted William on the back (a huge no-no) saying he would make a good outrider and then also advised him he should ``go sit on the seat of the chuckwagon with Tommy Glass - he`s a world champion driver.``

Sutherland said, ``Tom and I have been good ever since then.``

Kelly also talked about the sport and how expensive it is and the importance of financial and fan support. He said he has spoken to the organizers of the Calgary Stampede about the fact prize money has not been raised in 15 years. He says he is going to remain involved in the promotion of the sport.

Grande Prairie will always be his home, he said, and he is going to ``give back`` to the community in as many ways as he can.

His first two years in the sport he was an outrider and is looking forward to getting back onto horses and spending time with his grandchildren, including a granddaughter who is in love with them and would ``ride when it`s 20 below out.``

If they ride out to Evergreen Park they`ll be able to trot by a road sign that says ``Kelly Sutherland Way`` - the fist-ever road named after anyone at the Park. That honour was bestowed on Sutherland at Saturday`s event. He also received a beautiful silver belt buckle that included his name, the words ``King`` and ``50 Years".

Others said Sutherland`s records will never be broken, but the King himself feels, because of how sport has changed with training, better athletes and other advances his marks will fall at some point.

It will probably take more than 50 years!

SALUTE TO KELLY SUTHERLAND AND CHUCKS

After 50 years, the career of the greatest champion in chuckwagon racing history has come to a close.

Kelly “The King” Sutherland hung up the reins at the end of the 2017 World Professional Chuckwagon Association season.

He is being honored with A Salute To Kelly Sutherland And Chuckwagon Racing in Clarkson Hall at Evergreen Park on Saturday, Oct. 28.

“The Grande Prairie Stompede is the signature event annually at Evergreen Park so we are delighted to be able to host this salute to Kelly on Oct. 28,” said Evergreen Park General Manager Dan Gorman. “The Evergreen Park board initiated the idea of honoring Kelly this fall and both Stompede and the Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation jumped in quickly to be a part of it.

“It is going to be a wonderful event and tribute to a man and the sport of chuckwagon racing. Kelly has done so much for chuckwagon racing and the Grande Prairie area over the last 50 years. It is fitting he is being honored with this salute on the 28th.”

Sutherland leaves the sport as a 12-time Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby champion: 12-time World Champion Chuckwagon Driver; a six-time Calgary Stampede aggregate winner; and an eight-time Ponoka Stampede champion. He also won Stompede II in 1979.

Sutherland is the only driver to have competed in all 40 Grande Prairie Stompedes.

“The legacy and contribution from Kelly Sutherland has placed Grande Prairie region on a world stage and brought recognition to the sport of chuckwagon racing,” said Stompede president Terri Sudnik. “His investment into Canadian western heritage has led the foundation for the Grande Prairie Stompede to give back to our community over the past 40 years.”

Sutherland is a founding member of  Stompede and was its first president. Over one million patrons have watched him competed at Stompede since 1978 - an event that contributes $6.5 million dollars back into the local economy annually.

“On behalf of the Grande Prairie Stompede, we tip our hats to the legend Kelly Sutherland and say Thank You!”

The Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation has also been heavily involved in the sport both at Stompede and around the Peace Country with amateur events.

“For 50 years Kelly Sutherland has dedicated his life to the sport of chuckwagon racing and representing Grande Prairie on the world stage,” said Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation president Justin Tidd. “The Grande Prairie Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation is proud to be able to celebrate this amazing accomplishment with Kelly and Debbie and to honor ‘The King’ in his retirement from the sport he shared with the fans of chuckwagon racing for so many years.”

The Oct. 28th event starts at 6 p.m. and continues until 1 a.m. and will include a buffet meal, midnight lunch, special guest speakers and lots and lots of memories.

Tickets are sold out!

Evergreen Park Racing Club 2017 is in the books . . . and the 2018 version is officially underway.

The Evergreen Park board, on Wednesday, officially approved the formation of Evergreen Park Racing Club 2018.

The decision to continue the Club was no doubt made easier by the success of the first-ever racing club in 2017.

Evergreen Park General Manager Dan Gorman made the announcement about the 2018 Club at the 2017 Club windup at Evergreen Park on Thursday night at Badger Stadium at the Park.

It was not just a great year for the Club, but for The Horses At Evergreen Park as well, said Gorman.

Gorman revealed there was a 58 per cent increase in the handle at The Horses At Evergreen Park this year over 2016 . . . and some of that can be attributed to the Evergreen Park Racing Club 2017.

Club horses raced during the July-August pari-mutuel schedule seven times and each time a Club horse was featured Club members came out in droves. Attendance, especially among the younger demographic, was up overall over the season.

Gorman also said the fact there were more and fuller races was a factor in the increased interest and handle. Evergreen Park provided free sawdust bedding for all of the 350-plus horses over the summer and, says Gorman, that encouraged more owners to bring horses to Grande Prairie for the summer.

Most weekends there were over 20 races and most of those races had six to eight horses in each of them.

Full race cards create more interest, more betting and a better handle.

It was also announced on Thursday that each 2017 Club member, a total of 106 of them, would be getting a cheque for $136.80.

Racing Club manager Norm Tremblay, who has owned horses for years, said being able to give Club members a return at the end of a racing season is somewhat unusual. Tremblay (left) is shown in the photo with the first 2018 members - Jan and Joe Gass - and Gorman on the right.

It was announced Thursday that Tremblay will be returning as manager for 2018 and the Club will also be retaining the services of renowned trainer Robertino Diodoro to help the Club “scout” for horses for 2018.

"I would like to thank and congratulate our Club members," said Tremblay. "And to thank Evergreen Park for the support.

"I also want to thank Allen Goodsell (assistant trainer to head trainer Robertino Diodoro) and his team for the horse care and training.”

Tremblay said the Club will likely purchase at least two more thoroughbreds and could upgrade somewhat this year for better quality horses.

Improving on the 2017 numbers would be impressive.

Club horses were in the money – first, second or third – over 70 per cent of the time and won 44 per cent of the time. The best numbers of any owners at Evergreen Park this past summer.

Red N Black Attack raced four times at Evergreen Park and won twice; Xtreme Spell raced twice and was first once; and the third Club horse that appeared at The Horses At Evergreen Park, Dman Doughty, was in the gates once and finished fifth. Another Club horse, Command The Land, raced twice under Club colors at Northlands Park in Edmonton and won once, but was claimed in that winning race and didn’t appear in Grande Prairie.

Tremblay said the 2018 Club horses may again train in Edmonton before venturing to Grande Prairie for the summer season.

For many of the Club members it was their first experience with the sport.

“It was so much fun following our horses and learning about racing,” said Club member Garett Dika, who had never been involved in the sport. “I didn’t get out to many races, but kept on top of it through the Evergreen Park website and the Club Facebook page. It was a lot of fun.”

Dika said he had no idea what a claiming race was until Command The Land was lost to another owner in the spring.

“It was explained to me that’s horse racing. It’s a way to keep things honest and even and I’m all for that. I found out a lot about the sport and I’m looking forward to being a member again in 2018.”

At the windup Thursday many of the 2017 Club members who were in attendance signed up to be part of the 2018 club. Jan Gass was the first returnee and her husband, Joe, the first new recruit for 2018.

Anyone wanting to join the Club can do so in several ways.

It can be done online at www.evergreenpark.ca or by picking up a registration form at the Evergreen Park administration offices in the ENTREC Centre; at the Pines Restaurant & Casino; or by contacting the Park at 780-532-3279 and having a membership for sent.

For more information on the Club contact Tremblay at 780518-7914.