Evergreen Park invites Peace Country residence to a weekend celebration of Indigenous Culture and History.

On Father’s Day weekend we will host over 130 Indigenous riders and 200 horses Indian Relay Racing to celebrate Indian Relay Races. Come and experience the tradition and horsemanship of this 300-year-old sport.

On Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18 Peace Country residents will get a chance to see for themselves the extreme and intense Indian Relay Racing as it makes its first Grande Prairie appearance at J.D.A. Raceway at Evergreen Park.

Riding bareback and often decked out in traditional markings and attire, teams race around the track competing in a relay race with horse exchanges in front of the grandstand.

“The competitors relish being able to celebrate our culture’s history through this sport,” said organizer Kimberly Big Crow. “It ties into cultural education and connects the younger generation to their elders, which enhances skill-building and family values within our people.”

This event, Evergreen Park hopes, will be the start of a much larger annual Indigenous celebration and showcase at the Park.

“The Indigenous community is very important to us. We want to partner with our local First Nations this year and for many years to build a showcase of Indigenous Culture and Heritage,” said Park General Manager Kim Randall. “The Indian relay races are truly a unique expression of the connection between Indigenous Culture and the Horse. We are excited to present Warrior, Lady Warrior and Little Brave relay races on both Saturday and Sunday.”

Alberta Indian Relay Racing is an organization that welcomes participants from all Nations with the largest network of Indian relay professionals in Canada focusing on the revitalization of the centuries-old sport.

“Indian Relay Racing has been a proud tradition for over 300 years,” said Big Crow. “Our mandate is to provide exposure not only for our culture and heritage, but to showcase the horsemanship of Indian Relay Racing teams … and also for fans to see firsthand what the sport of Indian Relay entails.”

The races start at 1 p.m. each day.

Tickets are available on the Evergreen Park website at https://evergreenpark.ticketspice.com/indian-relay-racing

They are $20 for adults and $5 for those two to 12.

There are also several sponsorship options. For information on sponsorships contact Evergreen Park Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Moon at 587-298-0548 or check out the sponsor options here.

The wild sport of Indian Relay Racing is taking place on June 17-18 at J.D.A. Raceway at Evergreen Park.

Teams of over 30 riders will be competing over the two days in front of spectators at Gordon Badger Stadium.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for those two to 12 and can be purchased at www.evergreen park.ca

Anyone visiting Evergreen Park for this or any other event at the Park and in need of a hotel room can get a discount at the Park's preferred hotels - Best Western, Holiday Inn & Suites, Super 8, Stanford Inn & Suites and Quality Inn & Suites.

Hotel guests also receive 25% off regular menu items at the Wild Horse Casino & Lounge and the Pines Family Restaurant at the Park.

If you are looking for transportation to or from an event at Evergreen Park please consider the Park’s Preferred Driving Services - Angels Designated Driving Service, Arrive Alive Designated Driving Service, Karyn4U Designated Driving Services and Transporters Designated Driving And Vehicle Delivery Service. You can find information on all three here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/.../designateddriving

There is also an Uber-like service the Park prefers called Y Drive. You can download the Y Drive booking app here: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/y-drive-app/id1466012841

The world-famous RCMP Musical Ride is coming back to Grande Prairie.

Evergreen Park is hosting the prestigious group June 10-11 at J.D.A. Raceway.

You can purchase tickets here: https://evergreenpark.ticketspice.com/rcmp-musical-ride

Anyone visiting Evergreen Park for this or any other event at the Park and in need of a hotel room can get a discount at the Park's preferred hotels - Best Western, Holiday Inn & Suites, Super 8, Stanford Inn & Suites and Quality Inn & Suites.

Hotel guests also receive 25% off regular menu items at the Wild Horse Casino & Lounge and the Pines Family Restaurant at the Park.

If you are looking for transportation to or from an event at Evergreen Park please consider the Park’s Preferred Driving Services - Angels Designated Driving Service, Arrive Alive Designated Driving Service, Karyn4U Designated Driving Services and Transporters Designated Driving And Vehicle Delivery Service. You can find information on all three here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/.../designateddriving

There is also an Uber-like service the Park prefers called Y Drive. You can download the Y Drive booking app here: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/y-drive-app/id1466012841

Grande Prairie Stompede is being held at Evergreen Park from May 31 to June 4.

It includes a midway, art festival, chuckwagon racing, rodeo, beer gardens and more.

Fore more information check out the Stompede website here: https://gpstompede.com/

The iconic RCMP Musical Ride will be performing Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 at J.D.A. Raceway at Evergreen Park.

The Musical Ride is a symbol of tradition, honour and pride. It supports front-line police operations by building positive relationships, supporting recruiting efforts and promoting the RCMP’s image in communities in Canada and around the world. It was last held at Evergreen Park in 2006.

“It’s an honour to be able to host this prestigious world-famous group,” said Evergreen Park General Manager Kim Randall. “If it isn’t, the Musical Ride should be on every Canadian’s bucket list. We are delighted to offer residents of northwestern Alberta the opportunity to experience the RCMP musical ride precision cavalry drills.”

The troop of up to 32 riders, who are all police officers, and their horses perform intricate formations and drills set to music. These movements demand the utmost control, timing, and coordination.

The RCMP is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The first Musical Ride was held in 1887 in Regina.

“This is an important anniversary for the RCMP and Evergreen Park is more than happy we can be a part of it,” said Randall. “We know Peace Country residents of all ages are going to enjoy it.”

Each day the event starts at 1 p.m. and will include a pre-show performance besides the RCMP Musical Ride.

“We have a full afternoon of entertainment planned,” said Randall. “We will be announcing the list of performers over the next few weeks.”

The public will also be invited to visit the horses and riders in the Lewis Hawkes Arena. Dates and times for public viewing will be released later.

Tickets are available online on the Evergreen Park website here. They are $5 for those two to 12 and $20 each for all others.

There is a 50/50 being as part of the Musical Ride event. They are on sale now here and will also be available in person June 10-11 at the event. The draw is being held after the Musical Ride on June 11.

Anyone interested in supporting this event can contact Evergreen Park Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Moon at 587-298-0548.

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.

 It turned 50 this year, but it doesn’t look its age.

Lewis Hawkes Arena, formerly Lewis Hawkes Pavilion, over the last year has gone through a transformation that has upgraded it to a modern event centre.

Bleacher seating for over 1,000; box offices; lounge; concession; announcer’s booth; new ventilation; new lighting; new tin inside and out; and new washrooms are among the improvements to the venue.

The $1M-plus renovation was completed thanks to an Alberta Government grant and contributions from the County of Grande Prairie as well as local businesses and benevolent citizens.

It has been a part of Evergreen Park since 1982 after being moved from its original location at the old fairgrounds on the east side of the City of Grande Prairie, where it was originally constructed in 1972.It has served as minor hockey’s indoor arena; hosted entertainers like Al Cherney and Buffy St. Marie and many county music stars as part of Stompede’s beer gardens; was the home of a farmer’s market and an Octoberfest with Emerson Drive; is one of the main venues for the ag show every spring; has been where local fans have watched bull riding, barrel racing and high school and amateur rodeo championships; is a place where local horse people shelter their animals in the winter; and has hosted prime ministers, 4H’ers, gymkhana events and other equine endeavors.

On September 30th Evergreen Park is celebrating the new-look venue with a Lewis Hawkes Arena Renovation Celebration.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and there is a country fried chicken buffet at 6 p.m. Following supper there will be presentations, including thanking the many who have contributed to the renovation, and the evening continues with Dancin’ In The Dirt with the band TJ Ruckus performing.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children four to 10 years old. Three and under are free.

Tickets are currently being sold online through the Evergreen Park website HERE or by calling the Evergreen Park office at 780-532-3279 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Evergreen Park is asking people to head to their Facebook page and reply to the Lewis Hawkes Arena Renovation Celebration post with their best memory of the Lewis Hawkes. Several posts will be randomly selected and the posters will be given prizes for taking part.

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.

There is going to be some local flavor at the 93^rd running of the Canadian Derby at Century Mile Racetrack & Casino in Edmonton on Saturday.

The Horses At Evergreen Park racing fans will remember one of the entries – Sea Splendor.

The Kentucky-bred three-year-old won the Grande Prairie Derby at J.D.A. Raceway on July 31^st.

Sea Splendor, owned by Highfield Investment Group, Inc./Dialed In Racing Stable/Graham Thoroughbreds/True North Stable, is trained by Craig Smith.

At the GP Derby he finished just ahead of runner-up El Fantasma and well in front of third place finisher Tricky Speedster.

That win netted the ownership group $15,237 and was a big factor in Sea Splendor being able to compete in the Canadian Derby.

Sixteen horses were nominated for the big $200,000 race in Edmonton, but only 12 made the cut – based mostly on earnings. Sea Splendor, with $36,421 in lifetime earnings with almost half of that coming in Grande Prairie, got into the top 12.

Former Evergreen Park Racing Club head trainer Robertino Diodoro has three horses in the field – Red Knobs, the top money-earner of all the entries with $167,242 in purses; Great Escape; and Clancy’s Pistol. Those horses finished one-two-three respectively at the Manitoba Derby earlier this month – a Manitoba Derby record for a trainer.

Norm Tremblay, manager of the Evergreen Park Racing Club and an Evergreen Park board member, is part-owner of Great Escape.

Local racing fans would have no doubt been cheering for Slaats, owned by local chuckwagon driver Kirk Sutherland. Slaats was one of the 16 nominated and was the fourth highest money earner with $131,697, but pulled out of the Canadian Derby.

Another Derby Day winner at The Horses At Evergreen Park 2022 is entered in the $100,000 Century Casino Oaks on Saturday – the last race of the day right after the Canadian Derby.

Diplomatica, trained by former local Tim Rycroft, won the Grande Prairie Oaks on July 31 at J.D.A. Raceway and is one of nine horses in the Oaks race in Edmonton.