A familiar Peace Country name will be going up outside and inside one of Evergreen Park’s iconic arena buildings.

Foster’s, a long-time local agriculture-based company, has taken over the naming rights of the Evergreen Park Pavilion.

It will now be known as Foster’s Pavilion.

Foster’s Pavilion includes the Lewis Hawkes Arena and the Drysdale Arena – named after two local families who were instrumental in the early growth of Evergreen Park after the "fairgrounds" were moved from the eastern end of the city.

 “Foster’s is excited to continue our relationship after being the farm show sponsor,” said Jason Hipkins, Foster’s sales manager. “Being part of the community is something we take pride in.”

The Pavilion started when the Lewis Hawkes structure was moved from the old fairgrounds east of the city in the early-1980s when the Ag Society moved to the its current location, Evergreen Park, in the County of Grande Prairie. The Drysdale arena was added later in 1993.

“Foster’s has been a partner with Evergreen Park as the title sponsor of the Foster’s Peace Country Classic Agri-Show since 2019,” said Kim Randall, Evergreen Park General Manager. “and we are thrilled to have them continue their commitment to Evergreen Park and our Agriculture community with the naming rights to the Foster’s Pavilion.”

Foster’s started in the 1950s when Johnny Foster established the Beaverlodge Seed Farm – now known as Foster's Seed & Feed. The business expanded into chemical, field scouting and fertilizer and in 2008 transitioned into sales and service of agricultural equipment through Foster’s Agri-World.

In 2014, Foster’s opened a NAPA Auto Parts location (Foster’s Auto Parts) in Beaverlodge and in 2016 a second Foster’s Agri-World facility opened its doors in Fairview. The Fairview location now also boasts the Kubota brand and in 2022 Foster’s moved further north with the purchase of a satellite facility in the town of McLennan.

Foster’s Pavilion has hosted prime ministers, rodeos, RCMP Musical Ride, dog shows, 4-H events, bull sales, beef congresses, farmer’s markets, archery competitions, horse programs, seed fairs and dozens of other events over the years and is preparing for the 39^th annual Peace Country Classic Agri-Show being held March 6-8.

Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online here: https://evergreenpark.ticketspice.com/indian-relay-racing...

 The Evergreen Park races are a qualifier for the world-famous Calgary Stampede in July.

“We are very excited to partner with indigenous communities to showcase the heritage and athleticism of Indian Relay Races,” said Evergreen Park General Manager Kim Randall. “We are committed to growing the sport and are thrilled to announce that our races will be a qualifier for the 2025 Calgary Stampede.

“This adds a new level of excitement for the racers and we anticipate the top teams from Alberta and Saskatchewan will join us for our event in June.”

The 2025 Indigenous Celebration, presented by Ovintiv, goes June 7-8 at J.D.A. Raceway.

Besides the thrilling Indian Relay Racing, the weekend also includes Indigenous drummers, dancers and crafters.

 “We are looking forward to our second year of honouring the tradition and heritage of Indian Relay Racing,” said Randall. “In 2024 we had over a dozen First Nations take part in the Indigenous Celebration Weekend presented by Ovinitiv and we are enthusiastic to welcome many more in 2025.”

 Over 4,000 spectators took in the event last year.

 “We were very happy with the turnout for our Indigenous-focused event,” said Randall. “Following the event this past June I have heard from many community members about how impressed they were at the skill and bravery of the young men and women who performed in the races.”

Evergreen Park is currently selling sponsorships for the event.

“We thank Ovintiv for returning as the presenting sponsor for the second year in a row,” said Randall. “Their dedication to the Indigenous community is evident through their support of growing the sport of Indian Relay Racing.”

The Park is looking for a secondary main sponsor for the drummers and dancers and also has a variety of other options available. Call Evergreen Park Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Moon t 587-298-0548 if interested. You can view the sponsor package here.

General seating tickets for the Indian Relay Racing are on sale now and available here. They would make a great stocking stuffer!

Every Sunday evening at the Wild Horse Casino & Lounge musician Justin Menzies will be hosting Open Mic Night.

Performances start at 7:30 p.m.

There will be half price appetizers and $5 Bud Light available.

For more information contact the Wild Horse Lounge at 780-532-3265.

 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.