The  OBJECT of the Society shall be to encourage and ensure co-operative effort in all matters pertaining to the production and improvement of the Standardbred Horse in the Province of Alberta, and to co-operate with the Associations and Societies of other Provinces in the Dominion of Canada and States of the United States of America/or other Associations in other Countries..
The Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) was formed to represent and protect the best interests of Standardbred industry participants and bring about a closer, more understanding relationship among members, racetracks, racing associations, governing bodies and the public.

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NEWS AND UPDATES IN THE INDUSTRY

​EMERGENCY NOTICE TO THE HORSEMEN

ATTENTION HORSEMEN!

Fred Gillis received this text from Century Mile
"The power went out on the backside yesterday at Century Downs.
Water has FROZEN in barn #1 and #2 - IF YOU DO NOT NEED TO SHIP YOUR HORSES TOMORROW PLEASE WAIT UNTIL SUNDAY
Matt Jukich/Josh Murphy"

We thank you for for your patience and understanding during these extreme weather conditions

STALL ALLOCATION FOR CENTURY DOWNS

These are the allocations from January 17 until February 29th. CHANGES PENDING March 1st Spring meet.
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Barn 1 from January 17th to February 29th
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Barn 2 starting January 17th

Top Driver for the Month of December

DECEMBER’S TOP DRIVER OF THE MONTH is Dave Kelly.  For the second month in a row this talented driver has landed himself on top of the leader board.  In 55 starts, Kelly scored 13 wins, 14 seconds, 4 thirds and $61,834 in purse earnings with a UDRS of .402.
 
Kelly will be making a trip to Mississauga, ON to attend the O’Brien Awards on February 1st.  He is one of the finalists in the Future Star Award.  Congratulations and good luck Dave!
​

Top Trainer for the Month of December - Joe Ratchford

Congratulations to Joe Ratchford for DECEMBER’S TOP TRAINER OF THE MONTH!  Ratchford had 5 victories, 4 seconds, 3 thirds in 20 starts and a UTRS of .411.  Highlights of the month for Ratchford included a win in the $20,000 Century Milers Pacing Series final with his stable superstar Outlaw Allie Oops.
 
Well done Joe!

December Caretaker of the Month - Brinsley Brooking-Lutz

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​Brinsley Brooking-Lutz has been in the industry since birth.  Starting with her grandparents on both her maternal and paternal sides, Brinsley is a third-generation horsemen.
 
It is amazing to see the love she holds for these animals “I wouldn’t trade the experience’s I’ve had in this industry for anything” she says.  When asked who her favourite horse was, there was no hesitation in saying Revoler or Revvy as most know him. “He’s tough as nails, beautiful, and loving” Brinsley replied when asked why.
 
The first owners line Brinsley’s name appeared on was the filly Honey Booboolina. Its easy to see this horse holds a special place in Brinsley’s, heart and she will never forget when Honey Booboolina finished second against the top nine Alberta Sired three-year-old filly’s back in 2015.
 
At the age of twenty-nine there are still so many options for Brinsley, she isn’t totally sure that horses will always be her career but remarked with complete confidence that they will always have a place in her life.  Maybe one day, we will all see Brinsley’s name in the trainer’s line of the program. 
 
When I asked Brinsley what was important to her to be in this article she said “I want to thank me parents for instilling this passion in me”.  Brinsley is an amazing young lady and in talking to her it is plain to see her love for the animals and for her family.   Good luck with your future Brinsley; you are an asset to our industry and a blessing to the horses.
-ASHA Files

GET READY FOR STAKES SEASON - Here's the Schedule!

Racing Cancelled at Century Mile
​& Moving to Century Downs

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   In a paddock meeting today to discuss the extreme weather conditions and racing, horsemen voted overwhelmingly to cancel racing, next Sunday January 19th at Century Mile. The two cancelled days (January 12th and 19th) are rescheduled for Century Downs on January 26th and February 2nd. Century Downs has told us that horsemen will be permitted to take equipment to Century Downs January 17th, ship in with horses January 18th and the track will be open for horses January 19th. We ask that you please respect these dates.

   For those who need to request cheques: Cheque requisitions are due no later than 10 am Tuesday January 14th. These cheques will be issued for one last time this Wednesday January 15th and will be available after 12:00 noon.
   All accounts where cheques have not been requested, the money will be transferred to Century Downs Purse Accounts.

MARES BONUS of 2019

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - January 7th 2020
​
To our valued Breeders:​
Mares Bonus Cheques are DELAYED this year.
The funds will not be sent to ASHA until early February. Processing the allocations takes about 2 weeks. The ASHA Office anticipates the Mares Bonus cheques of 2019 will not be ready until at LEAST mid February. We thank you for your patience and understanding.​

CENTURY DOWNS 2020 Stall Application

For those who are unable to swing by Century Mile to pick up a paper copy of the Stall application for Century Downs, please print off this copy and scan and email to Matt or Josh at the emails below.
Race Office: raceoffice@cnty.com
Matt Jukich: 587-416-5414 matt.jukich@cnty.com
Josh Murphy: 587-335-0983 josh.murphy@cnty.com​

Century Downs Stall Application

​Outlaw Allie Oops Wins Sixth Straight

Odds-on favourite Outlaw Allie Oops took control early and blew clear of her competition to win her sixth-consecutive race when taking a $6,100 conditioned claiming pace at Century Mile on Sunday (Jan. 5)....read on
​Courtesy Standardbred Canada

​The Turnaround Story Of 2019

"Keith told me she was wicked fast but she couldn’t breathe properly. So we operated on her throat. Sometimes the surgery works. Sometimes it doesn’t. It sure worked this time. It helped her. It helped her a lot."...read on
​Courtesy Standardbred Canada

​Harness Racing's 2019 Leaders

Trot Insider has compiled a list of Canada’s 2019 leading drivers and trainers at racetracks across the country in recognition of their accomplishments....read on
​Courtesy Standardbred Canada

​January's Calendar Photographer

"I love this photo because it not only shows the grittiness of our Standardbreds but it also shows how tough and determined the horsemen are as well."...read on​
​Courtesy Standardbred Canada

​Remember The Party Ends 2019

In the final harness race of the decade, driver Paul Davies powered first over with Remember The Party to win the finale of the Tuesday, Dec. 31 card at Century Mile....read on
​Courtesy Standardbred Canada

A NOTE from your Horseman's Bookkeeper...

In Memoriam 2019 

As the end of the year approaches, we pay tribute to some of the people and horses that passed away in 2019....read on
​Courtesy Standardbred Canada

​The Future Is Now For Kelly

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​Four and a half years ago, Dave Kelly had precisely one horse -- a four-year-old mare named Carro Hoodoo who didn’t exactly come with any lofty aspirations. “I bought her for $1,300...and that included a race bike.”...read on
Courtesy Standardbred Canada

Oops!... She Did It Again

Outlaw Allie Oops completed a sweep of the Century Milers Series with another dominant display in the $20,000 final for three-year-old pacing fillies co-featured on Friday night (Dec. 20) at Century Mile....read on
Courtesy Standardbred Canada

ARE YOU READY? 

  • Do you know practical ways to reduce the risk of fire in your barn?
  • Have you contacted your local fire department to identify local resources?
  • Do you need help to develop your own disaster plan?
 
Fire & Emergency Preparedness Online Short Course: Jan. 20-27

Register at https://thehorseportal.ca/partner/hra/
 
15% DISCOUNT FOR HRA licence holders!
Education Partners: Horse Racing Alberta and Equine Guelph
​

NEW OWNERS of 2019 ASHA Yearling Sale Purchases

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​Standardbred Canada and the ASHA would like to remind the purchasers of Yearlings bought at the 2019 ASHA Yearling Sale to call Standardbred Canada to have your yearling transferred to your name. The fees were paid as part of your purchase price, so it's just a phone call to assure Stake Payment Reminders are sent to the correct owner. CALL BARB TODAY!
(PH:905-858-3060 EXT 231)

2020 Membership Renewal

Current ASHA memberships expire on Dec 31st, 2019  and renewal notices have been issued, either by e-mail or surface mail. When you receive your renewal notice, please fill in any blanks, to assure your information is up to date, and correct any incorrect information. If you have ANY questions, please call Michelle at the ASHA office.

NOTE:
There are now three different membership applications and its VERY important to complete the correct one. If you are renewing, you will receive a populated renewal form. If you renew at the track, and you do not have this populated renewal form, contact Michelle so it can be sent to Colleen to VERIFY your current information. (Submitting an application with just only your name makes it difficult to determine if your contact information has changed.) 

If you are a NEW member (and under the age of 65 and a Canadian Resident), please print and complete this form

new_membership_form_v8.pdf

For Members who are over 65 and/or non-Canadian Residents, please complete this form:

new_membership_form_v8_overage_applicant.pdf

Below is the information sent with the renewal applications.

Dear ASHA Member,       
 
Re: Membership Renewal Notice
 
This is your first reminder of your 2020 ASHA membership renewal. Your application has been populated with the most current information on file. Please review and update any incorrect information in the space provided at the bottom of the form and submit this application with payment to the ASHA office or the Horseman’s Bookkeeper, Colleen Haining. If you have any questions regarding your membership, contact Michelle at the Airdrie ASHA Office. Also, if you do not have the populated copy when you pay your membership at the track, take the time to complete the (correct membership) form to assure all your information is up to date.
PLEASE READ AND NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
  • If you are changing your Beneficiary Designation, another form will be required. If there is a change, please check the box stating, “My Beneficiary has changed”  and Michelle will follow up when once it’s received at the Airdrie Office.
  • Check off all boxes applicable to your role(s) within the harness race industry which apply to your 2020 membership to enable us to issue the correct ballots at the AGM. This is intentionally left blank for this reason since roles within the industry can change from year to year.
  • For members currently 64 or over, it is critical to renew before the deadline!!  Life insurance WILL be revoked after the deadline; one calendar month prior to the AGM (yet to be determined for 2020). The AGM is in April, so renew your membership before March 1st to be safe. Once life insurance is revoked, it cannot be reinstated.
  • If the beneficiary designation space reads INELIGIBLE FOR LIFE INSURANCE or NOT APPLICABLE, life insurance has already been revoked, or there are circumstances which deem ineligibility (Call the office should clarification be required).
  • Please initial the consent boxes at the bottom of page 1.  This MUST be done annually, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Privacy Act (FOIP), the ASHA By-Laws, and ASHA Privacy Policy.
On the reverse of the application….
  • We accept multi-year (maximum 3 years) membership payments. You may find this convenient to have it coincide with your HRA renewal.
  • HELP US SAVE POSTAGE COSTS!! We request members advise if they need multiple copies of mail outs (Stallion Directory & Stakes Guide/Yearling Sale Catalogue) sent to their home address. With the industry suffering further cutbacks, assist us by picking up your Stakes Guide (s), and Yearling Sale Catalogue(s) at the racetrack, and please mark “0” on all forms for your household. Or, if you do not go to the racetrack but have multiple memberships in your home, have only one member of your household complete the number of copies required.
  • Membership payment can be made through e-transfer. Email fred@asha.ab.ca through your financial institution for the payment
  • then email Fred directly with the password.
As always, please contact us at the office if you have any questions, and we look forward to assisting you.

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Alberta Challenge of Champions ABSS SUPER FINALS

HRA HOURS of OPERATION at CENTURY MILE RACETRACK

For a list of OTB's in Southern Alberta, click this link ...HERE

The OFFICIAL Stakes Schedule and Calendar

Below are the OFFICIAL  Stakes Schedule and Calendar respectively.
​PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE SCHEDULE COULD CHANGE DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF ASHA
2020 Race Calendar -
click HERE  for the PDF
2020 Stakes Schedule
**As of the Board of Directors meeting conducted on October 5, 2019, it was decided that the late closure series will be reduced to 2 legs and a final in the interest of not over racing the younger horses.**

ASHA ACCEPTS
​ E-TRANSFERS

ASHA accepts payments by
e-transfer through your online banking.

You can pay your:
  • Century Downs stall rent(past due accounts only),
  • ASHA membership, etc. electronically ; the payments you would normally make to the ASHA administration office.  
  • Stallion registrations and Yearling Sale (prior to deadline)
This is not to be confused with stakes payments to Standardbred Canada, or HRA, or to Colleen Haining at the track/book keepers office.

Please call the ASHA office before you make a payment to assure it's a payment we can take. 
We will advise at that time what the e-mail is to send the payment to.


PLEASE NOTE: THE ASHA CHARGES $50.00 for NSF CHEQUES!

NEEDING ACCOMMODATIONS?

ATTENTION HORSEMEN needing accommodations near Century Downs in Balzac. Great hotel rates have been secured at Days Inn off Dwight McLellan Trail for ASHA Harness Members ONLY for daily, weekly and monthly rates.

Contact COLLEEN HAINING ONLY for further information 587-877-2540 
​DO NOT CALL THEIR FRONT DESK
The Horse 

Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity?
Here where grace is laced with muscle and strength by gentleness confined.
___

He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent;
there is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.
___

England’s past has been borne on his back.
All our history is in his industry.
We are his heirs;
He is our inheritance.

Ronald Duncan
© (Copyright of) the Ronald Duncan Literary Foundation