Dwight Crazy Boy speaking at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club May 5, 2022 (Photo LNN)

By Drew Stremick

Rocky Mountain Turf Club kicks off its horse racing season this weekend

May 5, 2022 | 5:03 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Rocky Mountain Turf Club (RMTC) is kicking off another season of horse racing this Saturday, May 7, 2022.

The RMTC has been hosting racing events since 1996. Prior to that, the Lethbridge & District Exhibition owned and operated the track.

Max Gibb, CEO of RMTC, says he’s excited to have people coming back to the track this season after a two-year hiatus.

“Well, it’s been tough. Our business was closed nine out of 24 months, and that’s always a struggle. But we’re back, and everything appears to be as good as we’ve ever been,” Gibb said.

Gibb says this year will include more race days, and bigger prizes for winners.

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“We started humbly with 12 race days and purses of $600 and a stakes race at $800. Now we’ll have 33 race days this year with a $5000 minimum purse. We’re a major driver of economics for Southern Alberta, tourism, agriculture, hundreds of people employed,” said Gibb. “We’re enthused with horse racing. Horse racing has been important in Alberta and Southern Alberta for years.”

RMTC Jockies at the season kick-off event May 5, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

The RMTC is also going to be featuring three race days for the Warrior Relay races. In the Warrior Relay, the rider races bareback on thoroughbred horses, and jumps from one horse to the next in each lap around a track. In total, the single rider does two transfers to three different horses in three laps.

Dwight Crazy Boy has been a Warrior Relay rider for seven years, and he says it’s important for the Warrior Relay to have more representation across the province.

“It’s very important, because back home on the reservation, there’s a lot of opioid use and I think we need to show them they can go places if you do what you like,” Crazy Boy said.

Crazy Boy also says being able to race is helping reimagine Indigenous culture.

“It’s like our new culture in a way,” Crazy Boy said. “Because, our old practices are gone, so now, I would like to carry on horse racing. It’s pretty strong and I just want to root for it right now.”

The first Warrior Relay is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 2022, one week after the RMTC season kicks off.

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