The winners of the championship relay race will also be awarded personalized hoodies which were custom designed by Nadine Tailfeathers, sister of Jason Goodstriker. (Photo: LNN)

By Joel Mendelson

Rocky Mountain Turf Club to host annual Jason Goodstriker Memorial event

Sep 21, 2023 | 3:20 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – For the third year running, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club is hosting the Jason Goodstriker Memorial and Warrior Race Championship on September 23 and 24, 2023.

Goodstriker was a leader and friend to many. He was a Blood Tribe councillor and a former Alberta Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations. He was raised on a ranch and adored horses, and often spoke of owning a relay race team someday. Goodstriker passed away in January 2020.

James and Marie Mcneely are members of the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana. They have donated three horse blankets for the weekend event, one for each horse from the winning team. The blankets were custom designed by artist and designer Juanita Cole Crasco from the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana.

Horse blankets were donated for the weekend event at Rocky Mountain Turf Club. (Photo: LNN)

In the relay, each team consists of three horses, a rider, catcher, an exchange holder and a back holder.

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The rider starts with both feet on the ground while the catcher holds the horse. The sound of the horn starts the race, the rider then climbs onto the horse and starts racing. Once they’ve gone around the track, they return to a designated box where the catcher collects the horse. The rider then dismounts and gets on the second horse, which is held by the exchange holder, and the race continues.

The winners of the championship relay race will also be awarded personalized hoodies, which were custom designed by Jason Goodstriker’s sister Nadine Tailfeathers.

The event is just before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, and Reconciliation Week. CEO of Rocky Mountain Turf Club Max Gibb said he is happy with the timing of the event.

Gibb stated, “It’s unbelievable, I think it’s one of the best reconciliation programs in the world, that I know of. Everyone is excited about it. It brings out the culture and the history of our Indigenous and First Nations, and the competition is unbelievable and the crowds love it. It’s so exciting.”

Races begin at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and the relays will begin closer to 3 p.m.

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