Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division)

06/22/2026

First Starts, Big Rewards for Alberta-Bred Two Year Olds

🏇 Alberta-breds RECOIL and MARABELLO made their racing debuts on Sunday's Father's Day card at Century Mile, with RECOIL finishing a game third and MARABELLO coming home fourth in the Maiden Special Weight for two-year-olds.

While neither youngster captured the winner's share of the purse this time, both horses still earned their owners a $1,500 incentive payment through the 2026 Two-Year-Old Development Program simply by making their first official start in Alberta!

Offered by CTHS (Alberta Division) in partnership with Horse Racing Alberta through Breed Improvement Funding, the program rewards owners who invest in developing Alberta-bred juveniles. With incentives available for the first 35 qualifying Alberta-bred two-year-olds to make their debut in 2026, there's never been a better time to get those young horses to the races!

🔗 Learn more about the Two-Year-Old Development Program:
https://www.cthsalta.com/maiden-2yo-dev-program-breeding-incentive-program-2026

https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlusIndex.cfm?tid=CTM&dt=06/21/2026&ctry=CAN

06/22/2026

🏇 Alberta Bred Highlights from a Busy Weekend at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino! 🏇

It was an exciting weekend of racing at Century Mile, with Alberta-breds finding plenty of success from Friday through Sunday!

Friday June 19th

The Alberta-breds captured victories in both Race 4 and Race 8.

H K MIMI was victorious in Race 4, a claiming race for fillies and mares three years old and up who have never won three races or Alberta-breds who have never won four races. The four-year-old daughter of Singing Saint has now won her last two starts and has also recorded a second and third-place finish in her four starts this season. H K MIMI was bred by Kerry Wilson, is owned by Carole Rycroft, and trained by Tom Rycroft. She now sports a career record of 13-4-2-3 with earnings of approximately $40,800.

Race 8 went to WEDGE POND, who captured the starter allowance for three-year-olds and up who have started for a claiming price of AB $10,000 or less in one of their last five starts. The eight-year-old son of Cape Canaveral has been in top form this season, winning three of his four starts in 2026, including his last three in a row. Owned by Mitch Sutherland and trained by Jim Brown, the 2024 Champion Claimer was bred by Highfield Investment Group Inc. WEDGE POND now has a career record of 50-17-11-4 with earnings of approximately $214,900.

Saturday June 20th

Saturday's card was run over a sloppy track, making for challenging conditions for all competitors.

In Race 5, Alberta-bred CHAOTIC SKY scored his second consecutive victory of the season in a claiming race for three-year-olds and up who have never won two races or Alberta-breds who have never won three races. The homebred for Bar None Ranches Ltd. is trained by Ron Grieves and now has a career record of 4-2-1-1 with earnings of approximately $24,300.

Race 6 featured the black type R.A. Red McKenzie Handicap Stakes for fillies and mares three years old and up over seven furlongs. Alberta-bred BIG HUG put in another strong performance, finishing second behind BC-bred AVANA for owners Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm.

Congratulations to the connections of winner AVANA and Alberta-bred runner-up BIG HUG in this highly anticipated race!

Father's Day Sunday June 21st

The Alberta-bred ZIP IT WRIT closed out the weekend with a victory in Race 7, an allowance race over seven furlongs for three year olds and up who have never won two races. The son of Tapwrit was making his first start of the 2026 season and delivered a winning performance for trainer Karline Kingston and owner Don Danard. Bred by C.W. Matier, the CTHS Alberta Sale graduate now has a career record of 14-2-7-3 with earnings of approximately $80,900.

Congratulations to all the winning connections on a fantastic weekend for Alberta-bred runners at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino! 🎉

https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbRaceChartCalendar.cfm?refresh=1

06/18/2026

Alberta-Bred Juveniles Chase Debut Success and Bonus Incentives on Father’s Day Card

The excitement continues at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino this Father’s Day weekend with a Thoroughbred race card on Sunday, June 21, highlighted by a Maiden Special Weight for two-year-olds over four and one-half furlongs. The seven-horse field features BC-breds BAKK FOR BRIA, BAKKEN TOWN, BEONDTHESUN and CENTELLO; Kentucky-bred SILENT BURR; and Alberta-breds RECOIL and MARABELLO.

These Alberta-breds will be making their career debuts. RECOIL, a c**t by Reload, races for trainer Rod Cone, owner Al Pitchko and breeder Gerald Babchinshin. The CTHS Alberta Sale graduate was purchased for $14,497 at last year’s sale and is out of the Awesome Again mare My Lady Anna. Fellow Alberta-bred MARABELLO is a homebred for Empire Equestrian, trained by Rick Hedge. The son of Car Talk is out of the English Channel mare Broadway Bella.

The race carries added significance for Alberta-breds thanks to the 2026 Two-Year-Old Development Program. Offered by CTHS (Alberta Division) in partnership with Horse Racing Alberta through Breed Improvement Funding, the program rewards owners who get their Alberta-bred juveniles to the races early.

Beginning with the first two-year-old race of the 2026 season, owners of eligible Alberta-breds receive a $1,500 incentive when their horse makes its first official start in Alberta. That means maiden two-year-olds such as RECOIL and MARABELLO are not only racing for purse money and the chance to launch their careers—they are also competing for an additional $1,500 incentive simply by making their debut.

The incentive is available for up to the first 35 qualifying Alberta-bred starters in 2026. Horses must be registered Alberta-breds and make at least one official start as a two-year-old in Alberta, with the payment issued to the owner of record at the time of the first start.

Further information on the 2026 Two-Year-Old Development Program can be found at the CTHS Alberta website: https://www.cthsalta.com/maiden-2yo-dev-program-breeding-incentive-program-2026

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexCTM062126CAN-EQB.html

photo credit: Kady Dane Photography

06/18/2026

🏇 Two-time Alberta Horse of the Year Big Hug returns to Century Mile on Saturday to renew her rivalry with BC star Avana in the R.A. Red McKenzie Handicap.

Read Curtis Stock's story: *Big Hug Meets Avana in Long-Awaited Rematch.*

Current-Year Thoroughbred Rulings in Alberta

06/18/2026

Two exciting black type stakes headline the Saturday evening card at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino as some of Western Canada’s top runners square off over seven furlongs.

The R.A. Red McKenzie Handicap for fillies and mares three years old and up will go as Race 6 with a post time of 7:15 p.m. The five-horse field features BC-breds VIVA LA DIVA and AVANA, Ontario-bred WHO’S THAT BABY, Kentucky-bred GEE I’M FOXY, and Alberta’s own superstar BIG HUG.

All eyes will be on the reigning 2024 and 2025 Alberta Horse of the Year, BIG HUG, as she makes her highly anticipated first start of the 2026 season for owners Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm and trainer Rick Hedge. Bred by Chalet Stable, the six-year-old daughter of Mr. Big has established herself as one of the most accomplished Alberta-bred mares of all time, boasting an impressive record of 32 starts with 17 wins, 6 seconds, and 4 thirds while earning more than $625,000 CDN. Remarkably, Big Hug was purchased for just $2,759 at the 2021 CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale, proving once again that champions can emerge from anywhere. Known for her speed, toughness, and consistency, she returns to defend the title she captured in 2025 and will undoubtedly be the one to catch.

Later on the card, the Spangled Jimmy Handicap will run as Race 9 with a post time of 8:45 p.m. The black type stake for three year olds and up has attracted a competitive field of nine, including Kentucky-breds STONEVICIOUS, LORD OF BATTLE, ABELIEFINTHISLIVIN, CRUSHER ROYALE and SUNBIRD; California-bred ACCIDENTAL GENIUS; Florida-bred RAINBOW’S PRIDE; Ontario-bred GOTME GOOD; and Saskatchewan-bred AL REICHERT.

With two black type stakes on the program and the return of one of Alberta racing’s greatest mares, Saturday promises to be an unforgettable evening of racing at Century Mile.

Best of luck to all the entries and their connections!

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexCTM062026CAN-EQB.html

06/16/2026

Our friends at HBPA Alberta are currently seeking donations for their upcoming Silent Auction! 🐎🎁 Horse-related and non-horse-related items are welcome, and tax receipts can be issued for all donations. If you'd like to contribute or learn more, please contact Bailey Williams at [email protected] or 236-512-5804.

📣 We are once again asking for donations for our Silent Auction!

Donations can be horse-related or non-horse-related, and we’re already shaping up with a fantastic collection of unique and exciting items. Every contribution helps make our event a success!

If you would like to donate an item or have any questions, please contact:

📧 Bailey Williams – [email protected]
📞 236-512-5804

Tax receipts can be issued for all donations made to the event.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity. We truly appreciate our amazing racing community and supporters! 🐎

06/16/2026

Join the team at Highfield Stock Farm!

06/15/2026

Alberta-bred runners were back in the winner’s circle on both the Friday and Saturday race cards at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino!

LUTEDIDIT kicked things off with a victory in Race 8 on Friday evening, a maiden claiming race for fillies and mares three years old and up contested over six furlongs. The Boisterous three-year-old defeated a field of eight to earn her first career victory in her first start of the season. Bred by Mervin Lansing, LUTEDIDIT is owned by Hurley Racing Stable, KTM Investments Ltd., and AMH Holdings Ltd., and is trained by Deanna Walper. The CTHS Alberta Sale graduate now has a career record of 3-1-0-0 with earnings of approximately $8,900.

On Saturday, LADYACE OF SPEIGHT captured Race 3, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares three years old and up, from a field of seven runners. The Speightster mare is a CTHS Alberta Sale graduate bred and owned by WorkWize Ent. Stables and trained by Ron Grieves. This was the first career victory for the five-year-old after recording two runner-up finishes earlier this season. LADYACE OF SPEIGHT now has a career record of 7-1-3-1 with earnings of approximately $37,000.

Congratulations to the connections of these Alberta-bred winners on their success at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino!

https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlusIndex.cfm?tid=CTM&dt=6/12/2026&ctry=CAN

https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlusIndex.cfm?tid=CTM&dt=6/12/2026&ctry=CAN
Photo below of Ladyace of Speight June 13th 2026 Race 3
PC Ryan Haynes Coady Photo Ltd.

06/10/2026

We're excited to help promote the first Horse Racing Women’s Association event in Western Canada—don’t miss this opportunity to connect with and learn from some of the most accomplished women in Thoroughbred racing on July 11 at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino! 🏇✨

Current-Year Thoroughbred Rulings in Alberta

06/10/2026

Foal Mud Buddies at Work! 🐴🤎

Wize Stables' April babies are already best friends and making the most of all the recent rain— Mystic (by Fight On, born April 24) and Chester (by Malibu Max, born just five days later) are proving that every foal needs a partner in crime for muddy adventures and playful days in the pasture.

📸 Credit: Dr. Brenda Abbey