Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) has approved the 2026 Budget, reflecting a disciplined approach in response to current economic conditions while maintaining strong support for the province's racing and breeding industries.
"We remain committed to stewarding Alberta's horse racing industry responsibly and sustainably," said Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Alberta. "Despite a challenging economic landscape, HRA's program funding remains strong, with 93 percent of all revenue directed to horse people and racetrack operators and 7 percent allocated to administrative costs. Our priority continues to be ensuring that as much funding as possible flows directly to the industry."
HRA Board Chair Diana McQueen emphasized the Board's prudent decision-making: "The Board of Directors undertook a careful review of the economic realities impacting our industry. The adjustments within the 2026 budget reflect those conditions while safeguarding the long-term health of racing in Alberta. The Board is confident that this budget represents a responsible balance between stability today and growth opportunities in the future."
Purse Funding Allocation
For 2026, Horse Racing Alberta has approved total purse allocations of $16 million, supporting racing opportunities across Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse breeds. While this reflects a small decrease from 2025, Alberta continues to offer one of the strongest purse structures in Canada outside Ontario, maintaining solid opportunities for owners and trainers in all sectors.
Breed Improvement Program (BIP) Funding Allocation
The Breed Improvement Program (BIP) will be $5.05 million in 2026, continuing HRA's longstanding commitment to strengthening Alberta's racing population and supporting key organizations including the CTHS Alberta Division, HBPA of Alberta, Alberta Community Racing Association, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, and Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association.
Program metrics have shown that investment in this program increases our racing population by fostering stronger breeding operations and elevating the overall quality of the racing stock.
Incentive Programs - Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program (RPIP) Funding & Racehorse Shipping Incentive Program (RSIP) Funding
Developed in 2022, the Racehorse Procurement Incentive Program (RPIP) was designed to facilitate an increase in field sizes and the overall horse population in Alberta. The Racehorse Shipping Incentive Program (RSIP) supports ship-in costs associated with moving horses around the province to facilitate the availability of horses at each racetrack. The Horse Racing Alberta Board voted to support the continuation of these programs in 2026, with a reduction in the housing subsidy for both HBPA Alberta and ASHA, but allocating a budget of $600,000 to further strengthen the province's racehorse population.
All programs and funding allocations have been approved by the Horse Racing Alberta Board of Directors.
For specific information and breed program details, please visit the following websites:
Thoroughbred: hbpaalberta.ca; cthsalta.com; actraracing.ca
Standardbred: asha.ab.ca
Quarter Horses: aqhra.ca
