Horse Racing Alberta, under the Horse Racing Alberta Act, has introduced a comprehensive set of “B” Race Track Licensing Rules as part of its ongoing strategy to strengthen the province’s horse racing industry. These rules are built upon the recommendations of the 2025 “B” Track Safety and Improvement Subcommittee and the Regulatory and Licensing Committee, and are designed to modernize the industry by using track licensing as a central mechanism for growth, accountability, and quality assurance. The overarching goal is to secure the sustainability of horse racing in Alberta by ensuring that racing venues operate with solid business and strategic plans that reflect consumer demand, industry standards, and long-term development.

The objectives guiding this regulatory framework emphasize the creation of high-quality facilities that serve horsemen, participants, racing officials, patrons, and the wider public. The rules aim to expand Alberta’s pari-mutuel horse racing market in a measured way, linked to consumer demand, while also safeguarding agriculture and horse breeding in the province. To accomplish this, Horse Racing Alberta will restrict the number of track licences to those that the market can realistically sustain. Each licence is tied to live racing dates, ensuring that gaming licences at Racing Entertainment Centres remain firmly connected to live horse racing rather than being driven solely by gaming revenue.

The licensing process itself is organized as a two-phase procedure, inviting proposals from interested parties before advancing selected applicants to a full application stage. In this second phase, applicants are required to present detailed business and operational plans, including information on marketing, budgets, facilities, track development, and long-term strategies for stabilizing and improving horse racing in their region. By mandating multi-year business planning, Horse Racing Alberta seeks to create stability and accountability, ensuring that licensees contribute meaningfully to the province’s racing landscape.

Licences are required not only for conducting live races but also for operating off-track betting theatres, telephone account betting systems, and racing entertainment centres. Race tracks are classified into three categories: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A tracks host at least 100 live racing days per year and must meet extensive infrastructure and operational requirements. Class B tracks host between 15 and 60 days annually and may be required to expand their racing schedule if deemed beneficial to the province. Class C tracks conduct up to 15 live racing days each year, serving more localized markets but still adhering to minimum operational standards. This classification system ensures that each track type contributes appropriately to the racing industry based on its scale and capacity.

Through these licensing rules, Horse Racing Alberta intends to regulate growth carefully, balancing consumer demand with industry integrity. By linking gaming privileges directly to live racing, mandating long-term business planning, and ensuring rigorous evaluation of applicants, the Corporation aims to improve the quality, accountability, and sustainability of Alberta’s horse racing industry.

Alberta (Proposed) October 1, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.