Northlands Park rides into sunset
After two decades of mostly managing to run horse racing here into the ground, Northlands Park on Saturday simultaneously hosted a great goodbye to the Canadian Derby and fond farewell to thoroughbred horse racing.
The last thoroughbred race and last Canadian Derby brought back all the good memories, not the bad, formed at the mostly mismanaged track of the last couple of decades.
It was like Hal Veale of Sycamore Stables put it as he sat surrounded by maybe 7,000 fans at the facility.
“I’m going to miss a lot of things. I’m not going to miss a lot more things. But today is a day to remember all the things we’re going to miss,” said the owner, who has raced horses at the old bull ring for 41 years and had his horse Double Bear involved in a year-long appeal with Trooper John and Chief Know It All that effectively still goes on, although at this moment his horse is cowinner with Trooper John of the 2017 derby.
I’m not sure where Sky Promise, who came from eighth in a field of nine to breeze past the rest like they were stuck in quicksand in this year’s race, will go down in history. But Western Canada’s ultimate day of horse racing was a winner with a derby day scene the equal of many stakes races with far bigger purses than the pathetic $200,000 available for this edition.
The day featured 12 races with an average of 10 horses per race. And let it be chronicled that Scott Sinclair, Jason Teague and staff put on an exceptional show.
The event is moving to Century Mile, the only mile-length track this side of Toronto’s Woodbine and currently under construction at Edmonton International Airport.
Paul Ryneveld, who is heading up the new facility, left Northlands Park following the race with a rave review.
“It was an awesome event. From the time that you showed up, there was energy and it built throughout the day,” he said.
It was a Canadian Derby day in Edmonton like Canadian Derby days used to be — a special occasion on the sports calendar of a vibrant and celebrated sports city. And it had to leave the fans wondering if such a day might ever be replicated at the new track.
Will the new “racino” attract 7,000 fans, produce a $1,211,250 handle (up from $1,097,288 last year, but with only $600,000 from on-track betting) for the 90th Canadian Derby and inaugural edition at the airport?
There is little doubt the horsemen will be happier away from years of dysfunctional delivery of their product by Northlands. The Century people will no doubt prove themselves to be decidedly better at marketing and promotion than Northlands — and racing out at the airport, they’re going to have to be.
I don’t question they’ll raise purses and even raise the horse population on the property. They have to. There have been far too many race cards with five-horse fields.
“You can’t sell that product. Nobody wants it,” Ryneveld said.
Having what has been projected to be double the casino take as the Northlands slot machines produce should help, he said.
“We should see something fairly quickly towards the increase in purses. Raising the purse money will lead to the horse population improving. The whole thrill of horse ownership goes up.”
The mile-long track, combined with increased purses, should increase the horse population on the property. The customer population, initially, may be more challenging. Century is about to hire the people and spend a few million between now and opening day on that quest.
But can Century possibly replicate the 89th Canadian Derby?
“That purse needs to be higher than that. I believe it needs to be $500,000 to really attract horses,” he said.
Ryneveld said the model is Sunland Park in New Mexico.
“With the race that’s now the Sunland Derby, which is a Kentucky Derby prep, it went to $500,000 and is now $800,000. But they also created a race on the card that was $100,000 for regional bred horses or horses that started at the meet,” he said, referring to the calibre of the majority of horses that fill the field at most Canadian derbies.
It’s his hope that next year’s derby will have a much higher status. Best guess is a $300,000 to $400,000 purse next year.
With only 400 grandstand seats at Century Mile, however, it’s definitely going to be different on derby day.
“We have a large apron to deal with whether it’s utilizing the infield or utilizing everything before you get to the turn. I don’t think we’ll have any issues of being able to handle a crowd of 10,000 people,” Ryneveld said.
“Inside the building, I believe we can handle a similar (number) to what Northlands has between Colours, Uplinks, Sky Paddock, etc., on the second floor. We already have plans for the temporary infrastructure where people can have a comfortable time and a great experience.”
Frankly, from what I’ve seen, I hope they go back to the drawing board in that area, especially in grandstand seating. But we’ll see. Bottom line?
“People should be confident that we will provide them with a similar experience and hopefully we’ll exceed that,” Ryneveld said.