RMTC saddles up for its 31st year

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Alexandra Noad
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Rocky Mountain Turf Club (RMTC) is reared up and ready to ride through its 31st season of live thoroughbred racing, celebrating the Year of the Horse throughout the spring and fall.

Racing commenced Saturday, May 2 and will run every Saturday and Sunday until the end of June. It will then return in September and run until mid-October.

This free, family-friendly event brings quality entertainment every weekend for people of all ages with activities like stick horse racing and the well-loved candy scramble for the kids, and young at heart, to enjoy alongside the thrilling races.

RMTC was established in 1996, after the Lethbridge & District Exhibition determined it necessary to discontinue horse racing due to economic reasons.

Former premier Ralph Klein asked Max Gibb, chief executive officer of RMTC to take on the challenge of keeping the spirit of horse racing alive in southern Alberta for historic and economical purposes.

Today, RMTC is one of only six horse tracks still open in the province.

Being on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot people, RMTC is dedicated to working with Indigenous community initiatives.

Thirty per cent of the trainers and horsemen at RMTC are Indigenous, which Gibb believes is one of the highest in the world.

While watching them train and care for the horses, Gibb describes the relationship the Indigenous people and horses as a spiritual connection.

“The horse is a healing spirit to our Blackfoot friends and to watch them and see them train and work with their horses is phenomenal; it’s a healing part of their life.”

Along with having a significant portion of Indigenous trainers for thoroughbred racing, RMTC also hosts Warrior Relay Races throughout the year including the Indigenous Nationals Final Rodeo (INFR) last summer.

Gibb says RMTC is expected to host Warrior Relay Races this summer and fall, with dates being announced in the future.