the impact of Horse racing goes farther than you think.
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sports daysHorse racing happens all over Saskatchewan, not just at Marquis Downs. Take, for example, the ‘Sports Day’ that is held at the community racetrack located at Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation outside of Duck Lake in September. Sports days usually feature a number of flat races and also host Rubber Tire races, Indian Relay, Stock Saddle Racing and Miniature Pony Races (with little kids aboard).
Anyone from outside of the community is welcome to attend, and anyone can participate. Young kids with a burning passion to ride compete against professional jockeys and longtime veterans. There is a small cost for admission, normally about $5, and an entry fee for the horses. Many of the races are sponsored by families who live in the area and have been a part of horse racing for a very long time, sometimes generations. During a normal year, the bleachers would be packed, the outside rail lined with vehicles, people coming from all over Saskatchewan to watch the races and enjoy an afternoon of socializing. Little kids would be riding around on their ponies, racing each other throughout the grounds.
This is not a normal year, of that we are all aware. But no matter what - regardless of the number of attendees, the weather, or the circumstances - the sense of community that one feels at these events is incredible. The support for fellow horsemen, the riders, their friends and family, and the future generation of horse people is immense. |
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