BGRA is offering two exciting contests.
The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) is pleased to announce that prominent Standardbred breeder and owner Tom Rankin is once again supporting our Youth Contests in 2025!
Like last year, the BGRA is offering two exciting contests:
• Youth Literary Derby – Open to Ontario elementary students (Grades 3-8), who can submit a poem or short story about anything related to Standardbred racing. Entries will be judged in junior (Grades 3-5) and intermediate (Grades 6-8) divisions.
• Youth Art Derby – Open to Ontario students (Grades 3-12). Participants can submit drawings or sketches with a Standardbred theme, with categories for junior, intermediate, and a senior division (Grades 9-12)!
2024 Awards - second VR Group
Thanks to Tom Rankin’s generous support, cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in each division! The deadline to enter is Sunday, August 31 at midnight.
For the past two years, Tom not only sponsored the contests but also welcomed hundreds of visitors to an Open House at his Standardbred breeding farm in St. Catharines, where attendees met the broodmares and foals—an experience that inspired many contest participants!
2024 Awards EG Presentation.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Tom for sponsoring these contests again and for his dedication to youth involvement in Standardbred racing,” said Karen Hauver, BGRA director.
“I'm thrilled to support the BGRA Youth Contests again this year,” said Tom. “Encouraging young people to engage with Standardbred racing—whether through art, writing, or hands-on experiences—helps foster a lifelong appreciation for these incredible horses. It’s been wonderful to witness the passion and creativity that past participants have brought to these contests, and I’m also looking forward to welcoming the community back to our farm for another Open House. It's a privilege to be part of something that connects the next generation to the world of horse racing in such a meaningful way."
Awards - Race 4 with Travis Cullen
Contest finalists aged 13 and up will receive complimentary access to Equine Guelph’s Youth Horse Behavior and Safety online course!
Educators and youth group leaders—if you’d like more details or promotional materials, email info@bgracingalliance.ca. Full contest details and rules are available on our website.
Get creative, and good luck to all participants!
About the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance
A group of Ontario harness racing enthusiasts who were friends and associates of the late Bill Galvin, formed the BGRA to promote Ontario harness racing in the Hall of Famer’s honour.
The mission of the BGRA is to work together to create and encourage partnerships and programs that will promote and grow harness racing by engaging the public with the racing community.
For more information on the BGRA, visit bgracingalliance.ca