Barrel Racers Have Big Local Impact - Happy With Exhibition’s Facilities And People
By Robert Thomas
The recent Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association’s provincial finals had a major economic impact with hundreds of riders and fans happy with the event.
At Tuesday evening’s monthly board meeting of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company general manager gave a verbal report about the August event.
“We can only guess the impact it had )on the local economy),” Fowler told the board.
“The economic impact of 275 trailers and the people that go with them is huge to the community from fuel, food, restaurants, alcohol, school supplies shopping etc,” Fowler’s report read.
The event attracted approximately 450 horses and their riders.
One of the participants in the pee wee competition at the recent Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association’s provincial finals - MJ Independent file photo by Robert Thomas
Fowler said that when they saw a truck leaving without a trailer attached they thought $100 was being spent.
He then corrected himself and said a family of four going out for supper or other outing likely easily spent over $100 in the Moose Jaw economy.
Although the event is booked annually Fowler said there is a strong chance the SBRA will be back once again next year although there is some push to hold it elsewhere - Saskatoon.
He said the quality of the facilities plus the service the Exhibition employees provides is a major selling point to get the event back year over year.
“They seem they are really happy and they want to come back,” he said.
The Exhibition’s staff and volunteers who worked the event were key elements for riders and others.
“It was amazing the comments about the grounds and how they commended the staff.”
Even the rides the Exhibition provides for free by golf carts drew praise from attendees, he said.
The rides allowed the staff and volunteers to “get lots of good feedback” about the event, Fowler said.
Photo from above shows the quality of the track the riders road on - MJ Independent file photo by Robert Thomas
Board member Ross Smith, who drove one of the tractors conditioning the track, said he had heard some good comments from participants.
“They said how accommodating people are here than any other place…it’s like you come here and you are welcome here” Smith said going on to say participants told him in other facilities he was told the service received was not as good.
“The big thing is the service provided,” he said.
Fowler said the comments he had heard was “it’s like you people want us to be here.”
The Board then went on to commend the efforts of the Exhibition’s staff.
No information was given at the meeting if the SBRA had decided to host their 2025 provincial finals in Moose Jaw.