Century Casinos opened the 2015/2016 racing season at their new race track and casino just a mile north of Calgary city limits at 2pm on Saturday April 25th to a cheering crowd. The region hasn’t seen a live horse race in 8 over years. Along with a packed casino (which opened April 1st) the windy 5 1/2 furlong (1.1 kilometer) Century Downs?just east of CrossIron Mills saw an enthusiastic crowd turn out to welcome racing back to the area.
Visitors will find standardbred racing, most often called “harness racing”; a long time tradition in the Calgary area – with thoroughbreds and quarterhorses coming later in the season (2016). For those unfamiliar with standardbred races in Canada, the driver is pulled in a sulky or race bike, that looks like a miniature, state-of-the-art Roman chariot.
Live race days are Saturdays, Sundays and holidays starting at 2:00 pm. Friday evenings will be added to the program in the summer months. For non-live race days there is still the new off-track betting room where bettors can place their stakes 7 days a week on live races broadcast from other tracks around North America. Live race days will be increased to over 100 a year starting next season.
In addition to the race track and simulcast facilities guests will find the casino open seven days a week from 9:30am to 3am, with over 500 slots and electronic table games like Roulette, Baccarat, blackjack and Craps. The casino offers one of Century Casino’s signature MidCity Grills.