Marquis Downs

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Marquis Downs
Marquis Downs logo.png
LocationSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
Coordinates52°05′42″N 106°40′40″W / 52.09497°N 106.67782°W / 52.09497; -106.67782Coordinates: 52°05′42″N 106°40′40″W / 52.09497°N 106.67782°W / 52.09497; -106.67782
Owned bySaskatoon Prairieland Park Corp.
Date opened1969
Date closed2021
Race typeThoroughbred
Course typeOval
Notable racesPrairie Lily Stakes
Saskatchewan Derby
Saskatchewan Futurity
Official website
Marquis Downs at Prairieland Park

Marquis Downs was a horse racing venue in the Exhibition subdivision of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It featured thoroughbred horse racing.

History[]

Marquis Downs opened in 1969 with thoroughbred racing. It is part of the Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation. Harness racing was discontinued after the 1987 season, but returned from 2005 to 2010.

In 2020, Marquis Downs cancelled its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan. In February 2021, Marquis Downs cancelled its 2021 season, stating that current health orders, international travel restrictions, and financial impacts of holding races without spectators made it logistically impossible to conduct racing.[1]

On March 12, 2021, Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation announced that Marquis Downs would no longer host thoroughbred racing. Prairieland Park announced that it was in negotiations with Living Sky Sports and Entertainment to repurpose the site for a soccer-specific stadium, which would host an expansion team in the Canadian Premier League.[2][3]

Physical attributes[]

The main track is a five-furlong oval with a seven furlong chute. The grandstand capacity is 3,500. The track is located in the southwest corner of the Prairieland Exhibition Grounds, with access via St. Henry Avenue to the west.

Racing[]

Marquis Downs offered live thoroughbred racing every Friday and Saturday from late May to the first Saturday of September.

A few stakes races were held at Marquis Downs, most notably the Saskatchewan Derby, Prairie Lily Sales Stake and Heritage Day which showcases the Saskatchewan breeds. The minimum purse in 2007 was $3,000 and the Heritage races featured a $100,000 purse.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Marquis Downs cancels 2021 racing season". 650 CKOM. Retrieved 2021-02-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Prairieland Park permanently cancels horse-racing at Marquis Downs after 50 years". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-03-12.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Prairieland says goodbye to thoroughbred racing for good – and reveals plans for soccer league". CTV News Saskatoon. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2021-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ McConachie, Doug (May 25, 2007). "Horse racing beats the odds at Marquis Downs". The StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 2008-05-13.

External links[]

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