Century Downs gears up for racing
With winter officially in the rearview mirror, at least according to the calendar, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino is preparing for the April 1 start of the 2018 harness racing season.
Coming off the successful introduction of throughbred racing in 2017, expectations are high for an exciting 2018 season.
“We certainly wetted a few appetites last year with the thoroughbreds here in the fall,” said Jackson Wittup, Century Downs race secretary. “It wasn’t perfect weather for that either, but it wasn’t too bad.
“We pulled (the thoroughbred season) off and got a lot more people and knowledge that Century Downs exists, so that was exciting.”
This year, the standardbred season was delayed a few weeks, but Wittup said the delay was not due to the record snowfalls Rocky View County has seen this winter. According to Wittup, the season’s start was intentionally pushed back to coincide with Easter Sunday – which also happens to fall on the four-year anniversary of the opening of Century Downs.
Century Downs has between 125 and 150 horses contracted out and being trained for the upcoming harness racing season, Wittup said, giving the track ample options for racers to take part in throughout the season.
Although harness racing runs both Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer and adds a Monday-evening slot midway through the season, Century Downs is kicking off the year on a Sunday to allow the horses and drivers to get settled into the routine before going back to regular scheduling the following week.
A slight snag in the plan could be the seemingly never-ending winter weather the area has been getting. Wittup said he’s a bit worried the horses might not be fully trained for the start of the season, but added he believes they will be fully prepared soon after.
“Weather certainly hasn’t been working in our favour, with all the snow,” Wittup said. “Ice is the biggest problem…. Hopefully that doesn’t get us off to a bad start. By the next week, hopefully we’ll have a few more horses prepared.”
A feature that isn’t new to the track, but Wittup said is still worth noting, is the Century Downs Racing Club. For an annual membership fee of $250, race fans have the opportunity to purchase a share of two horses.
This allows them to access all the privileges of being shareholders in a prime racehorse – without the extra costs involved in maintaining the animal.
Members will have the chance to walk through the stables; meet, pet and groom their horses; and even join them in the winner’s circle, should their horse win.
“You buy in, pay $250 and never get a training, shoeing or vet bill, but you find out what it’s like to be in the game,” Wittup said.
For more information, contact Century Downs customer service line at 587-359-7777.
The season kicks off April 1, with the first race starting at 1:15 p.m.
By: Andrew Halipchuk
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