This Saturday, September 9th, will end the 2017 Standardbred racing season at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino. To end the season off with a bang, Chuckwagon drivers will be racing down the track, and Meridian Farms’ KidSport Day will be happening on the Apron.
This season has seen many different people and events at the track, and every year it gets better and better. The season began on Saturday, March 18th on a sunny Saturday where we welcomed the drivers and Standardbred horses back to the track. Jumping to now, there has been 68 Standardbred race days – up to 71 by the end of Saturday.
Many people have come to the track, and we’ve celebrated annual events and new ones. Century Downs celebrated its 2nd Anniversary on April 1st, we’ve partnered with Virgin Radio Calgary for our annual Chihuahua Races on Cinco de Mayo, we celebrated retired Standardbred drivers with the Old Time Pace race, we hosted our first car show with the Shriner’s Show and Shrine, we invited seasoned drivers back to our track for Pacing for Charity, we celebrated Canada 150 in style with Crystal McGrath, Scenic Route to Alaska and an amazing fireworks display, we teamed up with Standardbred Canada for Bring a Friend Day, satisfied our guests’ thirst with our annual Libations Fest, worked with Packwood Grand to celebrate old-time luxury and sophistication, hosted our first Calgary Racing Festival – capping it off with the first leg of the World Driving Championships, gave retired Standardbreds the spotlight with the Pace Under Saddle race, celebrated ladies with Ladies’ Day at the Track, hosted our annual Wiener Dog Races, and will now end the season by watching chuckwagon drivers race down our track!
All throughout the season we’ve had a wonderful partnership with the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA), who has done tremendous work on and off the track. Throughout the season various charities, including Olds & District Christmas Angels, Autism Speaks, Olds & District Hospice Society, Didsbury Volunteer Fire Department, and Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society have all been a part of ASHA’s Let the Sun Shine program.
To end the season off, Meridian Farms’ KidSport Day will be hosted at the track from 12:30PM to 4:30PM. Bring the family out for a day of fun! There will be an ice cream truck to eat cold treats, face painting, balloon twisters, chalk drawing and more! Fiasco Gelato and Ranch 2 City will be on site at the south side of the Apron, in the event tent.
Top Driver Mike Hennessy has been an advocate for KidSport, and has donated a portion of his winnings in June, July and August to the organization. He will be on-site on Saturday to judge the Meridian Farms colouring contest. “[I’ll be judging on] creativity,” said Mike Hennessy in a recent interview. “[and] if they can keep it between the lines or not.”
Be sure to cheer on your favourite drivers for the final Standardbred race day of the season.
After the end of the Standardbred season, Century Downs will be putting in a new track surface and racing will continue on September 23rd for the Thoroughbred debut with a new post time of 12:50PM. Purchase your table in the Homestretch Room and Mid City Grill through jackie.morrison@cnty.com. For private bookings, email events@centurydowns.com.
To see the entire Thoroughbred race calendar, and to find more information on upcoming events, please go to www.cnty.com/centurydowns, and check out our social channels: www.facebook.com/centurydowns, www.twitter.com/centurydowns and www.instagram.com/centurydowns