Marquis Downs
Marquis Downs is a horse race track in the Exhibition subdivision of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It features thoroughbred horse racing.
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| Location | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52.09497°N 106.67782°W |
| Owned by | Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corp. |
| Date opened | 1969 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Course type | Oval |
| Notable races | Prairie Lily Stakes Saskatchewan Derby Saskatchewan Futurity |
| Official website | |
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 in 2005.
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 offers live thoroughbred racing every Friday and Saturday from late May to the first Saturday of September. Standardbred racing is conducted for the following four weeks, also every Friday and Saturday.
A few stakes races are held at Marquis Downs, most notably the Saskatchewan Derby, Prairie Lily Sales Stake and Heritage Day which showcases the Saskatchewan breds. The minimum purse in 2007 was $3,000 and the Heritage races featured a $100,000 purse.[1]
References
- 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.