Saskatoon city committee dashes efforts to designate Marquis Downs as a heritage site
In an effort to keep the horse racing track in Saskatoon, a Saskatchewan-based jockey made a bid to a city committee to designate Marquis Downs as a heritage site.
"Horse racing is more than just entertainment,” said Nicole Hein. “It represents 150 years of hard work.”
Hein and a handful of others made a pitch to the city’s standing policy committee on planning, development and community services to look into preserving the history of Marquis Downs with a heritage designation.
Under a heritage designation, the owner would be required to maintain the property and must have civic approval to alter the heritage elements of the property according to the City of Saskatoon.
Hein said the heritage designation would help preserve Saskatchewan’s only equine racing track and keep jobs.
Councillor Darren Hill put forward a motion to the committee asking the committee to consider handing over Hein’s request for heritage designation to the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) for further consideration. Hill’s motion was defeated.
While disappointed with the result Hein said the city should look at exploring the option of preserving Marquis Downs.
“In this case, the city has decided to sever a very real tie to our collective history in the face of a viable opportunity to preserve it as a living legacy to our agricultural heritage,” Hein said in an email to CTV News. “What a shame.”
In February Prairieland Park announced it was axing the 2021 racing season because of the deepening COVID-19 pandemic, the second year in a row Prairieland has cancelled the horse racing season.
A month later, Prairieland Park announced it was exploring the option of bringing a soccer team to Saskatoon with the formation of the Canadian Premier League (CPL). A partnership with Living Sky Sports and Entertainment is looking at a stadium for a Saskatoon CPL franchise that would replace Marquis Downs.
New track could spare industry
Last month Moosoomin First Nation announced its intentions to save the Saskatchewan horse racing industry with the development of a new horse-race track just northwest of Saskatoon.
According to the First Nation, Moosomin Downs would consist of 124 acres of land northwest of the city near Highway 16, in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park.
The First Nation, in partnership with Moosomin First Nation Economic Development Corporation, is now looking for partners to help fund the $40 million project. Organizers told CTV News Moosoomin Downs is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.