Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, SK, and Fraser Downs in Surrey, BC, are both about to be undergoing demolition in the coming weeks.
Marquis Downs, which had its last Thoroughbred meet in its 50th year, 2019, is expected to be replaced by a parking lot.
Opened in 1969 to Thoroughbred racing, Marquis was a noted Standardbred track. The Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation operated Marquis and its Thoroughbred racing for half a century. The five-furlong track held races such as the Saskatchewan Derby and Prairie Lily Stakes.
Notable Canadian horses including Empress of India, Page Me Doll, Shady Remark and Code Name Fred have won the Saskatchewan Derby.
When the COVID-10 pandemic hit, Marquis did not open for racing in 2020 and the meet for 2021 was also cancelled. The track never opened again. There had been early plans that a soccer stadium might be built on the site, but that proved to be too expensive.
See below for CTV’s report on the recent news about the Marquis grandstand, and read more about Fraser Downs at Standardbred Canada here.
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