Racetrack planned for Calgary area

A group of Canadian horse owners and a casino developer will build a small dual-breed racetrack and adjoining casino just north of Calgary, Alberta, the partners announced on Wednesday.

The partners said the property will have a 5 1/2-furlong track and will open for Standardbred racing by the end of 2014, when construction on the track and casino is expected to be completed. Construction of the grandstand, which will have seating for 900, and a 33,000-square-foot casino with 550 slot machines will cost $22.5 million, the partners said. Funding for the project has been secured.

The track will be called Century Downs Racetrack and Casino. Thoroughbred racing is expected to begin at the track in 2016.

The partnership comprises United Horsemen of Alberta, which has pursued racetrack projects for the Calgary area for several years, and Century Casinos, which says that the new casino at the track will be its 27th property.