Canadian Derby will highlight stakes schedule at new Century Mile

The Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby will headline the inaugural Century Mile meet, which begins April 28 and runs for 51 days through Aug. 26.

The new Century Mile is the only one-mile track in Canada west of Ontario. It is located in Nisku, Alberta, a suburb of Edmonton, and is a drive and a wedge from the Edmonton Airport. It replaces Northlands Park, which was located in Edmonton.

The 80th running of the Canadian Derby will be Sunday, Aug. 18. The distance of the derby has changed from its traditional 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles.

The derby is the only graded race in Alberta and headlines a big racing weekend that includes the $100,000 Century Casino Oaks, $75,000 Northlands Distaff for fillies and mares, and the $75,000 Century Mile for 3-year-olds and up. The Oaks and Distaff are Saturday, Aug. 17.

Century Mile will run 19 stakes worth a total of $1.175 million. The stakes schedule kicks off with a stakes doubleheader on May 20 with the $50,000 Journal for 3-year-olds and up and the $50,000 Jet Set for fillies and mares. Doubleheaders will be the norm, with the $50,000 City of Leduc for 2-year-olds on July 28 the only stakes on the schedule with no support. The 5 1/2-furlong Leduc is the first stakes for juveniles at the meet.

The stakes schedule ends Aug. 25 with the $50,000 Birdcatcher for 2-year-olds and the $50,000 Princess Margaret for 2-year-old fillies.