Former Rocky View, Alta. reeve Al Shule has gone on record as saying that he doesn't think that the CrossIron Mills expansion in Balzac ever had the racetrack as its biggest portion. His comments come as the adjacent CrossIron Mills Mall opens its doors for the first time today

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"I don't think the track was ever the biggest portion of it," Schule has been quoted as saying in an article by the Calgary Herald. "Ultimately, I guess what you see is what you should have got, but it still would be nice to see that track go in."

The mega-mall adjacent to the still-delayed racing facility is up and running effective today, but the track itself is not. Plans for the hotel and casino complex have been scaled back since the United Horseman of Alberta are still searching for adequate funding for the expansion in a tough economic climate.

Click here to the read the Calgary Herald article in its entirety.

(With files from the Calgary Herald)