“If the government allows home betting that will be a big help. Then we might have a chance.”

Alberta Downs Owner Robert Allen has been interviewed for an article in the Red Deer Advocate and he has acknowledged that it has been a tough go bringing the Lacombe raceway along.

Long winters, bad springs, non-wagering races and no 'home' wagering are just some of the issues the track has been facing, but Allen has been trucking right along.

The report explains that wagering has tripled from the track's first year of operation, and even though things can't happen fast enough for everyone involved, conditions, including the grandstand, have improved for fans and horsepeople alike.

Commenting on the state of the provincial industry, Allen said, “It will be a real shame if this industry goes down. This is horse and cattle country.”

(With files from the Red Deer Advocate)