Officials with Century Downs Racetrack & Casino recently provided an update in regard to construction of the highly anticipated racino in Balzac, Alta.
It was announced this past December that Century Casinos, Inc. and United Horsemen of Alberta Inc. reached a deal to develop the racetrack and Racing Entertainment Centre, located next to the CrossIron Mills shopping mall, which is less than one mile north of the city limits of Calgary and 4.5 miles from the Calgary International Airport.
The UHA announced in December that the facility would have an opening date by the end of 2014 with Standardbred racing. The UHA also announced that Thoroughbred racing at the track would commence in 2016.
Via an update on its Facebook page on June 28, Century Downs Racetrack & Casino announced that the company is now eyeing the facility to be open by the first quarter of 2015. The update states that, “After a tough spring and typical wet June weather, we are targeting the 1st quarter of 2015. Hopefully early rather than late!”
On July 15, Century Downs Racetrack & Casino released a one-minute aerial video of the construction progress. The video appears below.
The UHA stated in December that the racino will be the only horse racetrack in the Calgary area and will consist of a 5.5-furlong (0.7-mile) racetrack and a casino, including a gaming floor offering 550 gaming machines, a bar, a lounge, restaurant facilities and an off-track betting area.
Photos of the progress at Century Downs Racetrack & Casino have been posted to the racino’s Facebook page. The most recent photos, which appear below, were uploaded to the page on July 14 with the caption, ‘Work continues on the pad. Grade beams poured as well as pile caps. Racetrack continues to be formed and graded.’
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