New horse racing track to be built near Edmonton airport by Century Casinos

Century Casinos Inc. is the successful applicant to own, build and operate an ‘A’ track horse racing facility near Edmonton International airport.

To be called Century Mile, the $50-million-dollar facility will be built on a 105-acre parcel of land in Leduc County between Edmonton International airport and the RedTail Landing golf course.

Its construction is expected to start next spring and operations will start by fall 2018.

Century Mile will be the only horse racing track in Western Canada to have a one-mile track, longer with fewer turns and longer straightaways making it easier for the jockeys to maneuver easily with their horses.

On the other hand, gamblers also prefer to wager on mile racetracks.

The facility will also have a gaming and entertainment center that will hold 1,100 slot machines.

Seven groups had applied to build a new facility in Edmonton, however by the beginning of September, this number narrowed down to four among which Century Casinos Europe GmbH came out to be the successful applicant to win the bid to own, build and operate the facility. Century Casinos owns 10 casinos across Alberta, the United States of America, Central and South America, and Poland.

The group has proven experience in gaming and is committed to the horse racing industry. It will replace Edmonton Northlands, which has 5/8-mile tracks. Northlands announced early this year that they are getting out of horse racing business.

Paul Ryneveld, spokesperson for Century Casinos said that they are very excited about this new facility that will not only attract people in Edmonton but it will also be an appealing horse racing/gaming facility for a lot of enthusiasts across Canada.

(Reporting by Mungli Banerjee)