As it turns out last month, Prairieland Park wasn’t just cancelling thoroughbred horse racing for the 2021 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic…again!
Instead, a 50-year relationship between Prairieland Park and the horse racing community at Marquis Downs is coming to an end in favour of, possibly, something different and new for the track space. In making the announcement Friday morning, the Board of Directors of Prairieland Park termed the decision as being a difficult one, but one in which they felt the time had come to change the track space at Marquis Downs to help lead Prairieland Park into the future. Enter Living Sky Sports and Entertainment who are looking to bring a Canadian Premier Soccer League franchise to Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Prairieland Park…a first for all three. But, the C-P-L’s agreement in principle to award exclusive rights for an expansion franchise to Saskatchewan-based Living Sky Sports and Entertainment is contingent on the company providing a soccer-specific stadium to league standards. That’s where repurposing the track and grandstand at Marquis Downs comes in. Should everything fall into place, 2023 would likely be the earliest for the Saskatchewan team to kick off. Following is the news release from Prairieland Park…
Prairieland confirms partnership talks with Professional Soccer League
Embargoed – Friday, March 12, 2021, 10:00am, SASKATOON, SK – Prairieland Park is excited to be a part
of the discussion/negotiation with the Canadian Premier Soccer League (CPL) and Living Sky Sports and
Entertainment to bring Saskatchewan’s first, and only, professional soccer league to Saskatoon.
At the same time the Board of Directors of Prairieland Park has come to the difficult decision to
permanently cancel Thoroughbred racing at Marquis Downs after a 50-year relationship with the sport.
The decision to end Thoroughbred Horse racing was not come to lightly, however, the opportunity
presented by CPL and Living Sky Sports will help lead Prairieland into the future, and the board felt it
was the time to transition the track space at Marquis Downs to accommodate this new venture.
The Board recognizes the financial pressures felt by industry members in the wake of the announcement
to end Thoroughbred Horse Racing at Marquis Downs, and will offer financial compensation in a one
time payment to horse owners. For each horse that ran in three or more races in 2019, Prairieland will
pay $1,000 to the horse owner.
Prairieland is proud of its agriculture heritage and will continue to support the agriculture industry
through annual events like the Western Canadian Crop Production Show, Saskatchewan Equine Expo,
Beef Expo, Gardenscape, and our youth programs such as; Garden EXperience, Ag EXperience, Youth
Leadership Conference and the annual steer sale. Those Prairieland produced events, along with the
community events hosted in the dedicated Ag Center on the property will remain a cornerstone of our
ongoing commitment to agriculture in the province.
Additionally, Prairieland continues its negotiations with First Nations Groups to create and operate a
First Nations Equine School and Indian Relay Racing Event at the Park.
More details on this and other discussions will be released as those plans are developed.
Embargoed – Friday, March 12, 2021, 10:00am, SASKATOON, SK – Prairieland Park is excited to be a part
of the discussion/negotiation with the Canadian Premier Soccer League (CPL) and Living Sky Sports and
Entertainment to bring Saskatchewan’s first, and only, professional soccer league to Saskatoon.
At the same time the Board of Directors of Prairieland Park has come to the difficult decision to
permanently cancel Thoroughbred racing at Marquis Downs after a 50-year relationship with the sport.
The decision to end Thoroughbred Horse racing was not come to lightly, however, the opportunity
presented by CPL and Living Sky Sports will help lead Prairieland into the future, and the board felt it
was the time to transition the track space at Marquis Downs to accommodate this new venture.
The Board recognizes the financial pressures felt by industry members in the wake of the announcement
to end Thoroughbred Horse Racing at Marquis Downs, and will offer financial compensation in a one
time payment to horse owners. For each horse that ran in three or more races in 2019, Prairieland will
pay $1,000 to the horse owner.
Prairieland is proud of its agriculture heritage and will continue to support the agriculture industry
through annual events like the Western Canadian Crop Production Show, Saskatchewan Equine Expo,
Beef Expo, Gardenscape, and our youth programs such as; Garden EXperience, Ag EXperience, Youth
Leadership Conference and the annual steer sale. Those Prairieland produced events, along with the
community events hosted in the dedicated Ag Center on the property will remain a cornerstone of our
ongoing commitment to agriculture in the province.
Additionally, Prairieland continues its negotiations with First Nations Groups to create and operate a
First Nations Equine School and Indian Relay Racing Event at the Park.
More details on this and other discussions will be released as those plans are developed.
