It’s my Parting Shot to sit on the fence when it comes to the change of direction when it comes to “professional” sports at Prairieland Park…..

       Let me put this out here first and foremost…I enjoy horse racing and going to the local track. I accompanied my late father several times to Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. As a kid, I would bet two bucks to show on a horse whose name I liked or how the horse looked or based on the name of the jockey…usually a fella by the name of Bobby Dimma who was among the top riders year after year in the 1970s. When I became old enough to go to the betting window myself, I still went with dad and one of his school teacher colleagues, who was a big-time handicapper at the Downs. I even helped pay for my second year of University tuition and books when I nailed a triactor for almost a thousand dollars. Here in Saskatoon, I enjoyed the once a year night out at Marquis Downs with my wife. It was always a good meal and it was a rather inexpensive evening of entertainment…especially if we won some of our wagers back!

       However, times change. From what I observe, the thoroughbred horse racing industry is, progressively, getting older…as is the case for many activities that pre-date “millenials.” Today’s younger folks aren’t into a lot of the same things that we were. If it can’t be readily found and easily interpreted on a smart phone or tablet, the interest isn’t there. And, with our population becoming more of a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities on a daily basis, there aren’t a lot of sports that capture the attention and imagination of the newer adults in the world.

       But, soccer is one of those sports! It’s a big-time international sport…I know you can say the same about horse racing, but it’s not as big-time as it once was. Soccer has endured…and it’s thriving. The prospect of Saskatoon having a franchise in the fledgling Canadian Premier League might very well be too good to let pass by!

       At least, that’s what Prairieland Park is thinking! I hope it works out for them!

       That’s my Parting Shot, I’m Les Lazaruk…..