Thoroughbreds thunder into Calgary area after nearly a decade away

It took almost a decade to get them running again nearCalgary,but thoroughbred racing is back.

"It is the Kentucky Derby-style racing, so everybody is familiar with that," said Paul Ryneveld, general manager of Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, which is hosting the races."At least they know what the Kentucky Derby is."

Ryneveldsaidthoroughbred races are held in high regard in the racing community and he hopes the return of the event will help put Calgary back on the map.

"When you're a new facility, and not really the largest facility in the world, it takes things like this to take you to the forefront particularly in North America,"Ryneveldsaid, adding Edmonton's facility is a little bigger, but the size of the racetrack is comparable.

Horse racesin Calgary, held at Stampede Park,came to a halt in 2008, but plans for the new racetrack began back in 2004 whenUnited Horsemen of Alberta (UHA) wasgranted a licence to build a facility.

Constructionwas delayed andRyneveldsaid the project, originally billed at $24 million, cost "over the $30 million mark" to complete.

Located near CrossIron Mills, Century Downs openedits doors inApril, 2015, and features550 slot machines and a five-and-a-halffurlong oval for standardbred, thoroughbred and quarter horse racing.

'If you don't win races, you can't break even'

Craig Smith owns or shares ownership with a number of race horses, includingSheep River Bear, whichwon its fist race on Saturday.

Smith said notching a win on the first day ofthoroughbred races at Century Downs is a sign of "bigger and better things to come."

"If you don't win races, you can't break even in this business. And honestly, a good year in horse racing is breaking even," Smith said.

"I mean, I grew up in Sundre, so being back in southern Alberta, racing here, seeing people I knowit means a lot and we're really happy to be back here."

Back in the saddle

Marilyn Bebee, whowasout to see thethoroughbreds on Saturday withher daughterJenn Cooper and granddaughterKylie Cooper, said she usedtowatch the horsesracesin Calgary.

"I didn't think it was ever going to come back and I'm glad it did," she said."It gives us something to do, an outing as a family."

JennBebee said going to the racesdoesn't have to break the bank if you don't want it to.

"It's free to get in, you don't have to bet if you don't want to," she said."And you could just come here and sit and play all day for free."

Until Nov. 5, Century Downs will hold eight thoroughbred races every Saturday and Sunday, starting at 12:50 p.m.

"Eightraces is probably going to be the standard for this fall meet,"Ryneveldsaid."A lot of the horses have raced throughout the summer and now they're taking a break, or they're looking to head south. They're going to go to Phoenix for the winter."

As for Smith and Sheep River Bear, they're preparingfor the next race.

"He'll race back in two or three weeks, and he'll just try a little tougher competition and see how he lands there," Smith said. "So next time he'll face horses that have won one race, but not won two."

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Alberta-made animated film chases elusive Canadian mythology
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |'It just didn't stop': Mexico City earthquake derails Calgary couple's honeymoon