Murray Wood: No collector plate for you!
Murray Wood is puzzled and annoyed by all of the "collector" licence plates on vehicles that will never be def...
Piece by piece, the demolition of the Marquis Downs horse-racing track is progressing.
The Saskatoon grandstand could be seen being taken apart by excavators at the former track at Prairieland Park on Monday.
A gravel parking lot is set to replace the decades-old racetrack.
Read more:
- Marquis Downs cancellation protest continues; manager responds to group’s claims
- Planning committee to hear Marquis Downs heritage site request Monday
- Prairieland Park marks 140 years of history and entertainment in Saskatoon
Saskatoon city council voted 10-1 to demolish the barn, grandstand and track in September 2025. Marquis Downs formerly hosted live thoroughbred horse racing, which was discontinued in 2021.
Demolition continuing at #Marquis Downs in #Saskatoon today. Not much beyond the grandstand shell remains and machinery continued to dissect the structure @CKOMNews https://t.co/JH3swF6rZL
— Libby Gray (@libby_gray9) October 5, 2026
Last year, city council was presented with a report outlining how horse racing is no longer taking place at Marquis Downs. It also noted the buildings are “past their serviceable life.”
City council approved minor boundary changes to the land leased in the south and southeast portions of Prairieland, the addition of extra washrooms and the relocation of the Doukhobor building on Sept. 24, 2025.
It was noted that the costs of the approved changes and demolition of Marquis Downs would be paid by Prairieland.
Two excavators work on the demolition of the Marquis Downs grandstand on Oct. 5, 2026. (Libby Gray/650 CKOM)
The Marquis Downs horse-racing track opened in 1969. The grandstand was constructed in 1928.
Last year, Ward 3 Coun. Robert Pearce called the transition “unimpressive.”
