Moosomin Downs coming to Corman Park; Prairieland preparing to donate assets to group

Horse racing is not about to die in Saskatchewan.

Instead of the races being held at Prairieland Park’s Marquis Downs, a shift to Corman Park is now underway to create the new Moosomin Downs.

Moosomin Downs will be run and operated by the Moosomin First Nation Economic Development Corporation, according to a press release from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations late Friday night.

In the release, Moosomin First Nation Chief Brad Swiftwolfe said it has been a dream for his community for the last 25 years to develop its Treaty Land Entitlement in the R.M. of Corman Park.

“We will now be breaking ground and participating in the economy by utilizing the lands our Treaty promise ensured us,” Swiftwolfe stated in the release.

“We’re going to be inclusive and will be reaching out to all stakeholders and interests when our implementation plan is more substantive.”

There was no indication as to when the new track would break ground or an expected date for when it is expected to be open and operational.

Prairieland Park will be playing a part in the shift to Corman Park as well.

According to its marketing manager, Kristy Rempel, it will donate “all possible assets” from Marquis Downs to Moosomin Downs.

“Everything from the jerseys and the colours the horses wear right up to the dirt on the track, which is engineered flail — it’s very particular. We’re just going to, whenever they’re ready, just truck it on over to them,” she said Monday.

Rempel added this endeavour didn’t come out of the blue; Prairieland Park has been in contact with the Moosomin Downs group.

“We’ve been working back and forth with them for a little while,” she said. “We’re very excited to support them in that endeavour. We’re very happy for racing to continue in Saskatchewan.”

Rempel also teased there may be relay races coming to the track in Saskatoon this summer, with dates still to be announced.