Calgary had no live horse racing between 2008 and 2015. Century Downs ended that. It opened in April 2015 in Balzac, about 20 minutes north of downtown in Rocky View County, and was the first new racetrack built in Canada in decades.
That gap is why the place matters locally in a way its 4.1 rating and 2,000-odd reviews do not quite convey. For a horse province, seven years without a Calgary-area track was a long time.
Racing runs April to October
A one-mile oval carrying Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing across the warm months, with live cards on weekends, holidays and special event days.
This is the key difference from its sister property Century Mile outside Edmonton, which races year round. Century Downs is seasonal. Turning up in January expecting a live card is the most common mistake people make here.
The track also hosts chuckwagon racing, including championship-level cards — an Alberta tradition you will not find at most racinos anywhere else.
Admission and parking are free for live racing, and the outdoor apron is open and family-friendly, with food trucks and betting terminals out there rather than making you go inside. On a warm Saturday that apron is the best thing about the property.
The gaming floor has no live dealers
Say it plainly, because the word "casino" in the name misleads people: there are no live table games.
The floor carries 600 slot machines, VLTs, and electronic table games, plus a large off-track betting area simulcasting races from around the world year round.
That OTB room is the reason to come in the off-season. If you bet horses seriously and live north of Calgary, it is the most comfortable place in the region to spend a Saturday on simulcast cards.
If you want a dealer and a felt, you want Grey Eagle or Cowboys instead.
Hours
9:30am to 3:00am Sunday through Thursday, extending to 4:00am Friday and Saturday. Race cards are scheduled separately from casino hours, so check the racing calendar before building a day around a specific card.
Eating
Four rooms: Celly's Sports Bar and Lounge, The Derby, The Homestretch and The Oaks. For a racino that is a generous spread, and The Derby in particular gets decent notices as a sit-down option rather than track food.
Getting there
260 Century Downs Drive, Balzac, just off the QEII north of Calgary near CrossIron Mills. Free parking, easy highway access, and no downtown traffic to fight.
How Alberta casinos work
Alberta is the only province in Canada where licensed charities conduct the casino events themselves. Non-profit groups staff events at private facilities under the model the province adopted in 2003 and take a share of the proceeds, which is why Alberta's casino floors double as community fundraising infrastructure.
Worth it?
On a race day between April and October, genuinely yes, and it is one of the better cheap family outings around Calgary — free entry, free parking, food trucks and horses.
Outside the season, it is a 600-machine floor with a good OTB room and no live tables. That is worth a trip for horse bettors and not much of one for anyone else. Go when the track is running.
FAQ
When did Century Downs open?
April 2015, bringing live horse racing back to the Calgary area for the first time since 2008.
When is the racing season?
April through October, with live cards on weekends, holidays and special event days.
Does Century Downs have table games?
No live dealers. The floor has 600 slot machines, VLTs and electronic table games, plus an off-track betting area.
Is there a charge to attend the races?
No. Admission and parking are free for live racing, and the outdoor apron is open to all ages.
What are the casino hours?
9:30am to 3:00am Sunday through Thursday, and 9:30am to 4:00am Friday and Saturday.
Where is Century Downs?
260 Century Downs Drive in Balzac, Rocky View County, about 20 minutes north of downtown Calgary off the QEII.
Comparing Alberta tracks and rooms? See Century Mile, our Calgary casinos guide and all 30 Alberta land casinos.
Updated September 2026 · Details verified against the operator's site and AGLC published information. Race calendars, hours and floor counts change. Confirm before you go.
