Calgary company acquires both Alberta racetracks for $23.2 million, pledges long-term commitment

Highfield Investment Group has acquired racing and gaming operations at Century Downs in Calgary and Century Mile in Edmonton for approximately $23.2 million, signalling confidence in Alberta's horse racing industry at a time when Western Canada's racing sector is contracting elsewhere.

Adrian Munro, Highfield president, brings multi-generational experience to the role. "My grandfather owned horses, my dad owned horses. We've been in the racing industry for generations," he said. Munro highlighted the stakes for the region: "Unfortunately, horse racing lost B.C.'s racing industry last year, and Alberta is poised to be a leader in Western Canada and across Canada for horse racing."

B.C. lost both Hastings and another Standardbred track, creating regional uncertainty about the sport's future. The loss prompted industry leaders to view Alberta's tracks as critical anchors. Kent Verlik, CEO of Horse Racing Alberta, said: "Considering how we lost Hastings and the other Standardbred track in B.C., it's great to know we have a partner that is going to be here for the long term."

Horse racing in Alberta supports hundreds of jobs across multiple sectors. Cindy Baraby, an outrider at Century Downs, described the ripple effect: "Oh it's hundreds of jobs…and it gives so many people jobs, not just here but in agriculture, the people who run the hay, the people selling grain and oats, the breeding…everything."

Josh Murphy, assistant racing manager at Century Downs and a 10-year industry veteran, elaborated on the supply chain: "You have vets, farriers, you have feed stores, tack stores. All those various things, and as an operator, you have track surface, we buy shavings, we buy manure haul outs, all various things."

Baraby expressed relief about the new ownership structure: "Oh, yeah, big time… especially because a horseman is taking over and he understands how important it is to the horse people, right?" Alberta is home to roughly one-third of Canada's horses, making it the largest horse population in the country.

The acquisition comes after Alberta opened its gambling market to dozens of operators starting in mid-July 2026, becoming the second province to legalize online gambling.