Georgian Downs

{{Short description|Canadian casino and horse racing track}}

{{Infobox racecourse

|name = Georgian Downs

|image =

|caption =

|location = 7485 5th Sideroad, Innisfil, Ontario L9S 3S1

|coordinates = {{coord|44|17|32|N|79|41|22|W|type:landmark_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}

|owner = {{Unbulleted list|class=nowrap|Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (50%)|Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (50%)}}

|operator = Great Canadian Entertainment

|opened = November 2001

|closed =

|channel =

|racetype = Standardbred

|coursetype = Flat dirt, {{frac|5|8}} mile

|notableraces =

|handle =

|attendance =

|website = https://greatcanadian.com/racing/georgian-downs/

|logo=Georgian_Downs_logo.png}}

Georgian Downs is a casino and horse racing track in Innisfil, Ontario, Canada.{{cite news|last=Harker|first=Jennifer|title=Georgian Downs an integral part of the Innisfil community|url=https://www.simcoe.com/life/georgian-downs-an-integral-part-of-the-innisfil-community/article_804acd3b-3801-5f9c-879b-9df150cde035.html|access-date=10 August 2024|newspaper=Innisfil Journal|date=20 April 2017}} The racetrack hosts standardbred races from June to August.{{cite web |url=https://racepdfs.greatcanadian.com/Georgian/Georgian-downs_08-10-2024.pdf?_gl=1*nq63fb*_gcl_au*MTY1NTY4NjQwMy4xNzIzMzExODU2*_ga*MzQyOTI3NDQ3LjE3MjMzMTE4NTc.*_ga_FVT5HVCDG7*MTcyMzMxMTg1Ni4xLjEuMTcyMzMxMzMwOC4wLjAuMA.. |title=Georgian Downs Race Program |publisher=Great Canadian Entertainment Limited |accessdate=August 10, 2024}} The racetrack has an on-site casino called Gateway Casinos Innisfil,{{cite news|last=King|first=Miriam |title=Gateway Casino Innisfil set to reopen Friday|url=https://www.orilliamatters.com/midland-news/gateway-casino-innisfil-set-to-reopen-friday-3959115|access-date=10 August 2024|newspaper=Orillia Matters|date=15 July 2021}} which contains close to 1000 slot machines and no table games. The Town of Innisfil has received $97,475,109 from the casino since its opening in 2001.{{cite news|last=Ridder|first=Eli |title=Innisfil receives more than $2M from OLG casino during summer quarter|url=https://www.simcoe.com/business/innisfil-receives-more-than-2m-from-olg-casino-during-summer-quarter/article_9c6af126-8704-5bae-87ce-666894024bcd.html|access-date=10 August 2024|newspaper=Innisfil Journal|date=20 October 2022}}

History

Construction of the racetrack began in the fall of 2000.{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Robert |title=OSS 50th Anniversary: How Georgian Downs has continued Barrie Raceway’s grand history|url=https://oss.ontarioracing.com/oss-50th-anniversary-how-georgian-downs-has-continued-barrie-raceways-grand-history/|access-date=10 August 2024|newspaper=Ontario Sires Stakes|date=6 August 2024}} The racetrack opened to the public on November 13, 2001, with a total construction cost of approximately $30 million.

References