Historic Sites of Manitoba: Polo Park Racetrack / Polo Park Shopping Centre (Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)

This six-furlong (three-quarters of a mile) horse racing track in Winnipeg was established in 1925. The facility included a two-storey, clubhouse and grandstands with a capacity to hold 4,000 people. They were designed by the local architectural firm of Pratt and Ross and built by the Northern Construction Company at a cost of about $150,000.

In 1935, new grandstands were designed by local architect George Gaspar Teeter and were constructed by contractor Theodore Bockstael at a cost of about $38,000.

Replaced by Assiniboia Downs, in the late 1950s the site was developed into a shopping mall by the architectural firm of Green Blankstein Russell. An arena and stadium adjacent to the mall were developed in the early 1950s. On 6 May 1959, Simpson-Sears (later known only as Sears) opened as the anchor store in the mall and it was later joined by Eatons. Sears closed in 2017.

Aerial view of Polo Park Shopping Centre (early 1960s) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2019-0050 Aerial view of Polo Park Shopping Centre (early 1960s) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2022-0084 Entrance to Sears in the Polo Park Shopping Centre (October 2017) Source: George Penner The former Sears store in the Polo Park Shopping Centre (January 2020) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88247, W97.19900 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Pratt and Ross

Memorable Manitobans: John Wright Sifton (1886-1932)

Memorable Manitobans: George Gaspar Teeter (1874-1949)

Memorable Manitobans: Theodore Bockstael (1874-1958)

Horse Racing at River Park by Harry Rudd, edited by Antoine S. Lussier
Manitoba Pageant, Volume 24, Number 2, Winter 1979

Manitoba Business: Green Blankstein Russell and Associates

Manitoba Business: Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Arena (1430 Maroons Road, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Tenders close for race track,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 March 1925, page 1.

“Contract let for new Polo Racing Track,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 March 1925, page 1.

“Permit taken out for new local race track,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 April 1925, page 5.

“Building notes,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 February 1935, page 5.

“Building notes,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 March 1935, page 5.

“Building notes,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 March 1935, page 3.

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and George Penner.

Page revised: 26 September 2023

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