Elements Casino Surrey – Fraser Downs

1888 – The Lower Fraser Valley Agricultural Association was established in February and incorporated in March. Its mandate included organizing agricultural exhibitions and race meetings at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

1974 – Construction of a permanent harness-racing facility began under the direction of Jim Keeling Sr., Keith Waples and Doug Gillespie.

1976 – Cloverdale Raceway opened on January 1. Guy Dominion won the first race for owner Jim Richards and driver Ray Gemmill. The original ownership group consisted of nine Canadian investors who contributed $300 each.

1996 – Cloverdale Raceway was renamed Fraser Downs.

2003 – Slot-machine gaming was approved for Fraser Downs in December.

2004 – A 20-year lease for the racing property began on April 1. A temporary gaming area operated while expanded permanent casino facilities were constructed, and the enlarged slot facility was operating by November.

2005 – On March 21, Great Canadian Gaming acquired all shares of Orangeville Raceway Ltd., which operated Fraser Downs and Sandown Park, for C$40 million plus the assumption of approximately C$2.5 million in shareholder loans. The Surrey casino operation opened in November as Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino.

2015 – Following a multi-million-dollar redevelopment, the casino was rebranded as Elements Casino Surrey. The redeveloped casino held its official grand opening on December 17, while Fraser Downs remained the name of the harness-racing operation.

2016 – Fraser Downs began its 40th-anniversary racing season on October 6.

2021 – Live racing resumed on March 17 following a hiatus of nearly three months. Racing was suspended again after the April 16 program when pandemic-related casino closures interrupted the revenue supporting British Columbia’s horse-racing industry. On July 26, Surrey City Council authorized the possible use of a lease provision allowing the City to recapture the racing lands with 90 days’ notice.

2025 – Fraser Downs opened its final meeting on February 27. On March 21, racing was conducted in rain at approximately 7°C; the track was initially rated “Sloppy” with a three-second allowance and was upgraded after Race 2 to “Good” with a two-second allowance. On May 1, two C$50,000 British Columbia-bred stakes helped generate more than C$400,000 in wagering across the 10-race card. The 20-program meeting concluded with the final live-racing card on May 2. A May 30 court decision required rodent-abatement work and the removal of remaining horses and equipment from the backstretch. Fraser Downs closed on August 15 after the City of Surrey exercised its right to recapture the racing lands. The lease termination covered the racetrack, backstretch and stabling areas but excluded the grandstand containing Elements Casino Surrey and its racebook. By September 23, holes had been excavated in the racing surface, track fencing had been taken down and all lighting posts surrounding the oval had been removed. By December 18, all backstretch barns and stabling facilities had been demolished.

2026 – On March 9, Great Canadian Entertainment announced a definitive agreement to sell Elements Casino Surrey to the Semiahmoo First Nation’s SE-MI-AH-MU Development Corporation. The transaction was subject to financing, customary closing conditions, regulatory approval and approval from the City of Surrey.