Canterbury Park Wrap-Up
By Ted Grevelis
SHAKOPEE, MN – The 2011 Canterbury Park meet came to a close on Sunday, September 11 amid somber remembrances and the celebration of the return of Vikings’ football. The high and low mirrored the course of the summer at the Shakopee oval which concluded with record average attendance but marred by a state budget crisis that shuttered the track for 20-days in July.
When Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Governor Mark Dayton could not agree to terms for the state’s biennial budget, state government was shut down and all non-essential government services were closed including the Minnesota Racing Commission. Without the MRC, there would be no state veterinarians or stewards without whom there could be no live racing, card club and simulcasting operations.
As a result of the shutdown, Canterbury Park lost approximately a million dollars and 12 days of racing. The meet was extended an extra six days in order to help make up for the shortfall, but the closure will still affect the 2012 season.
“It is likely we will have to run fewer race days or offer lower purses,” said track President Randy Sampson. “Neither option is good for the racing industry and the state of Minnesota.”
Although newspaper polls show that over 70% of the population is in favor of providing slot machines at the state’s two racetracks, continued discussion of a Racino once again did not gain any traction in the state legislature, even with the shortfall in the state budget. Ongoing discussions over a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings could possibly raise the issue again as a funding mechanism for the project, though there is considerable opposition to public funding for a private facility. It is uncertain if Governor Dayton will call a special session for the Vikings stadium, though Racino proponents promise to make sure the issue is heard during the spring session of the legislature regardless.
All the news, however, was not negative this season. Several leading indicators pointed in the positive direction as well.
Average attendance increased for the third year in a row, setting a new record of 6,143 persons per race day despite the 2010 25th Anniversary year promotion of free admission for the season. Although on-track handle was flat year over year, the largest two wagering days of the season over Independence Day weekend were lost to the shutdown. Canterbury’s popularity increased among off-track bettors as well, with import handle increasing year over year by 6.3%.
“Overall the numbers are encouraging,” said Sampson. “Fans continue to enjoy horse racing and that shows in the increase in the attendance increase.”
Lady Canterbury
The racing for the meet was also excellent. The $75,000 Lady Canterbury, signature race of the meet, was won by Philip Maas’ A She’s Adorable. She completed the one mile on the turf in 1:36.2. In 2010, A She’s Adorable suffered an elbow fracture in her second place finish in the Grade 3 Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware. Soon after her resumption of training she cracked her cannon bone and was sidelined for additional time. After a comeback win in an optional claiming race at Arlington, the Michael Stidham trainee scored in the Lady Canterbury, completing her comeback and capping her long recovery.
The Lady Canterbury headlined “Fillies Race for Hope Day” at Canterbury Park, a day set aside to honor breast cancer survivors and help raise money for the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation in the Twin Cities. The Hope Chest helps financially distressed individuals and their families who have been touched by breast cancer. Since 2001, Hope Chest has provided over $1,000,000 in support for more than 2,000 breast cancer patients and their families in the Twin Cities area. Hope Chest offers emergency assistance programs to provide financial assistance for rent, utilities, transportation and delivered meals to families.
Festival Day
Minnesota Festival of Champions Day, held on September 4, showcased the best Minnesota bred horses in training. The day attracted a Festival crowd of 11, 214 people to the track.
Minnesota Distaff Sprint
Outbreaking the field and continuing onward for the win, Bella Notte took the Distaff Sprint with ease. “We’re thrilled. It’s a great way to the end the season,” said owner Gretchen Eaton.
Minnesota Sprint
Nomorewinforeddie, whose last win came in this race last season, made it back to back sprint championships with an impressive wire-to-wire performance. Jockey Dean Butler found himself in front early and never looked back. “I thought that there would be a little bit of pressure,” Butler said. “He was doing it so easy.”
Northern Lights Futurity
Heliskier lived up to his billing as he coasted to victory in the 2-year old male stake, simply blowing the field away by 10 and probably could have won by 20 if jockey Derek Bell so chose.
Owner Marlene Colvin, whose late husband Bud Colvin, broke the colt himself, said touchingly, “My husband broke him. He told me, ‘Marl, this is the one’.”
Minnesota Classic
Jaival, claimed last time out by Valerie Lund out of the Bernell Rhone Stable, stormed through the lane to take command of the race and win by four lengths.
“This is the first Minnesota bred I’ve ever had,” said Lund. “He had been training marvelously and we gave him a chance in here.”
Minnesota Turf
The heaviest favorite of the day, Tubby Time, looked like he could have been beaten in the lane as Mack’s Blackhawk, caught in a pace battle early, battled strongly into the stretch but finally tired, succumbing to Tubby Time in final 16th of a mile.
Northern Lights Debutante
The parade of favorites continued with the Cam Casby bred and owned Keewatin Ice overcoming a slow start and some traffic issues to charge past pacesetter Jills Summer Raine. Keewatin Ice remains undefeated in two starts and sets up as an early contender for the 2012 Minnesota Oaks.
Minnesota Distaff Classic
Odds on favorite, Sheso Dazzling could have been expected to win by nearly 10-lengths. Instead, it was the unheralded TezSavitri, owned by Kissoon Thoroughbreds and trained by Bernell Rhone, who closed mightily through the lane to draw off and win by 9 ½ lengths at 10-1, the longest price of the Festival Day stakes. Ironically, Classic winner Jaival was bred and owned by the Kissoons and trained by Rhone before being claimed away by Eight Ender Stables LLC and trainer Valerie Lund.
MTA Sale
The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s 2011 Yearling Sale showed considerable year over year improvement. The $30,000 sales topper, a chestnut colt by Friends Lake out of Run With Joy (Ghazi), was nearly double last year’s topper and the highest price sales topper since First Captain (Sky Classic-Lady Sky Racer-Skywalker) sold for $33,000 in 2007. The colt was consigned by Oak Tree Farm, agent for Avalon Racing, and was purchased by James Almond III.
Eighty six percent of the 36 horses through the ring were sold, up from only 37% in 2010. The average selling price was up 29% to $6,403 and total sales revenue was up over 135%.
While the year was a roller coaster, the numbers show that racing is popular, alive and well in Minnesota. There are a lot of reasons for optimism heading into the winter and preparations begin for the 2012 season.
2011 Canterbury Park Divisional Champions
· Horse of the Year- Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson)
· Older Horse - Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson)
· Grass Horse – Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson)
· Older Filly or Mare – Sheso Dazzling (owner: Eric Von Seggern and Kurt Kindschuh; trainer: Mac Robertson)
· Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Wild Jacob (owner: Stanley Mankin; trainer: Stanley Mankin)
· Three-Year-Old Filly – Polar Plunge (owner: CameliaCasby; trainer: Gary Scherer)
· Two-Year-Old – Heliskier (owner: Marlene Colvin; trainer Mac Robertson)
· Sprinter – Just Jebicah (owner: Lonnie Arterburn and Ron Stolich; trainer: Lonnie Arterburn)
· Claimer – Just Jebicah (owner: Lonnie Arterburn and Ron Stolich; trainer: Lonnie Arterburn)
· Quarter Horse – Cruzin the Wagon (Terry and Mary Louise Pursel; trainer Brent Clay)