SHAKOPEE, MN – Canterbury Park closed out its 2022 season Saturday night with a pair of stakes, Ry Eikleberry’s retirement and another year of handle gains, both on and off track.
The racetrack set a record in total handle with $97,615,998 wagered, a 7.4 percent increase over 2021. Saturday evening racing, a casualty of the pandemic, returned this season and was a pleasant surprise in terms of both attendance and handle. Competing against the end of the day at Saratoga and the middle of the Delmar summer card may have put the evening in a precarious position but bettors did not seem to mind as average daily handle, $1,525,250, was up 9.5 percent compared to last season.
“It was just an all-around fantastic meet,” said Canterbury Senior Vice-President of Racing, Anderw Offerman. “We’re very appreciative of all the race fans, horseplayers, owners, trainers, grooms, exercise riders, jockeys, team members, regulators and especially the horses that put in the work and invested their time, effort and money to make this season one for the history books.
“I was very pleased with our overall handle figures and setting another all-sources record this season while continuing to tweak our schedule to try to accommodate both the on-track and off-track crowd has to be considered a significant achievement,” Offerman continued. “In addition to the wonderful business results, it was also a very good meet from a horse safety perspective which we take a lot of pride in.”
The Northern Lights Racing Festival on June 22 featured the Mystic Lake Derby and the Lady Canterbury as well as four other stakes and led to the largest single handle day in Canterbury Park history, $4,734,286.
“Breaking a single-day handle record on the Northern Stars Festival card was obviously a highlight,” said Offerman. “But there were numerous great days this season that typically were blessed with excellent weather and the support of the wagering public.
The weather was indeed excellent throughout the 64-day meet. The number of races off the turf only amounted to 18 for the summer, nearly half of the 35 last season. With turf races typically commanding larger fields, there were more wagering interests which helped spur handle.
Claiming activity did not quite match the 2021 record of 217 horses changing hands, claiming was still robust this season with 186 horses claimed. The average value of these horses jumped 11.1% as well, from $9,362 to $10,397. With horse demand high across the country, the increase in value should be no surprise.
The number of unique starters this season dipped to 1255 from 1316 last season while field size stayed flat at 7.28 for both breeds.
Record purses were also paid during the meet that was originally scheduled for 65 days of racing but poor track conditions caused the Aug. 7 card to be cancelled and an abbreviated program to be run Aug. 6. A total of $15,715,307 in purses were paid, one percent more than 2021 even though 12 fewer races were run.
As this was the last year of the 10-year joint marketing agreement between the track and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the proprietors of Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos, there is concern among horsemen about what next year may look like at Canterbury. The agreement doesn’t technically end until December 31 and conversations will be ongoing with the Nation to extend that agreement in some form.
As far as the track’s commitment to racing beyond the next year or so, Canterbury is investing millions of dollars into renovating the stable area, moving barns, building new barns and reconfiguring the training track which speaks to the company’s long-term commitment to racing.
The track is also committed to try to keep improving the quality of racing at Canterbury. Canterbury could be facing more competition in the coming years as summer racing should return to Chicago at Hawthorne and there is talk of adding racing days in Nebraska now that slots are coming to the racetracks there the end of this year. Combined with the nationwide shortage of horses and owners, this creates a very competitive situation for all racetracks to attract racing stables.
“It’s certainly the major challenge facing the industry across the Country and one that we have worked hard to address through working in partnership with the Minnesota HBPA to offer shipping and recruiting incentives,” said Offerman. “I am certain we will continue to look at ways to recruit quality stables to Minnesota with the support of the Minnesota HBPA as well as work at ways to continue to encourage local owners to get into the game as we know they are more likely to continue to show up to our facility as compared to out-of-state owners.”
Canterbury must submit their request for 2023 dates by November 15 per Minnesota law. The dates would be approved at the December meeting of the Minnesota Racing Commission. It’s possible that the season could be constructed a little differently than previous years depending on the outcome of the SMSC negotiations.
“Negotiations on the construction and schedule of the 2023 meet remain ongoing between Canterbury Park and the Minnesota HBPA. We will be able to provide more details in the coming weeks,” said Offerman. “Maintaining an adequate supply of horses within the stable area is a definite concern for all involved and one possible result is that there may be more 3-day race weeks in 2023 as compared to previous meets.”
Should the meet have fewer days next year, even without a new deal with the SMSC, the purse impact should be minimal for the 2023 season. The track does have the ability to go back to the Commission and request a change in schedule even after the original dates are approved should circumstances change.
While there may be some uncertainty, it can be argued that racing in Minnesota hasn’t been this popular since it was the only gambling venue in the state and there is reason for optimism after a record setting year.
Canterbury Park’s 2022 Horse of the Year and divisional champions:
• Horse of the Year – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Sprinter – Doctor Oscar (owner: Peter Mattson : trainer: David Van Winkle)
• Older Filly or Mare – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Older Horse – Thealligatorhunter (Peter Mattson and Tim Padilla: trainer: Tim Padilla)
• Grass Horse – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Love the Nest (owner: Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Three-Year-Old Filly – It’s Her Time (owner: Estate of Warren L. Bush : trainer: Mac Robertson)
• Two-Year-Old – It’s Bobs Business (Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Claimer – Optimal Courage (owner: Byron Lindaman and Silva Racing LLC: trainer: Miguel Silva)
• Quarter Horse – Alotta Oh La La (owner: Leon Glasser : trainer: Mallory Norton )
Leading Thoroughbred Jockey: Harry Hernandez 79 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Trainer: TIE Joel Berndt and Mac Robertson 61 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Owner: Lothenbach Stables, Inc. 55 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Jockey: Edwin Escobedo 22 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Trainer: Jason Olmstead 27 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Owner: TIE Tom Maher and Lunderborg, LLC 7 wins
