SHAKOPEE, MN – After 53 years of promoting Minnesota thoroughbreds, the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association voted to disband on June 24, citing lack of funds to be able to continue. The root of the issue was more simple and less nefarious than the rumors that have been circulating around Canterbury Park this week.
“It was just simply a matter of our funding evaporating,” said MTA President Rick Bremer. Bremer took the reins of the organization when Cameron Mahlum resigned as President to run for an open seat on the Minnesota HBPA Board.
The last few years the Stallion Auction, the group’s largest annual fundraiser, had been under pressure from the addition of other stallion auctions competing for a shrinking pie of local and national breeders. As the primary source of revenue for the group, the decline of this income was significant.
Additionally, the MTA yearling sale had fewer and fewer consignments as the foal crop went into free fall at the end of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) joint marketing agreement with Canterbury Park. The MTA also received $25,000 a year in funding from the agreement.
“We’ll be staying on as a volunteer board to oversee all the details as we wind down,” said Bremer. “There will still be quite a few decisions that will need to be made.”
Canterbury Park will be taking over the Minnesota yearling sale going forward and the remaining funds in the treasury will be going to pay outstanding obligations and lawyers to disband the group.
Consignment for the yearling sale has been extended to July 10 and Dailey Realty and Auction will manage the sale (details below).
The loss of the MTA leaves Minnesota breeders without a representative organization. According to Minnesota HBPA President Justin Revak, they are looking into the possibility of expanding their role to include breeders.
“We have talked about how the MNHBPA could be more inclusive of MN breeders,” said Revak. “We have bylaws that dictate we must have a certain number of board positions for trainers and owners, but none specifically for breeders. We’re reviewing our bylaws to determine what is feasible for the future.”
Randy Sampson, President and CEO of Canterbury Park, sent a email to MTA membership on Friday outlining some of the changes and detailing how the track is planning on structuring the September 8 yearling sale.
“The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association has been a cornerstone in support of the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry in our state for the past 50 years,” Sampson wrote. “During that time, the organization has been fueled by volunteers serving dutifully to promote our state’s racing and breeding industry, and we owe all of those who have given their time and talent to the organization a debt of gratitude. I would also like to thank Kay King for her 24+ years of tireless service to the organization and great partnership with all of us at Canterbury Park.”
Continuing, Sampson outlined details of the sale:
2024 Sale Details:
- The sale will take place on Sunday, September 8 at Canterbury Park as originally scheduled.
- Canterbury Park is working with Jay and Willa Dailey and Dailey Realty & Auction Services to operate the sale.
- Kay King will work closely with the Daileys and remain the primary point of contact for all consigners.
- If you have already submitted your consignment paperwork and checks to the MTA – there is nothing else you need to do right now. Canterbury Park will be assuming these contracts and payments. Should anything need to be updated, Kay King will reach out to you.
- If you haven’t yet registered – we are extending the consignment deadline to 12 noon on Wednesday, July 10. New registrations can reach out to Kay King at the updated contact information below
- We are continuing to work on other logistics for the sale and will provide more updates as we have them.
Contact information for the sale only are:
Kay King – Consigner Contact
Cell: 612-298-3478
Email: MinnesotaThoroughbredSale@gmail.com
Jay Dailey – Sale Manager
Cell: 507-340-4747
Email: jaydaileysells@gmail.com
Sampson went on to let MTA members know that for those who have pre-paid for multi-year memberships, Canterbury Park will continue to provide complimentary admission passes for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Any non-sale related questions will be handled by the MTA Board. Their details can be found here: https://minnesotabred.com/about/board-of-directors/ . Please note that Cameron Mahlum and Kay King are no longer points of contact for the MTA though they are still listed on the website.
