SHAKOPEE, MN – It was a busy week of news surrounding Canterbury Park last week with an article from the Shakopee Valley News regarding the status of the barns overshadowing the release of the first condition book of the 2020 season as well as a trio of starting/shipping incentives.
The article, published on January 27th, outlined the Shakopee City Council approval of a proposal to apply for a Department of Employment and Economic Development grant to demolish barns at Canterbury Park. There is no timetable for the project, if approved by DEED, according to the article.
The racetrack was not involved in the decision to apply for the grant. For several years Canterbury has been moving to develop the prime real estate around the racetrack with Phase 1 commencing in the fall of 2019 with the Canterbury Commons apartment complex. Part of the long-term development plan has always been the movement of the barns from their current location. None of the plans include the cessation of racing at the Shakopee oval and there are no plans to move the barns over the next two years.
The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation has embraced Canterbury’s concept of uniting community and the racetrack as an integral piece of racing’s survival. Part of the latest white paper on the future of racing produced by the TIF outlines the Canterbury concept:
Horsemen purchased $8 million in stock from an initial offering to keep Canterbury Park afloat in 1995. While stock ownership has concentrated over the years, market capitalization exceeds $57 million, the company has been profitable in 22 of its last 23 years through its 2018 results and is embarking on a $400 million development campaign to diversify its property, all centered around the racetrack. Off the back of years of success, Canterbury is now moving to link community development and racing.
The track unveiled the first condition book for 2020 last week meaning that spring can’t be too far away in the bold north. Additionally, Canterbury is offering up incentives as well as shipping assistance for owners and trainers looking to run in Shakopee this summer. You can check out the Incentive programs on the track website. The guaranteed purse earnings throughout the meet will follow the table below.
Purse Level Guaranteed Purse Earnings
Up to $14,999 $250
$15,000 – $29,999 $375
$30,000 – $49,999 $600
$50,000 – $99,999 $1,000
$100,000 – $199,999 $2,000
$200,000 & Up $4,000
Additionally, there will be a $250 per starter incentive for all finishers involved in races in the first condition book, guaranteeing $500 in earnings for each finisher.
Condition book one can be found here.
