SHAKOPEE, MN – Usually we like to get our “meet opener” article published mid-week before the season. Generally, it’s a celebration of a new season, outlining new trainers and jockeys coming to town, the stakes schedule and some of the highlights of the coming meet. This year we’ve waited to see if we could get some clarity on what the future of racing might look like because a shadow hangs over Minnesota racing: will we even have anything to celebrate in 2025.
The off-season has been marked by wrangling over sports betting, Historical Horse Racing machines, card games and lawsuits.
In April, the Minnesota Racing Commission granted a request from Canterbury Park and Running Aces to install Historical Horse Racing Machines.
This led to immediate opposition by the states Native American Nations, led by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, who argued that such machines were illegal under Minnesota law. That case is now working its way through the court system, as is a suit filed by Running Aces against the SMSC (Mystic Lake and Little Six), The Milles Band of Ojibwe (Grand Casino Hinckley, Grand Casino Mille Lacs) and the Prairie Island Indian Community (Treasure Island) for running card games that, Running Aces contends, are only legal at the state’s two racetracks.
Additionally, Rep. Zack Stephenson introduced a poorly crafted bill to explicitly ban HHR machines as well as stop the tracks from offering such long standing wagers as daily doubles, pick threes and other multi-race wagers. Dubbed the “revenge bill” by racing supporters, the bill was amended to address some of the tracks’ concerns, but still leaned heavily in favor of the Native American Casinos.
The bill has since been changed again to fold in sports betting in which the tracks would be given a pittance ($625,000 to share) while being forbidden to conduct sports betting as well as running HHR machines. Rather than seek common ground, since Stephenson was granted a monopoly to a few thereby stifling the business of racetracks, there appeared to be a need to pick winners and losers.
Enter local representative Brad Tabke. Tabke’s district includes both Canterbury Park and the SMSC and he diligently and quietly has been working behind the scenes to generate an agreement that could benefit all concerned. While leaving the HHR ban in pace and leaving sports betting to the casinos, the “Tabke Amendment” would provide a tangible financial benefit to the racetracks and would finally allow advanced deposit wagering on races run at Canterbury and Running Aces by Minnesota residents.
The impact of the just 10% out of the state’s 20% take from sports wagering could amount to as much as $8-10 million a year to split between the tracks. The remaining 90% would flow into the state’s general fund.
As of publication time, the sports betting bill has been pulled from the calendar, presumably to allow time for all sides to reach agreement to ensure passage of a bill that would be a win for all. It can be brought up at any time.
The legislative session is to close on May 20. If a final bill is not passed by the close of business, the issue will be dead (unless a special session is called) until next year and the courts will end up playing a major role in whether the racetracks survive in 2025.
CANTERBURY 2024
The meet looks to start under gorgeous Minnesota weather. The mild winter has enable Canterbury to make backside improvements all winter along and has the turf course in excellent shape to begin the season.
This is the 30th season of racing at the Shakopee oval and, despite the challenges previously noted, the track is looking to put on the best show possible to celebrate 30 years of racing.
“We are excited to get our 30th season underway,” Canterbury Park General Manager John Groen said. “We continue to invest in the Minnesota racing industry and find creative ways to attract more fans to Canterbury Park. Racing at Canterbury is an important part of the state’s sports and entertainment landscape, and our loyal fanbase continues to make Canterbury Park one of the most exciting venues for live racing in the country.”
Last year daily attendance averaged nearly 5,000 but several race days attracted more than 12,000.
“Horse players can expect competitive racing and wagering opportunities while the thousands of casual fans that visit us each season will find many of the traditional events like the Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular and corgi dog races on the calendar along with new promotional ideas,” said Groen.
With only three racing days in May, horses have been a little slower in reporting to Shakopee than usual, but the track has received stall applications for 110 horses this season.
“We expect to have a full backstretch this season,” Senior Manager of Racing Operations Amber Carlisle said. “Our focus is on increasing field size and the competitiveness of the racing as we know that is what horse players want. Our turf course is an asset, something that other Midwest tracks do not have, and we intend to race on the grass as much as possible.”
“We are proud of our 30-year history,” Randy Sampson, Canterbury’s Chairman and President said. “There have of course been ups and downs over the decades, but we remain committed to supporting a strong racing industry in Minnesota. While we may be at a crossroads now, there are solutions that can help the industry stay competitive and grow purses. That would have a positive agricultural impact on all corners of the state.”
Post time for opening night is 5:15 PM and field size and quality is impressive.
The first race will be followed by a simulcast of the 149th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course. Canterbury racing officials were pleased with the number of entries, 77 total, for the opening night program.
“I am very encouraged by the way entries went for the first of 54 days of racing. Trainers brought horses to Canterbury that are ready to race and that is evident by the quantity of entries,” Carlisle said.
Many trainers that make Shakopee their home each summer have returned. Joel Berndt, last year’s leading trainer, has entered eight horses for Saturday. Mac Robertson, winner of the training title 15 times, has nine entered. There will be at least nine trainers new to Canterbury on the grounds this season.
Three jockeys have a mount in all eight races, Luis Fuentes, Luis Valenzuela and Eduardo Gallardo, second in the standings in 2023. Fuentes did not ride regularly at Canterbury last year but was second in 2022 with 50 wins. Fifteen riders have mounts on the program for 25 trainers.
After this evening, racing will continue May 25 and 26. June will see the addition of Wednesday evening racing while July will add Thursday nights as well for four days of racing a week for the month. August will continue racing on Thursdays while Wednesday will fall from the schedule and September 1 will be the last day of Sunday racing until the end of the season on September 28.
