MNHBPA News
Santa Anita’s Merz to be Canterbury’s Senior Director Racing Operations There was big news announced at Canterbury Park. After an exhaustive search, Canterbury Park CEO has selected Santa Anita’s Chris Merz as the Senior Director Racing. Here’s the full story from BloodHorse. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/266037/merz-is-canterburys-new-sr-director-of-racing
Canterbury Announces Major Development
There is big news coming from Canterbury Park including its estimated $15 million commitment to update the stable area! It’s all all part of the latest stage in Canterbury’s development project in which a 19,000-seat amphitheater will be built. Here’s a letter from Canterbury President and CEO Randy Sampson explaining the details: Monday, February 7,…
2022 Expected to be Banner Year
As the record-setting 2021 Canterbury Park meet is increasingly in the rearview mirror, it is an ideal time to look forward to 2022. Its future looks bright, built upon a strong foundation from the past two years. The 2020 meet set the bar high for the 2021 meet, as it shattered handle records, even as…
The unlikely story of a racetrack & an answer to a pandemic
One thing every racetrack has in common is a stable area population, closely living and working together. This was a formula for an explosive spread of Covid-19 at Golden Gate Fields. But instead of this being a tragedy, it actually proved to be a blessing in disguise. Here’s the whole story from the iconic “60…
Challenging 2020 ushers in new era at Canterbury Park
2020 was an incredibly challenging year and yet Minnesota racing more than held its own. Even though the Canterbury Park meet had 13 fewer days than 2019, handle increased by over 40%. (from $48,142,704 to $68,388,504) This huge jump in handle was thanks to a repositioning of Canterbury as a weekday twilight signal, which made…
Curt Sampson, Minnesota Racing Icon & Friend, Passes
As there is sadness in the passing of Curt Sampson, there is an even deeper appreciation of his 87 years of life that were so well lived and so integral to literally everyone involved in Minnesota racing. His last official title was that of Chairman Emeritus of Canterbury Park. But, really, he was the eternal…
Minnesota Racing Stays Strong
Not all that long ago, there was a very real possibility that racing at Canterbury Park would not happen this year. Likewise, there was also a very real concern that even if there was to be racing, the purse structure would be decimated. That was then. This is now. Canterbury Park is running a 52-day…
Canterbury Park requests revised dates
Canterbury Park has requested revised dates for its 2020 meet, a meet that would now begin on June 10th and be comprised of 52 racing days. In a formal vote, the Minnesota HBPA approved the new dates request. The request now has to be approved by Governor Walz. Here is the official press release from…
MNHBPA & Canterbury jointly address Covid-19
Earlier today Canterbury Park announced in a press release —https://www.canterburypark.com/…/canterbury-park-plans-to-…/ — that May 1st remains the aspirational date for its stable area to open for a race meet, which will now likely begin sometime in late May or June, as opposed to the originally-scheduled May 15th. The Minnesota HBPA has an excellent working relationship with and…
Letter from the MNHBPA
From Day One, we have felt it paramount in importance to open the lines of communication with all stakeholders in Minnesota Thoroughbred racing. This is the driving force for an industry first in which we have called together representatives of the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association and Canterbury Park management to meet periodically so we can all…
Paddock Sale coming to Canterbury!
Dear Friends: The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association, in cooperation with the Minnesota HBPA and Canterbury Park, is pleased to announce that we will be offering a Paddock Sale for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, to be held at 5:00 pm. on Monday, September 9, 2019, at Canterbury Park. Horses will be stalled in the Receiving Barn…
Lifetimes of achievement
The Minnesota HBPA on Saturday awarded its inaugural lifetime achievement award to Curt Sampson and Randy Sampson for their lifetime of service in supporting and promoting the best interest of Minnesota Thoroughbred racing. Minnesota HBPA President Scott Rake said, “There is no better way to understand what this award symbolizes than by looking at its…
MN HBPA President Rake makes Mission Statement
Minnesota has distinguished itself for decades in the health services provided to its people. We’ve led the nation in providing superior health care with facilities such as the Mayo Clinic, with good public health policies such as our early anti-smoking initiatives and with alternative healthcare delivery methods. Likewise, we at the Minnesota HBPA aim to…
HBPA/Canterbury Join Forces
It had been in discussion and formation for close to a year, and now the joint initiative of the Minnesota HBPA and Canterbury Park has been announced. As explained in the following media release, this initiative is expected to have a positive and expansive impact on horse racing in the state of Minnesota. Shakopee, Minn. …
Canterbury Park kicks off construction on new development
Canterbury Park has broken ground on Phase 1 of its Canterbury Commons development program, a phase that will usher in a $100-million multi-family residential complex. Read about the details in a recent posting from Canterbury Live. http://www.canterburypark.com/blog/canterbury-commons-is-off-and-running/
Jack Walsh passes away
It is with sadness that we send along the news of Jack Walsh’s passing this week. But with this sadness is also the deep appreciation of knowing Jack lived the fullest of lives and the blessing for all of those who had known him. He was generous of spirit borne from a self-appreciation (and humility)…
Canterbury Park’s Development Plan Approved by City!
Shakopee, Minn. — Construction of Canterbury Commons, a multi-use redevelopment proposed for a portion of Canterbury Park’s underutilized property, is expected to begin this fall following Shakopee City Council approval of a Contract For Private Redevelopment between the City, the Economic Development Authority, and Canterbury Park at Wednesday’s council meeting. The City Council’s decision completed…
MN HBPA President Jack Walsh voted into Canterbury Hall of Fame!
Minnesota HBPA President Jack Walsh has been voted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame! (Induction September 1st) No doubt much of the reason behind his selection is his decades-long commitment and service to Minnesota racing as an astute lawyer, owner/breeder, HBPA vice president and now president. But anyone who has spent any time with…
Sports betting gets the green light from U.S. Supreme Court
As the United States Supreme Court lifted the federal prohibition on sports betting outside of Nevada, New Jersey is expected to be the first state to actually offer such wagering. But many states are sure to follow and gambling-related company stocks soared, including the lightly-traded Canterbury Park Holding Corp. Meanwhile, also in Minnesota, there are…
Record stakes schedule at Canterbury Park in 2018!
Canterbury Park released its 2018 stakes schedule. It features both increased purses for some existing stakes as well as addition of new stakes.
Sports betting may be just around the corner
The United States Supreme Court may rule that the federal prohibition against sports betting is unconstitutional. If so, it will then be a mad dash by individual states to legalize it. New Jersey looks best positioned to be the first state to do so. However, when we’re talking a business estimated to be into the…
2018 Canterbury Race Meet looks to expand
Canterbury Park officials have requested of the Minnesota Racing Commission a 2018 race meet that would have roughly the same opening and closing days but an additional three days of racing. You can read about the request here in a posting from Canterbury Live.
Former state legislator instrumental in bringing racing to Minnesota passes away
Clarence Purfeerst was a former state senator from Faribault, who was instrumental in bringing horse racing to Minnesota. He recently passed away at 89. The StarTribune chronicled key parts of his life.
Minnesota Racing Commission asks for comments
YOUR COMMENTS REQUESTED. The Minnesota Racing Commission is seeking your input into its rules and regulations. This link details how to have your views submitted. https://www.mrc.state.mn.us/…/4497-request-for-comments-60-… And here’s the link for your comments specifically related to medications and veterinary practices.https://www.mrc.state.mn.us/…/4498-request-for-comments-60-…
Board of Directors Election Results & President/Vice President Voted In
Each year the Minnesota HBPA holds an election for three of the seats on what is a 9-member board, which is comprised of three Trainer Directors and six Owner Directors. Terms last three years. This year Bernell Rhone, who is Vice President of the Minnesota HBPA, ran unopposed in the Trainer Director category. But there…
Minnesota breeders’ story told in StarTribune
Breeding Thoroughbreds is a high-risk, high-reward enterprise. StarTribune reporter Rachel Blount and photographer Aaron Lavinsky show us how this is the case close to home in their expansive and comprehensive story on Minnesota breeding.
Real estate catalyst for new development at Canterbury Park
According to the StarTribune, Doran Cos. will be building 600 luxury apartments on a 26-acre parcel of land on Canterbury Park property. It is expected to be just the first step of a larger, mixed use development. Currently, Canterbury Park has 110 acres in out-lots that could be developed. Although not the primary focus, these…
Are we running the right days of the week?
Handle figures can vary day to day, week to week, due to extenuating circumstances. The greatest example of this is the weather. Have a cold, rainy day with the races off the turf and fields being scratched down, both local and national handle will be down. That said, there seems to be a trend of…
Big development news at Canterbury Park!
Horse racing-friendly management at Canterbury Park in Shakopee has made it known they have some big plans on the drawing board for developing part of the property not utilized for racing. A primary focus will be residential real estate featuring apartments, townhouses and a luxury hotel. This development will address an ever-increasing need for housing…
StarTribune Homepage Story: Lack of immigrant workers hobbles Canterbury
In its continuing coverage of horseracing, the StarTribune published a top-of-the-homepage story by Rachel Blount, a story that details how the reduction in H-2B visas has negatively impacted the trainers at Canterbury Park. Featured prominently, in order of appearance in the article, were the views of trainers Bob Johnson, Francisco Bravo and Bernell Rhone. The…
Other industries being hurt by H-2B visa reduction might help racing
The reduction in H-2B visas has exacerbated the difficulty trainers have in finding workers, as was highlighted during Derby week. But as we see in this story from the New York Times, other industries are being hurt as well. And this may turn out to be good news for horse racing. The story details the…
Legislative session ends, government doesn’t shut down, but no Lights On Bill
The legislative session at the capitol in St. Paul closed with mixed results for Minnesota horsemen.
StarTribune’s strong Canterbury racing coverage an anomaly for major market
Decades ago, not unlike many major markets in the country, the Twin Cities had a vibrant newspaper landscape. There were four separate papers: the Minneapolis Daily Star, the Minneapolis Tribune, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the St. Paul Dispatch. By the mid-80s, there were two papers as consolidation took place in the form of…
Canterbury Park Kentucky Oaks/Derby Weekend Season Opener A Success
Management at Canterbury Park decided to open the meet this year on Friday, May 5th, Kentucky Oaks Day, one of the biggest days of racing in the country and preceding the biggest day of racing in the Kentucky Derby. By almost all accounts the decision was a wise one. Canterbury management knew one of the…
“Salty” Roberts, Founder of National Chaplaincy, Dies at 85
Horace William “Salty” Roberts, founder of Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA), passed away Friday at the age of 85. Salty died at a hospice care center in Hollywood, Florida, located near his home in Cooper City, following a sustained illness. Salty witnessed and experienced firsthand the needs of what he considered to be his…
First International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses Conference Set for May
The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will hold its first conference in Washington, D.C., on May 17 and 18, 2017, coinciding with the Pan American Conference. “This aftercare conference provides horse racing representatives from around the world with the opportunity to discuss the aftercare of our Thoroughbred racehorses,” said James L. Gagliano,…