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2011 Live Race Season Ends With
Optimism
Shakopee, MN - Sept. 11, 2011 - Canterbury Park concluded its live thoroughbred
and quarter horse racing season on Sunday. Final handle and attendance numbers
are cause for optimism among Canterbury officials, but the damage caused by a
state government shutdown which left the Shakopee, MN racetrack and card casino
shuttered for 20 days will have a lasting effect.
Average attendance increased for the third consecutive year to a Canterbury Park
record 6,143. The meet had originally been scheduled for 62 days but was
shortened to 56 due to the shutdown. On-track wagering remained flat, a positive
considering that two of the largest wagering days over the Fourth of July
weekend were lost. Import handle, the money bet on Canterbury races online and
from tracks in other states, increased by 6.3%.
“Overall the numbers are encouraging,” track president Randy Sampson said. “Fans
continue to enjoy horse racing and that shows in the attendance increase. We
also offered a number of special events in conjunction with the races this year
that drew large crowds. Many first-time visitors discovered the excitement of a
day at the track.”
The loss of 20 days of revenue from July 1 through July 20 will impact the
horsemen’s purses next season. “It is likely we will have to run fewer race days
or offer lower purses,” Sampson said. “Neither option is good for the racing
industry and the state of Minnesota.”
Tubby Time, a 5-year-old Minnesota-bred owned by Jeff Larson of Hudson, WI, was
named Horse of the Meet. He won four races from five starts, including the
$50,000 Blair’s Cove Stakes and the $35,000 Minnesota Turf Championship. Tubby
Time is trained by Mac Robertson.
Robertson, who won three races Sunday, was the leading thoroughbred trainer for
the seventh consecutive season. He finished the meet with 43 victories. Jockey
Dean Butler rode 83 winners and captured the riding title for the third time. Al
and Bill Ulwelling of Elk River, with 15 wins, were the leading thoroughbred
owners for the second consecutive year.
Bob Johnson, winning his first title at Canterbury, was the leading quarter
horse trainer. Johnson had 11 wins. Tom Wellington was leading quarter horse
rider with 12 wins and J K Running Horses were leading owners.
Sunday’s feature race, the $35,000 Shot of Gold Stakes at six furlongs on the
main track, was won by Grade 3 winner Atta Boy Roy. Rusty Shaw was aboard for
trainer Valorie Lund and owners R.E.V. Racing. |
