Ted,

Great article. As a Canterbury patron I was happy to see "our" little track get some print. I was there on Opening Night as well as on Preakness Day but what happened to opening on KY Derby Day as customary?

If we could get the Legislature to put on the ballot the question of adding slots we'd be happy. It's been a long battle for this but maybe some day soon they will wake up and allow the people to decide.

Until then I'll continue to enjoy what we have. There is nothing like a nice warm, sunny day at the track. Besides all the action the scenery isn't bad either. Plenty of good looking women to pretty up the picture. And how bout those weiner dog races?

There is never a more "hallowed" track then your home track.

Sounds like Canterbury could teach some other tracks on how to treat the pockets of the customer, and give a good lesson on how to create a fan base.

Should the opportunity present itself, I will check out the action at Canterbury.

Have a good safe meet, and enjoy.

Nice to see Canterbury in the Blog's. I was there all three day's Fri-Sun with the Family, 3 day's at the track with a 2,4 and 8 year old can test your patience just as much as the betting can. However great time, stayed at the Canterbury Inn a couple of nights. A friend of mine (a breeder) had a first time starter running in the 2nd on Sunday, and got to talk with the owners for a little while also. Mac R. walking by stopped to chat for awile, asked him about Win Willy, he said 8 or 9 weeks off and he'll be ready to roll. I have the kid's and dog's all named after race horses (can't believe I talked my wife into that. Make them apart of it, let them play in the park, plenty of hot dog's and ice cream for them and a couple of $2 win bet's to keep them interested, and a few beers for my wife and I and $400 on the nose of Rachael, to be honest I don't think it could get, really any better then that.

Last year we went to Cantebury for the Derby but never again.  We were there at 10:00 AM and had to wait 20 min. in line just to get a racing form.  None available in the foyer, only on the 3rd floor and only one person manning the booth.  Finally it's time to begin handicapping the 1st. race from C. Downs.  I need my coffee, none available on the 2nd floor so back to the 3rd floor.  Now it's time to make our first bets, no windows open on the 2nd floor so back to the 3rd. floor again.  I was told that the 2nd. floor windows would open when live racing started at 1:30.  So the hundred or so bettors on the 2nd floor all have to go up a floor to make their bets for about 2 1/2 hours.  This year we went to Running Aces for the derby, got a free table and free pop all day.  It was busy but they handled it just fine.  Also, it's 20 min. to Running Aces verses 40 min. to Cantebury.  You know where I'll be going to watch the Belmont.  

Basically bet favorites at Canterbury, or horses trained by Robertson and generally ridden by Bell

Canterbury needs to start brining in some quality horses. My dog can run faster than some of theses horses! ARF ARF!

Here in Michigan, folks were hopeful Pinnacle Racecourse could become our state's Canterbury. Unfortunately, Governor Granholm slashed the over horse racing budget, and the thoroughbred racing budget in particular.  Pinnacle Downs was supposed to have been completed prior to opening day last July, but was only half complete, with roll-away bleachers in the place of a grandstand. With the terrible state of Michigan's economy and the uncertain status of thoroughbred racing's budget, no additional work has been done on Pinnacle since. Today, it was learned that Pinnacle will be cutting dates by 63%. Instead of running June-October, the track will close at the end of July. Additionally, all state-bred stakes will be eliminated. Prior to the cuts, Pinnacle was set to have a series of $50,000 races for easch division, culminating in the Michigan Sire Stakes day with 6 $70-100,000 races(2 yr old males, 2 yr old fillies, 3 yr old males, 3 yr old fillies, older horses, older fillies+mares).

Without these stakes, breeding horses in Michigan makes little sense. The restricted stakes program was the one real chance for breeders, owners, trainers, and jockeys to make some real money with Michigan breds, and now that is gone. There is little chance that any of the even very best Michigan breds can win $50,000 races against open company. The only circuits they can realistically be competitive are in Ohio and Indiana. Racing in Ohio is in almost as bad of shape as in Michigan, so the top Michigan breds would only be running for $5-10,000 purses, and of course would not be eligible for the $50,000 Ohio-bred stakes.  Racing in Indiana is much stronger given that slot machines are now allowed in racetracks.  The Michigan breds could run for much higher allowance purses than in Ohio, but the competition would be much, much deeper; horses from Ohio, Illinois, and even Kentucky. It will be hard for the Michigan breds to compete with horses from those stronger circuits. Another possible option is Presque Isle, in northwest Pennsylvania near the Ohio border. With Pennsylvania allowing slots at racetracks, the purses at Presque Isle are very strong, but because it is geographically isolated, the competition level is not equal to the purses. Still, there will be no $50,000 races they will have a shot at winning.

The budget for harness racing has also been slashed. Harness racing is a much larger industry in Michigan than is thoroughbred racing, and until now there had been year-round harness racing. It will be important to see whether the lucrative state-bred stakes program is slashed or eliminated. From what I have read, the cuts in dates and purses will largely be absorbed by Hazel Park, the largest standardbred track in the state and the track that hosts the weather-friendly April-October meet. Hopefully, the budget cuts leave untouched the rich state-bred stakes run on the Fair circuit, and Hazel Park's Michigan Sire Stakes Night with 8 different $100,000 races.

Whenever the date cuts occur to Hazel Park and the local horses are forced to flee to other circuits, the Michigan bred harness horses should fare better than their thoroughbred counterparts.  Unlike Michigan bred thoroughbred, Michigan bred harness horses can compete at most circuits, with the possible exception of New Jersey and Ontario.  After age 3, there really is not alot of stakes opportunites for state-breds in Michigan anyways, so the older standardbreds racing in the state should not have too hard a transition. In fact, a number of standardbreds that used to run in Michgian had already left the state before the cuts, seeking out the lucrative slot-supported purses in Indiana and Pennsylvania.  However, gone will be those claiming and optional-claimers restricted to just Michigan breds.

Thanks for reading and the comments thusfar.

@ Slyder - slots would help the purse structure, no question.  I think that Canterbury might be one of the few places where slots wouldn't overwhlem the emphasis on the on-track product.  As to the weiner dog races, I complete left out Extreme Racing Day which includes such favorites as ostrich races, turf and dirt horses run simultaneously and a two mile marathon event!  Also, there was a choice between cutting purses or shaving a few racing dates - thus the later opening date.

@ Kevin - I hope to see you up here!

@ Travis - I'm glad you all had a good time!  I, too, was there all weekend and the weather just got better and better with each day!

@ Haker - I would agree that if you're only going to go to a track for a couple of big events a year, stick with what's closest.  It's still a great day at the track for live thoroughbred action at Canterbury though.

@ Hopingtohit - No question that Robertson/Bell is a solid combo.  And they've picked up right where they have left off.

@ Favoritebury - I would argue for a track the size of Canterbury, it's short season and lack of alternative gaming enhanced purses, it does a great job of luring in horses from Oaklawn, Tampa Bay and Hawthorne.  You may not find a Derby winner here, but the best stock here can compete with horses at any track it's size in the country.

@GunBow - I was reading about Michigan's plight.  Actions by the Governor has, for all intents and purposes, shattered thoroughbred racing in that state.  Check out the Michigan Bred Claimer blog from the main TBA site for solid coverage of the train wreck that is becoming Michigan racing.

I used to live there and it is a very nice facility with some good racing. Home of the Claiming Crown also...

I love Canterbury Park and will be there on vacation on closing day (MN Champions day)

Thanks so much for this article! I'm a native Minnesotan, too, and even though I've been to pretty much all the big tracks, Canterbury still ranks near the top of my list. It has that fun atmosphere you described that very few other places seem to get, probably because it's filled with Minnesotans like us!

I've also had the privilege of taking/giving a few "backstage" tours, and have to say that the management of this track are absolutely top notch, quality people. I hope they're able to get the Racino going sometime soon, because I want this track to be open for decades longer!

Ted and others, who are some of your favorite equine stars of Canterbury? Mine have got to be Classy Sheikh, one of the gamest horses I've ever seen, the venerable old Al's Dearly Bred, and the brilliant filly A.J. Bakes.

Ted I was lucky enough to go to (the then Canterbury Downs) the first year it opened. I drove down with

my boss at the time from Edmonton,

Alberta. I really enjoyed the time I spent in Shakopee and have fond memories of the people I met. We had about 10 head there and won a few but what a great track!

Ted,

Over the years we have seen some top caliber horses run here. Unbridled ran as a two year old in the CBY Juvenile and was beaten (I believe he could manage no better than 3rd), Smile who was a Breeders Cup Champion won the CBY Cup, Torbo Launch was the best 2 yr old filly I've seen at Cby (injury cut short what could have been a great career)and all she did was beat Lost Kitty who won the 2yr old Breeders Cup Championship shortly thereafter, Lost Code won the St. Paul(Cby) Derby over Cryptoclearance, and there have been others.

The one race I would love to see back is the Cby Derby. Back in the day the purse for that race topped out at 300K. Then they started to whittle that down until they finally eliminated it. Slots would go a long way to making it possible without harming the general purse structure to bring that one back along with others like the Cby Cup.

Wanda,

Tell me again what those guys in the red suits are doing up there sitting on horses. I looked out to the north from the top mezzanine the other day and there they were again.  

John,

I'd have to throw in the old turf star John Bullit as one of my all time favorites. Also on the list would be a regular invader from Ak-Sar-Ben Who Doctor Who. Probably one of the best races I have ever witnessed was Who Doctor Who going up against a speedster from California (the name escapes me) in a 7f stakes race to the wire. They were nose to nose all the way down the stretch and the Doctor lost the head bob but the time was blazing and is probably still a track record. Another old favorite was the gray filly Hoist Her Flag. She regularly took on the boys and beat them.

Back in the day the likes of D. Lukas, and Carl Nafzger had regular stables here. Those days are gone but Curtis Sampson and the rest do a great job of keeping this little corner of paradise going. I am hoping and praying that our current economy doesn't bring about the demise of this track or others like it. As they say, there's no place like "home".  

Teddy if you go back to the forum and actually read it canterbury's top horse got smoked when he went to a different track and tried to compete. Most horses are from turf paradise not exactly what I call a stellar track. Your right though the season is short if you want to win just take the favorite to win and you will do very well at canterbury! Average trifecta payout is 7 dollars!

Never been to Canterbury for their "Big" races, but nice place.

ND Horse Park, Fargo, ND, has some of the same trainers & horses that race at Canterbury.  Would love to have you at our "little track on the praire."  Stop by the Gift Horse Store & say "HI".  I would love to meet you.  More info of NDHP races at hrnd.org.   Happy racing to all!!

Haker, sorry to read of your problems at Canterbury.  Have seen such at Remington and, even, the old Longacres on special Give-away days.  However, your story reminds me of the first time the Breeder's Cup was held in New York - Santa Anita pumped this up for several days, but, their scheduling people did not converse with marketing.  The track opened early for the bettors, but, only one mutual clerk was placed on each row of windows.  As the early races featured young runners from D Wayne's stable and the California runner Precisionist was running in the Sprint, the lines were long.  In fact, each line went backwards across the room to the other side which were empty windows. Shutouts ruled. The bettors were screaming at officials, who, were frantically grabbing any mutual clerk walking through the gates and throwing them online.  Apologies galore with such as "We had no idea".

However, there was a tie-in between SA and the early Canterbury.  Owned by SA, they sent a racing secretary, Lew Elkins, to Minnesota.  He thought he would write chalk for the public.  They came out in droves, but, sat on their collective hands.  Many knew they had a better chance of hitting long prices by driving to Wisconsin for the dogs.  Canterbury compounded their error the following year.  They raised all of their prices and the fans diminished rapidly.

Hey Ted that combo is leathal!  However best stock might be a stretch, case and point Bellenote.  Couldn't win (or come close) elsewhere but picked up from last year at the ol' bury

slyder: They're watching you buddy so you don't slip across the border and try to take over.

@ John - I'm actually a transplant, though I've been here four years.  I grew up in New England and spent most of my formative racetracking years in the Mid-Atlantic when Maryland racing was king of the region.  AJ Bakes campaign is one that sticks out in recent memory for sure.  Loads of speed and a nice looking filly to boot.

@ Wanda - WOW, that is one heckuva ride!

@ Slyder - You do go back a ways.  As you know, both John Bullit and Hoist Her Flag have stakes named after them here as well.

@ Favoritebury - I assume you meant "Form" not "forum"?  Hardly "most" from TUP given the large number from TBD, ARL, HAW and OP as well.  Not sure what "top horse" and "different track" you refer too.  Again, I didn't say you'll see Canterbury's best dominate graded stakes, but against same size tracks around the country, they do just fine - you can tell by actually reading the Form.

@ Carolyn - I've never made it up there but have heard some nice things.

@ berttheclock - Great stories and insight!

@ Hopingtoit - You're right. I should clarify: I'm not talking about Minn breds, just horses that compete at CBY regularly, be they Kentucky breds, Florida breds, etc.  Thanks for bringing that up - a very important distinction!

Thanks for the photos, I really enjoyed them and it helped show the scenes.

Ted, you are welcome to ND Horse Park anytime.  Thanks for the nice words.

I loved the pictures too!

@ hopingtoit - excellent point.  I should clarify that horses that make Canterbury home over the summer can achieve success elsewhere, not necessarily Minnesota breds, though a few have achieved a measure of success outside of Canterbury: see Perfect Bull winning an open allowance at TBD before shipping north.

Getting a rancino at Cantebury will be next to impossible as our legislature is very beholden to the native american lobby which spends millions against any rancino thoughts.

I worked at canterbury for the first 7years. Worked as a hotwalker

and walked John Bullit every weekend. Is their I can still get any pitures of his races. I was in the winner cicle everytime he won.

I never forget when stepped in front of me when a lose horse was comming right at me. He just stood there and never moved.  He was my hero. I'll never forget John Bullit.