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Minnesota Stewards Issue First Fines For Non-Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols At Canterbury

The Minnesota Racing Commission has followed through on executive director Steve May's promise to fine individuals for failure to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, according to rulings on the MRC website.

In a letter to Canterbury Park and the Minnesota HBPA dated July 8, May instructed MRC investigators and staff, Canterbury Park staff, and any licensee to report the name and badge number of any licensed individual that is not complying with COVID-19 protocols while at Canterbury Park to Board of Stewards. He also instructed the Board of Stewards to begin issuing civil fines for non-compliance with these protocols, beginning at $100 and escalating for repeated violations.

As of July 22, the MRC has issued nine $100 fines for violations of COVID-19 policy at Canterbury Park. The violations include failure to wear color-coded wristbands (to ensure that individuals have undergone a temperature and symptom check each day at the racetrack), proper nose and mouth coverage by a mask, and jockeys removing their masks in the winner's circle.

“I do not believe that I need to remind anyone that failure to adhere to COVID-19 protocols has led to the closure of at least two pari-mutuel racetracks throughout the United States that had previously been allowed to operate with protocols in place,” May wrote in his July 8 letter. “But I still rest assured that Minnesota's pari-mutuel racetracks can continue to offer a safe, secure facility for the horsepeople, the teams at Canterbury Park and the MRC, and most importantly the patrons visiting the racetrack. This is only possible with strict compliance to the COVID-19 protocols that have been thoroughly researched and developed with all parties in mind.”

The rulings are available at the MRC website.

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Canterbury Park Turf Festival Offers $350,000 In Purses On Wednesday

Canterbury Park will run the $100,000 Mystic Lake Derby for the ninth time on Wednesday as the richest race of the Canterbury Park Turf Festival which includes four additional turf stakes and four undercard dirt races. Trainer Michael Maker will attempt to win the one mile turf Derby for the third consecutive time. A top-five trainer nationally in both wins and purse earnings, Maker ships in Angelus Warrior from Kentucky. The 3-year-old colt has won two of six career starts, all on the turf. Angelus Warrior is the 9 to 5 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field.

Maker also saddles Ask Bailey in the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks and 5 to 2 morning line favorite Temple in the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile. Florent Geroux, sixth nationally amongst jockeys in purse earnings, is named to ride all of Maker's entries.

The Mystic Lake Derby, the fifth race on the program, begins the 50 cent Pick 5 wager with an industry low 10 percent takeout. With no stakes racing at other racetracks across the country Wednesday evening, Canterbury officials expect wagering to be robust. Through 16 days of racing, the Pick 5 pool has averaged $85,232 in handle with an average payout of $21,005. On July 1 a track record $85,340 was paid to the winning ticket holder only to be surpassed the following evening when the Pick 5 returned $98,908. The wager requires the participant to select in order the winners of five consecutive races, placing the bet before the first race in the series begins.

The 28th running of the Lady Canterbury Stakes, at one mile on the turf with a purse of $75,000, could include as many as 11 starters, the largest field of the night. Geroux has also secured the mount aboard the 5 to 2 morning line favorite Winning Envelope who is owned by Robert Lothenbach of Wayzata, Minn. and trained by Chris Block. The 4-year-old filly, whose running style usually positons her at the back of the field before advancing late, has won four of 16 career races. She has been stabled at Churchill Downs this spring and summer.

Beach Flower will defend her Lady Canterbury title from the second post position. Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Mac Robertson has named Roimes Chirinos to ride. The 7-year-old mare won this race and the Minnesota HBPA Distaff, also a one mile turf race, last summer.

Wednesday's other stakes races are the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks, the $50,000 Honor the Hero Stakes and the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile.

Racing continues Monday through Thursday at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack with a 4:40 p.m. CDT first post each day.

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Minnesota Stewards To Begin Issuing Civil Fines For Non-Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols

The Minnesota Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association posted on Facebook Wednesday the following letter from Steve May, executive director of the Minnesota Racing Commission.

July 8, 2020

Attention:
Mike Cronin
Minnesota HBPA

Attention:
Andrew Offerman
Canterbury Park

RE: COVID-19 Protocol Compliance by Minnesota Racing Commission Licensees

Dear Sirs,

It has come to my attention through communications with Minnesota Racing Commission (“MRC”) licensees, Canterbury Park and MRC staff, and through my own observations at the racetrack that numerous licensees are not complying with COVID-19 protocols while at Canterbury Park. This is after countless verbal and written communications from MRC, Canterbury Park, and Minnesota HBPA personnel as well as signage posted throughout various Canterbury Park facilities. These areas of non-compliance include, but are not limited to:

• The usage of face masks that cover the mouth and nose;
• The display of color-coded wristbands to ensure that individuals have undergone a temperature and symptom check each day at the racetrack; and
• Social distancing of at least 6 feet in areas of congregation.

Therefore, I am instructing MRC investigators and staff, Canterbury Park staff, and any licensee to report the name and badge number of any licensed individual that is not complying with COVID-19 protocols while at Canterbury Park to Board of Stewards. I have also instructed the Board of Stewards to begin issuing civil fines for non-compliance with these protocols. These fines will begin at $100 and will escalate for repeated violations.

I do not believe that I need to remind anyone that failure to adhere to COVID-19 protocols has led to the closure of at least two pari-mutuel racetracks throughout the United States that had previously been allowed to operate with protocols in place. But I still rest assured that Minnesota's pari-mutuel racetracks can continue to offer a safe, secure facility for the horsepeople, the teams at Canterbury Park and the MRC, and most importantly the patrons visiting the racetrack. This is only possible with strict compliance to the COVID-19 protocols that have been thoroughly researched and developed with all parties in mind.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this letter.

Sincerely,

Steve May
Executive Director Minnesota Racing Commission

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Robertson Sweeps Wednesday’s State-Bred Stakes At Canterbury Park

Hot Shot Kid and jockey Francisco Arietta waited patiently behind the pace set by 1 to 9 favorite Mr. Jagermeister before taking aim in mid-stretch to win Wednesday's six furlong 10,000 Lakes Stakes at Canterbury Park by 1 1/2 lengths.

The showdown between the two all-time leading Minnesota-bred moneys earners played out according to script as Mr. Jagermeister, under rider Leandro Goncalves, was sent to the lead but pushed along early by Hot Shot Kid's stablemate Cinco Star through fractions of 21.96 and 44.11 seconds. Hot Shot Kid, never further than 4 1/2 lengths behind, closed on the outside to win in 1:09.45 while Mr. Jagermeister settled for second place 1 1/2 lengths in front of Fireman Oscar.

The winner, owned by Warren Bush, paid $11.20.

“Things went Hot Shot Kid's way today,” trainer Mac Robertson said. “I expect there will be a rematch.”

Hot Shot Kid earned $30,000 of the $50,000 stakes purse, boosting his lifetime earnings to $575, 404. Mr. Jagermeister has earnings of $588,364.

Robertson's evening was not finished as he also trained the winner of the $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes, Ready to Runaway. Rider Alex Canchari and Ready to Runaway sat just off Ari Gia before pulling away in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:09.71. Ari Gia faded to sixth. Pinup Girl closed to finish second with Firstmate finishing third. Ready to Runaway is owned by John Mentz. She paid $3.20 to win as the wagering favorite.

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