Canterbury Plans ‘Modernization’ Project For Stable Area, Dormitories

Canterbury Park Holding Company, the parent company of Canterbury Park, has announced plans to sell approximately 40 acres in the northeast corner of the property to Minneapolis based Swervo Development Corporation. Swervo will be using the land to build a state of the art, 19,000 seat amphitheater as part of the Canterbury Commons development project. The project will be subject to state and local regulatory approvals.

The development will necessarily initiate changes in the configuration of Canterbury's backside which will include a renovation of existing facilities, the addition of new barns, stables and dorms, and a reconfiguration of the existing training track. Canterbury intends to present this redevelopment plan to the Minnesota Racing Commission for regulatory review in the second quarter of 2022. If approved, construction will start after the coming live racing season and will not impact the 2023 season.

“This is a significant investment in Minnesota's horse racing industry and an important commitment by Canterbury Park,” said Pete Mattson, President of Minnesota HBPA. “The modernization of the stable area at Canterbury Park is important to the horses and people that call Canterbury Park home each summer. We look forward to working with Canterbury throughout the process to create an improved stable area for the future of racing in Minnesota.”

While the training track will be affected, the plan is for a reconfiguration of the track as well as larger and improved barns and dorms. Approximately 19 barns will be affected by the reconfiguration. More details on the layout will emerge when Canterbury presents the plan to the Commission.

“This significant investment in the stable area infrastructure, especially new dorms, should improve the overall experience of our dedicated backside workers,” said HBPA Vice-President Scott Rake. “These new modern living conditions could be among the best in the industry, which is absolutely what the individuals who work so hard to take care of the equine athletes deserve.”

While there is certain to be some apprehension with such major changes, there is optimism that Canterbury is keeping an eye on the future of horse racing in Minnesota.

“Canterbury is looking to expand and improve,” said Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer and HBPA Board Member Bernell Rhone. “Canterbury's commitment to new barns insures their commitment to the future of racing. Change is not always met with favor, but their commitment is a positive move for racing. They've also kept the horsemen in involved in their plans with limited opposition.”

Canterbury announced the development of the underutilized land around the racetrack, Canterbury Commons, in 2018 with the intention of creating a residential and entertainment center in Shakopee. A 300-unit apartment complex has been completed with another scheduled to begin in the spring. Construction is also underway on townhomes and a senior co-op. Greystone Construction completed their new headquarters in October while an active-senior apartment complex has been announced. The amphitheater is the next step in the development.

Additional infrastructure support in the form of three new city roads, have improved access to the racetrack, allowing for the significant development.

“We are very excited about both of these projects and the opportunity to complement our horse racing, card casino and entertainment operations with a world-class outdoor music venue in Canterbury Commons. These projects will provide significant employment and economic benefits for the City of Shakopee and the surrounding region as well as enhance our horse racing operations,” Randy Sampson, Canterbury's Chairman and CEO. “The amphitheater and barn area redevelopment projects, along with the other high-quality developments already underway, demonstrate our continued commitment to provide distinctive and complementary experiences that meet our guests and the community's expectations and improve the quality of life in Shakopee and Scott County.”

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David Jerkens: Del Mar Stable Area Showing Good Signs For 2020 Fall Meet

Based on stall applications and assignments, racing secretary David Jerkens projects there will be more horses on site for Del Mar's Bing Crosby meeting than usual in 2020.

“I'd say around 400-425 a day will be stabled here,” Jerkens said Wednesday afternoon. “That's slightly higher than usual (300-350) and I take it as a good sign.”

While most trainers will, for economic reasons, continue to house charges at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos or San Luis Rey Downs training center and ship in for the races, Jerkens listed 10 who are sending their entire Santa Anita stable to Del Mar. They are: Phil D'Amato, Doug O'Neill, John Shirreffs, Ron McAnally, Bill Spawr, Bob Hess, Jr., Kenny Black, Sal Gonzalez, Gary Mandella and Alfredo Marquez.

Saturday's opening day program of the Bing Crosby meeting was put together on Wednesday with 76 total entries, 73 in the “body” of the nine-race card and three listed as also eligibles.

“We expected maybe a few more, but there are going to be some very competitive races and we're certainly happy with the eight we got for the stakes (Kathryn Crosby),” Jerkens said.

After its Saturday-Sunday opening, the 15-day meeting runs Friday through Sunday through November 22 and closes with a four-day “Turf Festival” from Thanksgiving Day, November 26 to Sunday, November 29. Seven of the nine graded stakes during the meeting will be staged over the final four days over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Those races, especially the Grade I Hollywood Derby and Grade I Matriarch Stakes, have been major enticements to East Coast trainers in the past and elite trainers Chad Brown, Mark Casse and Graham Motion, among others, have sent marquee runners with good success.

“Even in this COVID era, when people aren't shipping to the extent they used to, we've received quite a bit of interest from back east,” Jerkens said. “And I know some local trainers have been acquiring horses (for turf stakes) as well.”

It has been so long since rain graced San Diego County that's it's easy to forget that torrential downpours forced cancellations of two race programs last fall, one of them a Thanksgiving card scheduled to start the final week, and the rescheduling of some graded stakes.

Still, the East Coast contingent was a strong one and the appropriately name Got Stormy closed things with a victory in the Matriarch for Casse.

“If the weather cooperates, I think we'll get some very good horses from the east like we usually do,” Jerkens said.

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