Tag: The Biz

Canterbury Season Concludes With Record Total Handle Of Over $90 Million

Canterbury Park's live horse racing season came to a conclusion Thursday night, producing record wagering figures while returning $15,558,701 in purses, the most ever in a single meet, to horse owners, jockeys and trainers, fueling an industry that supports thousands of jobs across the state. Wagering was robust during the 65-day season, 12 race days more than the pandemic-shortened 2020 meet, with a record total handle of $90,888,787, spurred by an average daily out-of-state handle of $1,267,985, a 3.9 percent rise over last year and a 178.9 percent increase over 2019. The 2021 total surpassed the previous Canterbury Park record of $68.4 million set last year.

With no COVID-19 restrictions in place this season, spectators returned and daily average on-track wagering increasing by 87.1 percent to $130,304, leaving officials at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack thrilled about the season and optimistic for the future.

“It really was an encouraging racing season,” track president Randy Sampson said. “We maintained wagering levels out of state but most importantly we saw racing fans return to Canterbury Park. Business levels increased throughout the summer which allowed us to continue to bring employees back to work and provide the race-day experience that our guests expect.”

Purse money averaged $239,365 daily, with $7.28 of the more than $15 million total contributed by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community through a cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement reached with Canterbury Park in 2012. SMSC owns and operates nearby Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. More than $6.6 million in purses was paid to owners of horses that were foaled in Minnesota.

“With the support of horse trainers and owners, we presented an excellent racing product which continued to attract wagering across the country,” Vice President of Racing Operations Andrew Offerman said. “We are grateful for the owners, trainers, breeders, patrons and team that contributed to this record season and we celebrate the record purse distribution of more than $15 million dollars in 2021 that will allow industry participants to reinvest their earnings into future racing prospects and support vitals components of Minnesota's agriculture industry.”

Mac Robertson won the Thoroughbred training title for the 14th time with 62 wins. Lindey Wade, riding at Canterbury for the first time, was leading Thoroughbred jockey with 80 wins, 13 more than last year's champion Ry Eikleberry. Lothenbach Stables Inc. was leading thoroughbred owner with 32 wins and $886,904 in purse earnings. Jason Olmstead continued his dominance in the quarter horse ranks, easily winning his seventh consecutive training title. Tom Maher was leading owner and Edwin Escobedo was top quarter horse jockey.

Cinco Star, trained by Robertson, was named Horse of the Meet. The 6-year-old Minnesota bred, owned by John Mentz of Lakeville, won three times this summer including the Blair's Cove and Ralph Strangis Stakes.

Thursday's 13-race card attracted $2,892,591 in wagering. Minister of Soul under jockey Luis Fuentes won the $50,000 Tom Metzen HBPA Sprint Stakes. The 7-year-old is owned and trained by Esteban Martinez.

Robertson capped the season winning the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile, a race he has now won five consecutive times, with 2-year-old Misyneedsacocktail. The filly was ridden by Luis Negron for owner Jac Mac Stable, LLC.

Canterbury Park's 2021 Horse of the Year and divisional champions:
• Horse of the Year – Cinco Star (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
• Sprinter – Clickbait (owner: Hugh Robertson, John Mentz & Jeff Larson : trainer: Mac Robertson)
• Older Filly or Mare – Ready to Runaway (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
• Older Horse – Cinco Star (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
• Grass Horse – Cinco Star (owner: John Mentz : trainer: Mac Robertson)
• Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Thealligatorhunter (owner: Pete Mattson & Tim Padilla : trainer: Tim Padilla)
• Three-Year-Old Filly – Star of the North (owner: Michael Grossman : trainer: Francisco Bravo)
• Two-Year-Old – Love the Nest (owner: Lothenbach Stables, Inc : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Claimer – Wild Behavior (owner: Empire Racing Stables : trainer: Robertino Diodoro)
• Quarter Horse – Jess Rocket Man (owner: Lunderborg LLC : trainer: Jason Olmstead)

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Indiana Grand Adds Four Race Dates To 2021 Season

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has requested four additional racing days for the 2021 racing season. The dates were approved Thursday, Sept. 16 by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC). The track will now offer racing on Columbus Day Monday, Oct. 11 and extend the final day of racing to Thursday, Nov. 11. The previous closing day was set for Monday, Nov. 8.

Several factors played into the request for additional racing days. Business levels have exceeded expectations this season to cover purses over four additional racing days plus the horse population is growing for the final two months of racing with horsemen seeking additional racing opportunities in Indiana. Also, one day was canceled in August due to extreme heat, which will be considered a make-up day on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 11.

“We're very pleased to be in a position where we are able to request additional racing dates at the end of our current 120-day meet,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “The Indiana horsemen, our loyal partners, are very deserving of these additional opportunities and, upon approval from the IHRC, we'll end our meet with a bang on Veteran's Day, November 11.”

The 2021 racing season will now offer 123 days of live action. First post on Monday, Oct. 11 through Thursday, Nov. 11 will be 2:25 p.m.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Thursday, Nov. 11. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday through Nov. 4 set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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Optimism High Ahead Of Grants Pass Downs’ Fall Meet

It's nearly post time for the fall meeting at Grants Pass Downs.

Coming off a record-setting spring/summer meeting, optimism is high as Oregon's premier racing facility begins an 18-day fall meeting Monday, Sept. 20, extending through Tuesday, Nov. 9. The eight-week season features racing every Monday and Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., and Sunday racing programs on Sept. 26 and Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.

Last year's fall meet was enormously successful, establishing records for largest total handle, average handle, average field size, and total purses paid. The momentum carried into 2021, with the 17-day spring/summer meeting establishing new records for total handle ($6,919,434) and average handle ($407,026).

“By any measure, our spring/summer meet was a great success, and I am optimistic this fall will see even better results,” said Grants Pass Downs President Randy Evers. “The track is in beautiful condition and the horses are really enjoying their cool morning workouts. Race night sponsorships are at an all-time high and we look forward to providing fans with excellent customer service and a fun night at the races.”

Since the permanent closure of Portland Meadows in 2019, Grants Pass Downs has become the epicenter of Oregon racing, securing a 99-year lease agreement with the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

Under the leadership of Evers and CEO Travis Boersma, Grants Pass Downs has made substantial upgrades throughout the 64-acre facility located west of downtown Grants Pass:

• Installing a new state-of-the-art safety rail to ensure the welfare of riders and horses and raise the standard of the meet.

• Widening the track to improve conditions for racing, with an additional 800 tons of sand laid in anticipation of wet fall weather.

• Adding a new chute making possible six-furlong thoroughbred races and 440-yard quarter horse races.

• Installing lights for evening racing.

• Building the Flying Lark restaurant and entertainment venue on the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds.

Ladies have dominated the jockeys' ranks at recent meets with Joree Scriver edging Mckenzie King for both the 2020 fall title and 2021 spring/summer crown. In fact, women jockeys finished first, second and fifth (Taylor Smith) at the 2021 spring/summer meet.

Amongst trainers, Quinn Howey has operated the track's most successful outfit, capturing last year's fall title 12-9 over Jorge Rosales and the 2021 spring/summer crown 13-9 over Billy Christian.

Several important stakes races enhance the action with the $25,000 guaranteed Grants Pass Mile—the state's richest and most prestigious event for Thoroughbreds—set for Monday, Nov. 9. Quarter Horses also are prominent at Grants Pass Downs, with the $40,000-added Far West Futurity scheduled Monday, Nov. 8.

Two stakes are scheduled opening week—$14,600 Siskiyou Stakes for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up Monday and $13,000-added Applegate Stakes for 3-year-olds and up Tuesday. Both are 5 ½ furlongs.

Monday's opener features eight races, five Thoroughbred and three Quarter Horse.

2021 fall racing dates: Monday, Sept. 20, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 21, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 27, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 28, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 4, 5:15. P.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 5, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 11, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 12, 5:15 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 18, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 25, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 1, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 2, 5:15 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 8, 5:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 9, 5:15 p.m.

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CHRB: 2022 Race Dates Approved, Claiming Limitations Introduced

The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, September 15. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Wendy Mitchell.

The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief:

  • The Board allocated dates for all of California racing in 2022. The allocations reflect the recent and historical dates run by racing associations and fairs with two notable exceptions. Santa Anita will close for as many as two weeks in the middle of its winter-spring meet. Del Mar will shift its traditional schedule by one week with later opening and closing dates. Date allocations permit the tracks to operate on the dates they choose within their timeframes. The actual dates of planned operation will be announced and considered by the Board when each track submits its license application.
    As allocated, the dates for the Southern California thoroughbred circuit will begin at Santa Anita on December 15, 2021 (with opening day expected to be December 26 as usual). Santa Anita will take one week off (three racing days) for certain during the meet – the week of April 15-17 – and has the option for a second “flex week” that could immediately follow – April 22-24 – or be taken off at some other time depending on weather and circumstances. Their allocated dates conclude June 21.
    The racing calendar continues to Los Alamitos for daytime thoroughbred racing from June 22 to July 12, and then to Del Mar with allocations from July 13 to September 13. Del Mar is expected to go dark for the first week of that allocation and open its meet on July 22. Del Mar anticipates running beyond Labor Day and closing September 11.
    The circuit will then shift back to Los Alamitos (September 14-27), then Santa Anita (September 28-November 8), Del Mar again (November 9-December 6), then finally back to Los Alamitos (December 7-20).
    The Thoroughbred/fair circuit in Northern California will begin at Golden Gate Fields with allocated dates of December 22 through June 7, followed by Pleasanton (June 8-July 5), Cal Expo (July 6-26), Santa Rosa (July 27-August 9), Ferndale (August 10-23), Golden Gate (August 17-October 4, overlapped one week with Ferndale), Fresno (October 5-18), and concluding at Golden Gate (October 19-December 20).
    The Board allocated an entire year to Los Alamitos for night quarter-horse racing (December 22-December 20). Los Alamitos will race both day and night during those weeks when thoroughbred racing is conducted in the day.
    Harness racing at Cal Expo will be conducted within two blocks of dates: December 22 through May 10 and October 26 through December 20.
  • The Board approved the license application for the Los Angeles Turf Club (LATC)  to conduct a Thoroughbred meet at Santa Anita with racing scheduled to begin October 1 and conclude October 31. The Board authorized the meet even though LATC could not finalize the horsemen's agreement with the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT). The Board authorized the meet to proceed using the previous year's agreement. Racing commissioners will be meeting with the CTT and racing executives in an effort to resolve their differences.
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  • The Board approved the license application for the Pacific Racing Association (PRA) to conduct a thoroughbred meet at Golden Gate with racing scheduled to begin October 21 and conclude December 12. PRA faces the same issue as LATC concerning the horsemen's agreement, so the Board authorized that meet to proceed with the previous year's agreement. In conjunction with this license approval, the Board approved an agreement between PRA and the Thoroughbred Owners of California authorizing the racing secretary to establish conditions on races limiting the administrations of certain medications and certain procedures.
  • The Board approved the license application for Big Fresno Fair  to conduct a fair meet in Fresno with racing scheduled October 8-17.
  • The Board approved the license application for Watch and Wager LLC  to conduct a harness meet at Cal Expo with racing scheduled November 19-December 19.
  • CHRB Executive Director reported on the tracking of racing related injuries that has been a topic at recent Board meetings.
    “The CHRB takes all such allegations very seriously,” he explained. “The CHRB assigns a fourth steward to racetracks. In addition to the three-member panel that oversees operations at each track, the CHRB assigns a safety steward to more specifically ensure the protections of horses and licensees. One of the safety steward's responsibilities is to follow up on all horses that are vanned off or injured on the track. If those horses leave the track shortly after the injuries, CHRB investigators follow up along with the safety steward. There have been a few cases where the CHRB suspected that connections were trying to avoid the count, so our team followed up with either ranch visits or by requiring live pictures of the horses. The suspicions thus far have proven to be unfounded. Should we uncover evidence that injured horses are removed from racing or training facilities, the CHRB would prosecute such behavior to the fullest extent possible. If stakeholders or member of the public have actual evidence that any injured horse has been removed from regulated facilities to escape scrutiny, please contact the CHRB directly or through our tip line.”
  • Concerning the panel responsible for reviewing entries to make sure the horses are fit to compete, Vice Chair Gonzales suggested expanding the panel to provide increased scrutiny for the Breeders' Cup (November 5 and 6 at Del Mar). Dr. Jeff Blea, equine medical director, said this will be accomplished.
  • The Board authorized Fasig-Tipton Co. to conduct a horse sale at Fairplex in Pomona on September 28.
  • The Board began the regulatory process to process to prohibit any licensee from depositing more than one claim (commitment to purchase) for any horse in a race. Chairman Ferraro said this will ensure that trainers with smaller stables wishing to claim (purchase) horses will have an equal chance with larger stables that sometimes submit multiple claiming slips for different owners in their barns.
  • The Board approved the amended license application by Xpressbet LLC to reflect a change in officers for its Advance Deposit Wagering operation.

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