Page 14 - Speedhorse February 2018

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Jennifer K. Hancock
by Jennifer K. Hancock
CHANGES AT CANTERBURY PARK
Canterbury Park will conduct 70 days of horse racing in 2018, which ties for the most days raced
in the track’s 23-year history. The Minnesota Racing Commission approved the Twin Cities-area racetrack’s request to run May 4-Sept. 15. In 2015, the track also conducted 70 days of racing, and last year, the track’s meet included 67 dates.
“We’re thrilled to offer our fans and horsemen
70 days of great racing and wagering action,” said Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson. “With record purses that could reach $15 million, we expect to continue our upward trend in attracting quality stables and creating great wagering opportunities.”
On Thursdays and Fridays in 2018, racing will begin at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) and weekend and holiday racing will have a first post of 12:45 p.m. On July 3, racing will begin at 4:00 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks display that last July attracted more than 20,000 customers. In August, Canterbury will race the first four Wednesdays of the month with
no Sunday racing. The Wednesday start time will be 6:30 p.m.
“While Wednesday night racing in August will be new to our fans, we hope to capture the same success we have experienced on Thursday and Friday nights in a month when Sundays have been soft,” Sampson said. “Wednesday night racing will also display our signal more prominently on the simulcast landscape nationally. That increased exposure will not only generate what we expect to be exceptional handle
on Wednesdays, but will also translate to added wagering on other race days as horse players across the country continue to become more familiar with the Canterbury Park brand of racing.”
A 2012 cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement reached with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, owners and operators of nearby Mystic Lake Casino Hotel,
will supplement purses by $7.28 million in the coming race season. The agreement extends through 2022 with more than $83 million going toward purse supplements and joint marketing of the two properties and the region known as RiverSouth-Land of Big Fun.
The track’s promotional calendar, which includes several popular events such as Corgis & Cupcakes and Extreme Race Day, will be announced in March.
In December, the Shakopee City Council approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment
(CPA), an important first step in the approval process for Canterbury Commons, a multi-use redevelopment proposed for a portion of Canterbury Park’s underutilized property. The comprehensive plan amendment was primarily needed to allow for medium and high density residential uses in the areas that are guided as Entertainment.
Phase One of the redevelopment, which is now possible with the CPA, features a luxury multi-family residential complex led by local developer Doran Companies. It is anticipated that the initial phase will also include upscale townhomes, and an office/ business park, as well as a 55 and older housing concept and neighborhood retail. Construction on the first phase of the redevelopment could begin
in the third quarter of 2018 depending on the remaining approval process.
Future phase concepts of Canterbury Commons, which when complete are expected to attract $300
to $400 million in private investments, include first- in-market restaurant and ‘eat’ertainment options, themed-hotels such as a water park, an indoor/ outdoor plaza with year-round entertainment, specialty retail, and a premier gateway development at one of the most coveted intersections in the greater metro area.
“With Canterbury Commons, we’re creating
an exciting new space to live, stay, work and
play,” Sampson said. “The Comprehensive Plan Amendment is the first step in what will be a
very transparent approval process for Canterbury Commons, which will include additional public hearings and votes by the Planning Commission and Shakopee City Council on the specific details of our redevelopment plans. I look forward to working with the council to make Canterbury Commons an asset to our community.”
NEW OWNERS FOR YAVAPAI DOWNS
Yavapai Downs Racetrack in Prescott Valley, Arizona, has been purchased out of federal bankruptcy court for $3.22 million by J and J Equine Enterprises LLC, a group led by the real estate investment and development company JACOR Partners, which is based in Phoenix.
JACOR Partners includes brothers Tom Auther, Dave Auther and Mike Auther, who have teamed with Joe Jackson and Corey Johnsen, a veteran racing executive who is the current president of
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
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SPEEDHORSE, February 2018
TRACK CHATTER