Another average daily attendance record went into the books this past year as this year’s number of 5,859 (+6.8%) topped last year’s record average of 5,481. However, this did not translate into increased handle as the total average daily handle dropped by more than 8% year over year.
Despite the free attendance promotion this season to celebrate the 25th anniversary of racing in Minnesota, the additional numbers did not translate into additional wagering. I know it was my hope after the record attendance last year that we could get those folks back this season and, with a year under their belts, they would start being a little more active on the wagering front once they were able to understand the game a bit more.
Perhaps we are truly up against it as far as the economy and disposable income goes and until things turn around we really can’t expect any kind of a rally in handle. Obviously Canterbury does a nice job in bringing in patrons and the excitement on the apron during a race is like nowhere else for a track its size. Yet even with track announcer Paul Allen and track handicapper Kevin Gorg providing detailed analysis before every card in the paddock and Gorg adding additional instructive commentary from the paddock throughout the day, the $2 show wager still appears to be the wager of choice.
For a more in-depth view of the challenges facing Canterbury Park, I recommend reading Rachel Blount’s piece in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
2010 Canterbury Park Meet Winners
Quarter Horse Trainer: Ed Ross Hardy
Quarter Horse Jockey: Ry EIkleberry
Quarter Horse Owner: Robert & Julie Peterson
Thoroughbred Trainer: Mac Robertson
Thoroughbred Jockey: Dean Butler
Thoroughbred Owner: Al & Bill Ulwelling
Divisional Champions
2-year old: Seis It Fast (QH)
3-year old Filly: Hunter’s Tiger Paw
3-year old Colt or Gelding: Stachys
Older Filly & Mare: Bella Notte
Older Horse: Moralist
Sprinter: Moralist
Claimer: Lucky Scat
Turf: Sir Tricky
Quarter Horse: Seis It Fast
2010 Canterbury Park Horse of the Year: Seis It Fast (QH)
2 comments:
I'm there frequently, don't make a lot of money at all, but I probably bet at least $100 a week.. sometimes I get it back, sometimes I don't..
I don't like to make it out like people have to go there to wager, but I swear that it seems like at least 40% of the crowd has no intention of betting, and part of the reason is that it's so family friendly and treated like a nice destination to come out and eat cheaply, ride ponies, get your face painted, that it's exactly what you get at the windows.. $2 to show on the 3/5 favorite.. over and over.. and then they act like their team won the Super Bowl when the favorite wins.
It's better than nothing, but to be honest, as a true bettor, I really don't care for the fact that I have to fight elbow to elbow somedays, for 15 minutes, to get in line to place a wager at an empty automatic teller.
I agree. That is a good reason why they need to bring back the $5 admission fee for next year. The $5 adult ticket maximizes Canterbury's revenue from this type of crowd.
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