Canterbury Works to Educate New Fans on Wagering

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to participate in a class at Canterbury Park that is offered each week they call Canterbury College.  Canterbury College is a program designed by Canterbury Park for novice handicappers to help teach them basics of handicapping and beyond.  The program has been in place for several years and is a great way to bring fans to the race track and give them the confidence to wager.  The program is held over 6 Sundays from February to April and is free to enroll and includes course materials (including Brad Free’s “Handicapping 101” book) and lunch.  Enrollment this off-season was about 170 students looking to take advantage of the opportunity.

I was there ostensibly to talk about horse ownership and the Canterbury Racing Club but hosts Track Announcer Paul Allen (Twitter: @PAKFANVikes) and Media Relations Manager Jeff Maday (Twitter: @CBYTrackFlack) graciously allowed me to share the podium with them for the three hour class.

We tackled 4 races, 3 at Tampa Bay Downs and 1 from Hawthorne and the three of us would handicap the race aloud, taking the group through the thought process of how we break down races trying to find winners answering questions as they came up.  We’d explain all the terminology with nothing being too basic.  As the race was run, Paul (the best kept secret in track announcing in America) would take the class through the race, pointing out horses that were being ridden hard, traveling easily or otherwise having trouble.  When the race was done, we’d spend a few minutes breaking down the winner and pointing out what we may have missed or what may have contributed to that particular horse winning the race.

I know that many tracks during the season have brief “welcome to the races” sessions, but I don’t know of any that go through as much effort during the off-season as Canterbury does to court new players and educate them on how to tackle the game.  As I was telling a few of the students as I left the track, this game is like a puzzle and once you can start figuring things out, there is a lot of beauty and satisfaction in figuring out a race correctly.

I can honestly say I don’t know when I have had that much fun.  The students were great and seeing that many people so interested in the learning the game I love so much was heartening.  The give and take with Jeff and Paul was also enjoyable.  We didn’t always agree, but that’s part of the fun: differing opinions make for a more lively exchange.

Thanks to Paul and Jeff for the invite and a big thank you to all the students that come out every few weeks to learn the racing game.

Back From "Vacation"

I’ve been horribly remiss in filling this spot the last month.  I have no legitimate excuses other than I’ve been remarkably busy between the day job, the horses and the Form job that when I have time of my own I find it hard to sit here and bang out 500 words.  It’s a crock, I know, but then again I can’t blow off the paid work so this suffers.  Here are some bullet points to catch everyone up in what’s going on:

TABBY LANE

Tabby tweaked an ankle in her last race.  Nothing serious, thank goodness, but enough to give her some time off.  It wasn’t all R&R for Tabs though, she swam several days a week to keep her fitness level up and she was still inundated with visitors as she is Ms. Social.  Her spot in the Rhone barn allows her to see everyone that comes in and out and soak up all the attention she can get.  She’s back working on the track and I hope that I’ll be previewing a race for her in a few weeks!

CANTERBURY

Story lines around half time are the purse agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and how it’s impacting field size (up a horse from the beginning of the meet) and stakes races (the inaugural Mystic Lake Derby this coming Saturday); Heliskier – an impact thoroughbred gelding that may be the best Minnesota bred ever; Tanner Riggs trying to run away with the jockey title; and Mike Biehler giving Mac Robertson all he can handle in the trainer’s race.

Extreme Day at Canterbury was a huge hit with over 16,000 fans converging to see the ostriches and camels, but the highlight was that day’s ninth race being called on helium by race caller extraordinaire Paul Allen.  You can catch the videos over at Canterbury Live.  The brain child of “Idea Man” Jeff Maday and delivered with an assist from track analyst Angela Hermann, the race is believed to be the first time a race has ever been called on helium.  Watching it from the booth was hilarious and Paul pulled it off with his customary aplomb.  While the animals were fun, the call was great!

There has been some fun wagering activity on Heliskier at Canterbury.  Well, not at Canterbury per se but via an ADW somewhere.  He was such a heavy favorite, the second choice in his last race, the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes, went off at over 300-1.  There were two bets of over $200,000 placed on hi in that race – one to win and one to show.  Why, you ask, would someone risk a win bet to win the same as a safer show bet? The only thing we can figure is that there must be some kind of rebate program wherever he/she is betting that is only available for win betting.  Still, the gelding won while breezing and earned a 86 Beyer for that workout.  I simply cannot wait and see what he can do when challenged.

E SVEIKATA

Who?  Yeah, that’s the next blog post.  I still haven’t introduced you all to the 2 year old filly entrusted to Kathleen O’Connell at Calder that one of our groups owns in partnership with breeders Gabe Puniska and Jenepher Hess.  She’s doing very well and you’ll learn more about this young Even the Score filly in a few days.

Hopefully my break is over and I’ll be back at it every few days or so.  With the $150,000 added Mystic Lake Derby this weekend, Fillies Race for Hope Day and the Lady Canterbury Stakes next weekend and Tabby returning to the races, there should be plenty of fun stories to address and I’ll try and stay roused enough to write ‘em!

Belmont, The Press, Tabby Lane and A Big Meeting

BELMONT and THE PRESS

Suffice to say that the weekend really didn’t go as anyone had planned.  It kicked off with I’ll Have Another scratching from the Belmont Stakes and that led to an odd chain of events that affected me personally.

I ended up, through a series of events and phone calls, on the local newsradio station here in the Twin Cities, WCCO, giving them a local “expert” opinion on the I’ll Have Another scratch.  That was followed by an appearance on Race Horse Radio with Paul Allen on KFAN later that evening.  We talked mainly about the Mystic Lake/Canterbury Agreement but I also threw in my ultimately misguided two cents on the new look of the Belmont Stakes. Not enough Ted exposure for you?  Well in that case if you caught KARE 11 at 10 on Sunday night, yours truly was on camera for a few moments discussing the future of MN racing.  All totaled, welcome to my 15 minutes.  Thank you Mr. Warhol!

My maiden attempt on WCCO was okay.  I was a bit too fast early, but settled into a decent rhythm.  The KFAN bit was better.  I actually felt a bit more comfortable in front of the camera to be honest, but I have to say, I truly loved the experiences and want to thank Chad Hartman from WCCO (and Kay King for referring them to me), Paul Allen from KFAN and also Jeff Maday for lining me up with Craig Norkus from KARE 11.  You can see the KARE 11 piece, featuring our trainer, Bernell Rhone, here.

As I mentioned, my take on the Belmont for KFAN was indeed misguided.  I really thought that Dullahan was the second best horse in that race behind I’ll Have Another and I was, obviously, mistaken.  Thankfully I wasn’t alone in that regard and, while misery loves company, the Belmont wasn’t a washout.  It was, in fact, a verycompelling race and day where, for the third Classic in a row, Mike Smith was aboard a front runner that couldn’t hold on until the wire.  I know some have criticized Smith for allowing Union Rags through on the rail, but tired horses drift and I can do nothing but commend Smith – for all three of his rides.

TABBY LANE

On Sunday, Tabby Lane stepped up in class and simply didn’t respond.  She may have been a bit too far off of slow fractions for the seven furlong race (:24; :48) but jockey Dean Butler, though a bit penned in through the turn, asked her when she had some room and she simply didn’t respond.  She was seventh, beaten only 3, but no one likes to finish seventh.  The truth could very well be that she was outclassed in that group. 

We’ll regroup and see what’s next with the new condition book.  If she’s feeling good, there is a $10,000 claiming event going a mile and sixteenth over the turf later in the month, but it’s too early to tell at this point.  What is clear is that her wheelhouse is right around that distance, surface and class level.  A six year old mare is going to be what she’s going to be at this point, so we’ll keep her around there and see what it brings us.

MYSTIC LAKE/CANTERBURY PARK

Tomorrow is the special meeting of the Minnesota Racing Commission to approve (or not) the agreement between Mystic Lake and Canterbury Park.  It appears that the folks at Running Aces Harness Park are going to try and get the deal squashed.  I’m not sure why, to be honest.  I’ve already stated my reasons why this is a good deal for Minnesota Thoroughbred racing in a previous post, so I won’t restate here, but some of the commentary I heard on the local PBS show Almanac from a Running Aces spokesperson, probably illustrates why they can’t get out of their own way. 

I feel for the harness horsemen, I really do.  They threw in with the casino lot to get a permanent racing facility built that probably would not have happened otherwise.  If they only knew how quickly ownership was ready to sell them down the river for racino, they would (or at least should) be appalled.  Well, “sell down the river” may be too strong a term, but they certainly wanted the majority of any racino funds to go to track ownership and NOT horsemen – diametrically opposed to Canterbury’s stance (which eventually won out in the never voted on racino bill).  Ultimately they are free to cut their own deal with the Band that would affect them most, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe but if I were the horsemen, I wouldn’t hold my breath.  None of the Canterbury funds are going to track management so I can’t imagine that the Mille Lacs Band would be inclined to do so with Running Aces.  Besides, apparently the feeling there is that a deal like that may be illegal because if you make a deal like that with an Indian Nation you become a subsidiary of that Nation (according to the Running Aces spokesman).  That kind of sour grapes, selfish thinking and twisted logic is what is going to doom the harness horsemen in the state.  They deserve better.

It could prove to be an interesting meeting Wednesday at 1:30 PM at the Shakopee Fire Station. It could be standing room only so get there early and strap in…then again, there might not be any fireworks at all.

Starter Allowance, Arc de Triomphe - To-ma-toe, To-mah-toe

I’m usually at my seat in the Canterbury Park press box about an hour before first post.  I like to get set up, talk to the folks in the box about the card and what’s been going on around the track and start getting into the rhythm of the evening.  The Canterbury card will end with a Quarter Horse race or two and usually, if I’m writing an article or blog post, I’ll stick around and finish it while the Quarters are running.  If not, I head home.  Especially now when my two youngest are visiting from Nevada for part of the summer.

Saturday, though, I was running late and barely managed to get there fifteen minutes prior to the first post and when the Thoroughbred card was over I was heading right out.  It just so happened that this was the day after Tabby Lane won her third race in her last five attempts.

“Coming in late, leaving early, a fresh shave” teased track announcer Paul Allen on my way out the door.  “It’s like you won the Arc de Triomphe!”

“The Arc, a $7500 Starter Allowance,” I shot back.  “Is there really any difference?”  The wide smile was hurting my face. A win is a win and this game you celebrate them when you can get them.

The night before Tabby Lane ran in the 4^th race, a $7500 Start Allowance for horses that have run for a claiming tag of $7500 or less or a $10,000 claiming tag.  The race was a mile over the firm turf course.  As I saw the race shaping up, the very talented So Divine looked to have her way on the front end.  This would force Tabby to close into a slow pace which was going to be a very tall order.

When the gates sprung open, Jody’s Included, the only other horse in the race with any kind of early speed, rocketed to the front.  It wasn’t long after that So Divine met her there and the two steadily moved away from the field as they moved passed the stands for the first time.  As they bent through the first turn and hit the quarter mile mark, :22.4 flashed on the toteboard.  Trainer and friend Christine Riddle, sitting next to me, looked at me with a huge smile.  That :22.4 was the best news I could have hoped for and she knew it.  After the race talking with our trainer, Bernell Rhone, he said that while he was obviously interested in the race, he, too, was concerned about the lone speed but that when Jody went to the front and the time was posted, he got real interested, real quick!  While the top two were about 10 in front of the field, Dean Butler kept Tabby in mid pack and saved ground down the back side.  As the field moved into the far turn, the front runners were coming back to the rest of the field, Jody much quicker than Divine. 

The field turned for home and Dean angled Tabs to the outside and gave her a clear path to the lead.  Jody’s Included had faded but So Divine was still game and clear by two.  Tabby switched leads and came charging.  With a sixteenth left she was pulling even and it was no secret which horse was traveling best of all.  Under the wire, Tabby was first by 2 ½ and looked relaxed doing it.  I was, of course, nuts.  One of our partners, Cody, and I hugged hard and his poor wife, Alicia, was caught in a crazy manwich.   

The crowd in the winner’s circle was large. We don’t have near that many folks in the group but all of us brought brought friends, and we had nearly 30 people in the photo!  Friend and fellow horse owner Jay Dailey asked when I posted the photo on Facebook, “Do you know all of those people?”  I had to sheepishly respond, “Only a few!”  But the more the merrier! 

The winner’s circle is the track’s happy place.  The more people that you can bring in to share the experience the better it is for the game. You never know how many may say to themselves, “How do I become a part of this?”

Tabby came back from the experience very well. Horses that day were coming back blowing hard and sweating profusely on the warm Friday evening.  Tabs was barely breathing hard.  It makes me wonder where her bottom is and what we can get out of her with a full effort.  She registered a 72 Beyer for the trip and while not stakes worthy, it does help illuminate a pattern of steady improvement over the past few months.  I don’t know where we’ll send her next yet, but it’s exciting to know that we have some options.

I don’t know what it feels like to win the Arc, but I for me I can’t imagine that it feels any better than it did Friday night!

Celebrating 25 Years of Minnesota Racing

On June 26 Canterbury Park officially celebrated 25 years of racing in Minnesota. In 1985 Canterbury started life as Canterbury Downs. In those days, Santa Anita Operating Company held the management contract and helped fill the backside with horses conditioned by legends with names like Van Berg, Lukas, Mott and Nafzger. In fact in that inaugural season, Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg was the leading trainer. A couple of jockeys who would also grace the Hall of Fame were part of the original colony as well: Mike Smith and Sandy Hawley.

The Downs ran well for a few years but the advent of the state lottery and a newly developed Native American casino combined with Ladbrooke’s trainwreck management to push Canterbury over the brink of solvency and the track shuttered in 1992. Sadly this was the same year that Minnesota breds were celebrated for the first time on their own special day at the Downs. The outlook for those Minn-breds looked bleak.

The track remained closed for nearly two and a half years and reopened as Canterbury Park in May of 1995. Local businessmen Curt and Randy Sampson and Dale Schenian purchased the Downs and formed Canterbury Park Holding Corporation (as of market close on July 1 the stock price is at $7.82). Over time the Park has developed and grown, adding a card club in 2000 and renovating that card club for the 25th anniversary season. The Claiming Crown was established here in 1999 and has been back virtually every year since with only a couple of exceptions. The Minnesota Festival of Champions was renewed and is a now a fixture the last weekend on the racing calendar.

Saturday was a day to celebrate and reflect on the sometimes turbulent 25 years of pari-mutuel wagering in North Star State. Races all day were named in honor of the 1985 executive staff, original horsemen and even Kraus Anderson, the builders of the Downs and partners in the renovations since. Special homage was paid in the 6th race to Canterbury’s own “Brooks Brothers” (actually nephew and uncle): Brooks Hauser and Brooks Fields (who also has a stake named in his memory). Fields was President and CEO and Hauser was Senior Vice President and Treasurer. Both were extremely successful businessmen in their own right and were instrumental in bringing racing to Shakopee, MN. In that race the inimitable Paul Allen relinquished the microphone duties to original track announcer Tony Bentley for another blast of 80’s nostalgia that matched the 80’s tunes that were blaring over the loudspeaker between races all day.

The weather was excellent, though humid, but the crowd was disappointingly sparse. Official attendance was listed at 3,564 and paled in comparison with the Father’s Day crowd of 12,129 that graced the apron the week before. Certainly there was something nice about the lack of lines and the bumping around, but that feeling was fleeting. We need the crowds and I’d much prefer to battle a packed house. Those in attendance were treated to a print of a poster by renowned racing artist PEB which featured many of the characters that have graced the Shakopee oval over the years including our very own trainer, Bernell Rhone. It was a nice keepsake and looks great with the winner’s circle photos on the wall.

As the track moves towards an uncertain future facing a tough economy and competition from Native American casinos it was nice to take a breath and celebrate the first 25 years of racing in Minnesota. Here’s hoping we’re still racing at America’s best mid-level racetrack in another 25.

Interesting Attendance Figures

A fun post by the Bug Boys today about Belmont's Memorial Day card. The title "10,099 Happy People" struck me a bit. I started thinking about the comment Canterbury announcer Paul Allen made early in yesterday's card about the crowd, wagering lines and please bet early so you don't get shut out. That, in turn, sent me to the Daily Racing Form charts to see just what was attendance here and at some selected other Thoroughbred tracks where attendance is recorded.

Monmouth - 11,565
Belmont - 10,099
Canterbury - 7,622
Hollywood - 6,591

I wanted to get numbers from Arlington and Philadelphia as well, but neither were available (nor were Churchill or Golden Gate for that matter).

The population in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area is right around three million. Three million. The NY/NJ Megalopolis is about nineteen million and the Greater Los Angeles Area is approximately thirteen million (US Census press release data).

How in the world can Canterbury only draw about 2400 less people than a major market racetrack and actually outdraw Hollywood Park?? Less to do in the TC area? Maybe, but the official kick-off of summer was gorgeous here and it is the weekend that folks start to head to cabins on the lake (pick one, we've got 11,000+). On the way back from Wisconsin this weekend, the St. Croix river was dotted with boats out cruising and fishing. Folks were out - but they were also at the track. The Red Sox were in town to play the Twins right up against first post time, so that didn't help either. The summer season in Minnesota is so short that when there are nice days to be had, camping, fishing, off-roading, biking and any other kind of outdoor activity takes over and people hit the outdoors in droves. Yet it appears that Canterbury is one of those options.

Maybe a clue why can be taken from Bert Blyleven's (Twins' color man) comments during the telecast to his broadcast partner, Dick Bremer. I'm paraphrasing here, but Bert went on a little roll about how much fun it was at Canterbury. He brought the kids and they watched the horses run, he placed a few bets, watched the call of the races by Paul Allen for a bit, ate and generally talked about the good time. The banter went on for a couple of minutes between the tandem, with both talking about going back soon and making sure they take in the races a few more times this summer. There was even a brief discussion about the difficulties of race calling. You can't buy that kind of publicity.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Canterbury is a boutique meet, but it is interesting that Monmouth - another summer happening - out-drew it's cousin to the north while Canterbury out-drew fabled Hollywood Park. I'll be the first to admit that this wasn't a scientific study by any means. The Bug Boys post got me thinking and I just did some cursory comparisons, but there may be something to learn here. Maybe the proponents of less is more are right? I don't know for sure, but it sure was interesting to take a look at the numbers.