by JIM WELLS
Canterbury Park was dressed in pink on Sunday, pink saddle cloths, pink hats, shirts and caps, pink starting gate.
It was Fillies Race for Hope Day, a recognition and benefit for breast cancer. An outrider even colored the white portions of his paint horse a bright pink.
Despite the impact of negative economic forces the past few years, on this particular day it could safely be said that Minnesota’s only thoroughbred/quarter horse race track was truly in the pink.
The nine-race card drew a crowd of 9,368 fans, matched only fillies and mares and included the track’s premiere races for the ladies, the Princess Elaine, Hoist Her Flag and Lady Canterbury stakes.
There was a hat contest for the women and visiting female queens of all sorts: Miss California International, Lindsay Becker of Apple Valley, a journalism student at USC; Miss Minn. Perfect Teen, Gianna Capuzzi of Mahtomedi, and Miss Minn Pefect Jr.; Teen, Sydney Phillips of Elk River.
Horsemen’s bookkeepers Tiffany Leggett and Kelly Thorne along with photographer Beth Seib spent an hour and a half Sunday morning decorating the starting gate for the day’s activities.
Even many of the cowboys at Canterbury were in pink. A pink lady drink was also available. A lone isolated objection was heard at day’s end from a fellow descending the escalator: “This is way too much pink for my tastes,’’ he said.
The winner of the $50,000 Princess Elaine was Mac Robertson trained Sheso Dazzling, a four-year-old filly by Dazzling Falls from Wa Sarah who won her third straight race, with a late move under Derek Bell to get there in front of Tickleyourfancy by a neck with Tez Savitri ¾ length further back.
The winner was bred and is owned by Eric and Mary Von Seggern and Kurt and Melanie Kindschuh of Wisner, Neb. The race was the first on the turf for the winner, which presented the only question for her owners. “We didn’t know if she’d like the grass, but she had 30 days off and Mac had her ready,’’ Eric said.
Eric once worked for Kelly Von Hemel and Mary for Clayton Gray. They met at Canterbury Downs, marrying in 1993. “If you’re putting this in the blog, make sure to thank (the late) Bun Colvin, too,’’ said Eric. “He helped me in so many different ways.’’
The $75,000 Lady Canterbury was, much as expected, a one-horse race, with A She’s Adorable, ridden by Irish rider James Graham, an easy winner against her nine opponents.
Graham was at Canterbury Park in 2006 for the Claiming Crown, winning the Juvenile, a memorable day. “That was my fourth stakes win in the U.S.,’’ he said.
Well, he got another on Sunday. “She’s coming back to herself now,’’ he said of A She’s Adorable. She responded out there today.’’
And how. Under what amounted to a hand ride, A She’s Adorable drew off to a 5 ¾ length win in 1:36 and 2/5, with Silent Candy next and Avenue Sister, another Robertson horse, in third.
The winner is owned by Phillip Maas of Wayzata and trained by Michael Stidham.
Bell and Robertson teamed up for their second stakes win on the card with Mindy Sue, owned by Joseph Novogratz of Eden Prairie, in the $35,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes.
“I thought she was going to quit on me at the 3/16ths pole,’’ said Bell. “But I got her outside and she rebroke.’’
Mindy Sue, the 7-5, favorite rambled home ¾ of a length in front of Hidden Gold, 1 ½ in front of Bella Notte.
Despite the wilting heat, none of the horses were reported with problems, and the jockeys apparently withstood the elements as well, although they bore signs of the heat and the special day.
The faces of concessionaires, valets, outriders and many of the riders were a bright pink from plying their trade on a brutally warm afternoon with a temperature of 90-plus and humidity levels of 83 to 84 percent.
Paddock handicapper Angela Hermann, dressed in a dazzling fuchsia dress, succumbed to the heat before the seventh race, fainting in the paddock.
She was in the press box after the races, recovering from the ordeal.
Condensation dripped from cooling vents, water pipes and air conditioning conduits in the grandstand, bringing to a mind a recent sign on the side of the Aguave Restaurant in downtown Hudson: Can you believe that gorillas live in this stuff.
Lisa Johnson, Equibase’s eagle eye chart caller, has complained in recent weeks about the conditions in the pressbox, which she found a wee bit chilly. “It’s like a darn meat locker in here,’’ she’d say.
With the onslaught of heat and humidity, Lisa was not heard to utter a single derogatory word about the conditions the past two days. Her only complaint on Sunday was that with all pink saddle towels it was darn near impossible at times to distinguish one horse from the next.
Unless, of course, the horse was named A She’s Adorable, the class of Sunday’s card.
RIDER OK, NOT SO WITH GEAR
Quarter horse rider Clyde Smith hit the ground in Saturday’s final race after his horse ducked out and then bounced off another horse, unseating Smith with a thud.
Smith was taken to a hospital but was reported in his room on the backside by 3 a.m. It was a costly incident just the same.
Paramedics removed his boots ($200), his pants ($65), his leggings ($30) and the owner silks ($150) by cutting them from his body.
Only his helmet was left unscathed. When asked why the clothing had to be removed as it was, paramedics reportedly said they feared he was having a seizure. Wouldn’t removing his helmet have been the answer in that case, they were asked… without response.
WEEKEND QUOTES, INTERJECTIONS AND OUTRIGHT DENIALS
Perhaps the best line of the past few days came from rider Doug Frink after his track-record win aboard Jess A Runner, who looked shot out of a cannon.
“I thought my gate was the only one that opened,’’he said.
Three-three-old Kadyn, daughter of Jason Olmstead and Amber Blair, was camped out in the bookkeeper’s office, where she has what she calls a house under the front desk.
She has watched the Rapunzel movie more than once, including the bit where the heroine of the story whacks an unwanted visitor with a frying pan.
“Would you do that , too?” she was asked.
“I’d try to,’’ the three-year-old said.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Women of Canterbury on Center Stage
by JIM WELLS
The jockey's lounge has undergone a facelift this season, a 'Title Nine' transformation of sorts that has caught the attention of fan and horseman alike. For the first time in years, there is not one, not two, but five female riders in the room, an unusual number not only at Canterbury Park.
"You won't find that many at most tracks,'' said Jerry Simmons, who has run a number of other jockeys' rooms over the years in addition to Canterbury's.
What that means locally is that Lori Keith has plenty of company this year after occupying the women's portion of the lounge by herself for much of 2010.
"I had the whole big room to myself,'' she said. "It's pretty big, probably nine lockers in there...and the showers.
''Brittany Arterburn was here until the first week of August last season, but rode sparingly, so Keith was alone in the room on many if not most days. At any given time this year, Keith shares that space with as many as four other riders _ Arterburn, Jennifer Schmidt, Patricia Trimble and Anne Von Rosen. They are the Women of Canterbury and are highly visible in the jockey colony this summer, an appropriate addition especially on Sunday as the track kicks off its first Fillies Race for Hope, a fund-raising day for breast cancer awareness and assistance.
The track will take on a pink milieu _ pink shirts, hats, banners, even horseshoes _ for nine races, filled by only fillies and mares.
And Canterbury's female riders will be visible, too. Three of them, Keith, Von Rosen and Schmidt, have mounts on the card.
Keith has become an established rider in Shakopee, now in her fourth and very best season. She rides winters in Phoenix and summers here and has caught fire since the reopening after the shutdown. She was fourth in the riding standings before Saturday's card with 17 wins. All of the women, in fact, were in the top 10. Von Rosen had 11 wins, Arterburn eight and Schmidt led the quarter horse standings with nine wins. Arterburn had won six of 10 races on the grass, a phenomenal percentage.
You will find different opinions on the subject, but female riders still find it difficult to get mounts at many tracks.
"That's why I switched to quarter horses,'' said Schmidt. "I seem to get more quarter horse mounts, although I do like riding the thoroughbreds."
Opportunity sometimes depends on the track.
"It's opened up a bunch,'' said Trimble. "It depends on where you are. It's good in Minnesota. You just need an agent here. They ride the agents more than the riders.''
The Women of Canterbury are cutting their own swath this summer.
Two of them traveled a long distance to pursue, or acquire, their careers. Von Rosen is a native of Germany who was educated three years in England and wound up working for an equine hospital in Kentucky. She later worked for trainer Vic Hanson in Fort Pierre, S.D., learning the trade. She had a bang-up meet in Phoenix last winter and is holding her own in Shakopee as well.
Keith, of course, is from England and grew up not far from Epsom Downs. She was a show jumper as a girl. "I traveled all over with my pony.'' Her roots are English, but she has come to prefer the U.S.
"I wouldn't want to be anyplace but here,'' she said. And, why not, with the success she is having in Shakopee this summer.
England can be even more difficult for a female rider. "They don't have established meets there as they do here,'' said Von Rosen. "There are fewer races. You have to do a lot of traveling. It's tough, especially for a woman.''
Schmidt was at Remington Park for a fund-raiser similar to Sunday's last year. "It was a tough enough to wear pink day,'' she said. "But we didn't have all fillies on the card like we do here.''
The concept isn't foreign to Trimble, either, who was part of an all-female race card in Indiana at one time.
"There were 12 of us, all female riders,'' she said. "It was a blast.''
Sunday's card is highlighted by the $75,000 Lady Canterbury, the track's signature race, and also includes the $50,000 Princess Elaine and the $35,000 Hoist Her Flag, races named for prominent fillies in Canterbury annals.
Keith has seven mounts on the card, Von Rosen has two and Schmidt has two after picking up one in the seventh race. Kathy Craig, who rode at Canterbury Downs in the 1980s and still gallops horses locally, was named on Natural Pearl in Sunday's seventh race for trainer Miguel Silva but took off. Silva replaced her with Schmidt.
A silent auction is part of Sunday's benefit, which will include a hat contest for women, a silent wall of pink horseshoes, each representing a donation to the fund, and fillies and mares anywhere you care to look.And, of course, the doughty Women of Canterbury.
JOURNEY TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Quarter horse breeder Paul Knapper made a trip to Canterbury Park on Saturday to watch the two-year-olds and was rewarded for the effort.
He got to witness the passing of the generations first hand in race five, a maiden event for Minnesota-bred horses at five furlongs.
Patricia Trimble guided Uno Mos Bluff, a chestnut gelding by Sam Lord’s Castle from Sister Fox (a Pine Bluff mare), to the winner’s circle in his first start.
Knapper cared for the winner’s dam at one time, when it was still owned by Mark Allister.
The mare began to get some age on her and Allister wound up giving her to Robert Huver, who bred her to Sam’s Lord Castle.
“She died while foaling,’’ said Knapper.
Saturday, Uno Mas Bluff won one for mom.
Trainer Amber Blair was happy. Her husband, former rider Jason Olmstead, was happy. We can assume Huver, who wasn’t present, was, too, once he heard the news.
It’s a good bet no one was any happier than 3-year-old Kadyn Olmstead, Jason and Amber’s daughter, who was hanging out with horsemen’s bookkeeper Tiffany Leggett on Saturday.
Kadyn watched the race in Tiffany’s office and was waiting at the door moments after it concluded.
“She knew what happened,’’ her dad said. “She was at the door waiting to get picked up and have her picture taken.’’
Jason was handling the young ones, Kadyn and one-year-old Ryder, while Amber handled the horses Saturday.
There is more to the story of Uno Mas Bluff.
“He was a no bid at the yearling sale last year,’’ said Jason. “Then he goes out and wins in his first out.’’
Such is the stuff that horse racing stories are made of.
The jockey's lounge has undergone a facelift this season, a 'Title Nine' transformation of sorts that has caught the attention of fan and horseman alike. For the first time in years, there is not one, not two, but five female riders in the room, an unusual number not only at Canterbury Park.
"You won't find that many at most tracks,'' said Jerry Simmons, who has run a number of other jockeys' rooms over the years in addition to Canterbury's.
What that means locally is that Lori Keith has plenty of company this year after occupying the women's portion of the lounge by herself for much of 2010.
"I had the whole big room to myself,'' she said. "It's pretty big, probably nine lockers in there...and the showers.
''Brittany Arterburn was here until the first week of August last season, but rode sparingly, so Keith was alone in the room on many if not most days. At any given time this year, Keith shares that space with as many as four other riders _ Arterburn, Jennifer Schmidt, Patricia Trimble and Anne Von Rosen. They are the Women of Canterbury and are highly visible in the jockey colony this summer, an appropriate addition especially on Sunday as the track kicks off its first Fillies Race for Hope, a fund-raising day for breast cancer awareness and assistance.
The track will take on a pink milieu _ pink shirts, hats, banners, even horseshoes _ for nine races, filled by only fillies and mares.
And Canterbury's female riders will be visible, too. Three of them, Keith, Von Rosen and Schmidt, have mounts on the card.
Keith has become an established rider in Shakopee, now in her fourth and very best season. She rides winters in Phoenix and summers here and has caught fire since the reopening after the shutdown. She was fourth in the riding standings before Saturday's card with 17 wins. All of the women, in fact, were in the top 10. Von Rosen had 11 wins, Arterburn eight and Schmidt led the quarter horse standings with nine wins. Arterburn had won six of 10 races on the grass, a phenomenal percentage.
You will find different opinions on the subject, but female riders still find it difficult to get mounts at many tracks.
"That's why I switched to quarter horses,'' said Schmidt. "I seem to get more quarter horse mounts, although I do like riding the thoroughbreds."
Opportunity sometimes depends on the track.
"It's opened up a bunch,'' said Trimble. "It depends on where you are. It's good in Minnesota. You just need an agent here. They ride the agents more than the riders.''
The Women of Canterbury are cutting their own swath this summer.
Two of them traveled a long distance to pursue, or acquire, their careers. Von Rosen is a native of Germany who was educated three years in England and wound up working for an equine hospital in Kentucky. She later worked for trainer Vic Hanson in Fort Pierre, S.D., learning the trade. She had a bang-up meet in Phoenix last winter and is holding her own in Shakopee as well.
Keith, of course, is from England and grew up not far from Epsom Downs. She was a show jumper as a girl. "I traveled all over with my pony.'' Her roots are English, but she has come to prefer the U.S.
"I wouldn't want to be anyplace but here,'' she said. And, why not, with the success she is having in Shakopee this summer.
England can be even more difficult for a female rider. "They don't have established meets there as they do here,'' said Von Rosen. "There are fewer races. You have to do a lot of traveling. It's tough, especially for a woman.''
Schmidt was at Remington Park for a fund-raiser similar to Sunday's last year. "It was a tough enough to wear pink day,'' she said. "But we didn't have all fillies on the card like we do here.''
The concept isn't foreign to Trimble, either, who was part of an all-female race card in Indiana at one time.
"There were 12 of us, all female riders,'' she said. "It was a blast.''
Sunday's card is highlighted by the $75,000 Lady Canterbury, the track's signature race, and also includes the $50,000 Princess Elaine and the $35,000 Hoist Her Flag, races named for prominent fillies in Canterbury annals.
Keith has seven mounts on the card, Von Rosen has two and Schmidt has two after picking up one in the seventh race. Kathy Craig, who rode at Canterbury Downs in the 1980s and still gallops horses locally, was named on Natural Pearl in Sunday's seventh race for trainer Miguel Silva but took off. Silva replaced her with Schmidt.
A silent auction is part of Sunday's benefit, which will include a hat contest for women, a silent wall of pink horseshoes, each representing a donation to the fund, and fillies and mares anywhere you care to look.And, of course, the doughty Women of Canterbury.
JOURNEY TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Quarter horse breeder Paul Knapper made a trip to Canterbury Park on Saturday to watch the two-year-olds and was rewarded for the effort.
He got to witness the passing of the generations first hand in race five, a maiden event for Minnesota-bred horses at five furlongs.
Patricia Trimble guided Uno Mos Bluff, a chestnut gelding by Sam Lord’s Castle from Sister Fox (a Pine Bluff mare), to the winner’s circle in his first start.
Knapper cared for the winner’s dam at one time, when it was still owned by Mark Allister.
The mare began to get some age on her and Allister wound up giving her to Robert Huver, who bred her to Sam’s Lord Castle.
“She died while foaling,’’ said Knapper.
Saturday, Uno Mas Bluff won one for mom.
Trainer Amber Blair was happy. Her husband, former rider Jason Olmstead, was happy. We can assume Huver, who wasn’t present, was, too, once he heard the news.
It’s a good bet no one was any happier than 3-year-old Kadyn Olmstead, Jason and Amber’s daughter, who was hanging out with horsemen’s bookkeeper Tiffany Leggett on Saturday.
Kadyn watched the race in Tiffany’s office and was waiting at the door moments after it concluded.
“She knew what happened,’’ her dad said. “She was at the door waiting to get picked up and have her picture taken.’’
Jason was handling the young ones, Kadyn and one-year-old Ryder, while Amber handled the horses Saturday.
There is more to the story of Uno Mas Bluff.
“He was a no bid at the yearling sale last year,’’ said Jason. “Then he goes out and wins in his first out.’’
Such is the stuff that horse racing stories are made of.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Best Tips Are Not Always Obvious
BY JIM WELLS
The ice cream cone was the biggest and best you’d ever had. The horses were enormous, the crowd electric and everybody was impressed with your grandparents.
Years later, as you consider that day, it is clear where your interest in horse racing originated, where the seed was planted. Granted, it took a great deal of nurturing in the time since, but you never wavered. Horse racing was for you, just as it is for most of your family. You are part of that magic that others know only as Almar Farms. You are a grandson of Al and Marlys Goebel, and that’s where it started.
Bo Bryant is the grandson and the new kid on the block in Canterbury Park’s tip sheet lineup this summer. “The first race I remember was in 1995,’’ he said. “In Moderation broke that track record for 3 ½ furlongs that day as a two-year-old. I was five. Everybody seemed to know my grandparents.’’
Now 21, Bryant got the bug that afternoon. He loved the races, the horses, the excitement, the ice cream cone, whole ball of wax.
“I came out to the races with my grandparents every time they went after that,’’ he said. “It was about a 40-minute drive out, 40 minutes back. I asked them everything I could think of about racing during those trips.’’
As he matured, the questions multiplied and trips to the track weren’t enough to accommodate the wide range of subjects he wanted to discuss.
So, he’d call his grandfather on the phone and they’d talk.
“I probably learned 90 percent of what I know from my grandfather,’’ Bryant said. “I learned the rest from my grandmother.’’
Bryant sells his tip sheet _ Bo Noz _ on Thursdays and Fridays, the days that Hall of Fame tout Jake Mauer takes off.
The young apprentice frequently talks the trade with Mauer.
“I’ll come up with an idea and throw it at him,’’ Bryant said. “Five seconds or less and he’ll have an answer, tell me what he thinks about it.’’
Perhaps the best advice given Bryant by the old master is not much different than a veteran ballplayer might give a rookie.
“He told me to consider the whole season, not just a day here or there,’’ Bryant said. “That helps me not get too upset when I have a bad day or too excited when I have a real good one.’’
Bryant’s parents, Mike and Kara, have only minimal interest in the sport. “My mom wasn’t into it,’’ he said. “My dad comes out a couple of times a year.’’
Bryant’s brother, Bart, two years younger, was along that day in 1995, too, but has not taken quite the same interest in the game. Nonetheless, Bo will give him a call whenever he needs a specific kind of information.
“Bart knows bloodlines and can go three or four back on a horse,’’ Bo said. “He has a phenomenal memory. I’ll call him when I need that perspective on a horse.’’
Bo still has long conversations with his grandfather about the sport. “I wouldn’t call them arguments. They’re more like debates,’’ he said. “I still learn a lot about the breeding and ownership end of the business from him.’’
Bo’s best day this meet?
“I was 7-for-10 once and 6-for-10.’’
His worst?
“I was 1-for-10, but I had seven seconds.’’
It is the 1-for-10 days that Bryant is learning to keep in perspective. “You have to remember that sometimes the difference between winning and losing is a head bob or maybe a neck or a length. It helps to keep that in mind.’’
Perhaps the most important lesson Bryant learned from his grandparents, members of Canterbury Park’s Hall of Fame as breeders, has to do with deportment.
“They’re very low key,’’ he said. “They never gloat. We all know everything they’ve done.’’
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
Brittany Arterburn was the subject of extended discussion on Thursday after arriving at Canterbury Park, riding one race on the turf for her parents, winning that race, and then heading home.
She has done that repeatedly this meet and is 6-for-10 on the grass. She changed the script for Friday night’s card.
Arterburn had one mount on the card, her parents’ horse, Doc Hubbard, in the second race. Once again, she won, and then headed home.
One difference.
The race was on the dirt.
The ice cream cone was the biggest and best you’d ever had. The horses were enormous, the crowd electric and everybody was impressed with your grandparents.
Years later, as you consider that day, it is clear where your interest in horse racing originated, where the seed was planted. Granted, it took a great deal of nurturing in the time since, but you never wavered. Horse racing was for you, just as it is for most of your family. You are part of that magic that others know only as Almar Farms. You are a grandson of Al and Marlys Goebel, and that’s where it started.
Bo Bryant is the grandson and the new kid on the block in Canterbury Park’s tip sheet lineup this summer. “The first race I remember was in 1995,’’ he said. “In Moderation broke that track record for 3 ½ furlongs that day as a two-year-old. I was five. Everybody seemed to know my grandparents.’’
Now 21, Bryant got the bug that afternoon. He loved the races, the horses, the excitement, the ice cream cone, whole ball of wax.
“I came out to the races with my grandparents every time they went after that,’’ he said. “It was about a 40-minute drive out, 40 minutes back. I asked them everything I could think of about racing during those trips.’’
As he matured, the questions multiplied and trips to the track weren’t enough to accommodate the wide range of subjects he wanted to discuss.
So, he’d call his grandfather on the phone and they’d talk.
“I probably learned 90 percent of what I know from my grandfather,’’ Bryant said. “I learned the rest from my grandmother.’’
Bryant sells his tip sheet _ Bo Noz _ on Thursdays and Fridays, the days that Hall of Fame tout Jake Mauer takes off.
The young apprentice frequently talks the trade with Mauer.
“I’ll come up with an idea and throw it at him,’’ Bryant said. “Five seconds or less and he’ll have an answer, tell me what he thinks about it.’’
Perhaps the best advice given Bryant by the old master is not much different than a veteran ballplayer might give a rookie.
“He told me to consider the whole season, not just a day here or there,’’ Bryant said. “That helps me not get too upset when I have a bad day or too excited when I have a real good one.’’
Bryant’s parents, Mike and Kara, have only minimal interest in the sport. “My mom wasn’t into it,’’ he said. “My dad comes out a couple of times a year.’’
Bryant’s brother, Bart, two years younger, was along that day in 1995, too, but has not taken quite the same interest in the game. Nonetheless, Bo will give him a call whenever he needs a specific kind of information.
“Bart knows bloodlines and can go three or four back on a horse,’’ Bo said. “He has a phenomenal memory. I’ll call him when I need that perspective on a horse.’’
Bo still has long conversations with his grandfather about the sport. “I wouldn’t call them arguments. They’re more like debates,’’ he said. “I still learn a lot about the breeding and ownership end of the business from him.’’
Bo’s best day this meet?
“I was 7-for-10 once and 6-for-10.’’
His worst?
“I was 1-for-10, but I had seven seconds.’’
It is the 1-for-10 days that Bryant is learning to keep in perspective. “You have to remember that sometimes the difference between winning and losing is a head bob or maybe a neck or a length. It helps to keep that in mind.’’
Perhaps the most important lesson Bryant learned from his grandparents, members of Canterbury Park’s Hall of Fame as breeders, has to do with deportment.
“They’re very low key,’’ he said. “They never gloat. We all know everything they’ve done.’’
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
Brittany Arterburn was the subject of extended discussion on Thursday after arriving at Canterbury Park, riding one race on the turf for her parents, winning that race, and then heading home.
She has done that repeatedly this meet and is 6-for-10 on the grass. She changed the script for Friday night’s card.
Arterburn had one mount on the card, her parents’ horse, Doc Hubbard, in the second race. Once again, she won, and then headed home.
One difference.
The race was on the dirt.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Arterburn Class on The Grass
BY JIM WELLS
Simply put, Brittany Arterburn’s summer is quickly becoming one of “Splendor on the Grass.’’
Her workdays are often short but productive.
Or as Jerry Simmons, the jockey room custodian, put it: “Ride one, win one, go home.’’
Arterburn had just entered the jockeys’ room after riding Left It In Vegas to a solid win on the turf in the second race, her only mount on Thursday’s card. She has done that more than once this season and more often than not it’s after a race on the turf, on one of her parents’ horses.
Arterburn has won seven races this meet, six of them on the grass where she is an astounding 6-for-10. She rides almost exclusively for her parents’ barn, on horses she works and even sometimes shoes.
It’s truly a family operation .
The Arterburns left Florida this winter, headed for Shakopee with 14 horses. “We ended up with a lot of turf horses,’’ Brittany said. “We thought of Canterbury right away because of the great course here.’’
Lonnie Arterburn, meanwhile, has sent out 19 horses and has seven wins, three seconds and two thirds.
Brittany Arterburn recently married Scott Rhone, a farrier who makes the rounds of the Canterbury stable area on a daily basis. She has picked up tips from him and her father on the fine points of shoeing a horse.
“I might do the front half of a horse one day and finish him up the next,’’ she said, admitting that it can be a grueling business.
The subject of shoeing horses quickly caught fire. ‘I did one horse in my life,’’ said Simmons. “That was all I wanted.’’
“Hey, we’ve got a young valet here who’s studying the trade.’’
“I’ve been studying the last six weeks under Les Harper,’’ said Antony Steele, the valet in question. “It think it’s a good trade. You have to know what you’re doing though. It’s sometimes like a puzzle, figuring out a horse’s foot and fitting the shoe.’’
Simmons agreed.
“Oh, you have to clip those toes just right,’’ he said. ‘It might take a certain angle to correct the foot.’’
Horses don’t always appreciate the effort, either.
“One got me the other day,’’ said Steele. “He began pushing on me while I had a foot so I pushed back. He got me in the left heel and right here (upper leg).’’
Arterburn’s win was part of an evening when the girls ruled…well, sort of.
Anne Von Rosen got the card under way with her 11th win of the meet, on Stamp of Approval in race one for trainer Mike Chambers, who had two wins on the card.
Lori Keith has been on a roll since the reopening after the state shutdown. She brought in Dixie Buck at 20-1 in race four, ran second on Marina Nolan (no relation to Paul) in race five, and won on Hula King for Chambers in race seven.
The two wins were Keith’s 16th and 17th of the meet and lifted her into fourth place in the standings, behind Dean Butler, Derek Bell and Ry Eikleberry.
“She’s a good little rider,’’ said Chambers. “She had a good meet in Phoenix. She can ride, and she’s smart. Real Smart.’’
A LONG RIDE TO SARATOGA SPRINGS
The second place horse in the race won by Left It In Vegas was Oak Flat, trained by Valorie Lund, who was headed back to the barn in short order to finish packing for a trip to New York.
Lund left Thursday night with the big horse in her barn, Atta Boy Roy, his companion pony and the horse’s groom for Saratoga Race Course.
Atta Boy Roy will run in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes on Aug. 7. Lund and her assistant had a long hike ahead of them after leaving Shakopee late Thursday.
She expected to make the first stop between Toledo and Cleveland in the early hours Friday and arrive at their destination late Friday or early Saturday.
Roy and Ellie Schaefer, the horses’ owners, will fly to Saratoga Springs from their home in Port Orchard, Wash., for the race.
Jesus Castanon, who rode Shakleford to a Preakness Stakes victory, will ride Atta Boy Roy for Lund.
If they win?
“There will be a big party at the barn,’’ she said.
The barn in Shakopee, of course.
A WINNING HOMECOMING
Patrick Canchari grew up in Shakopee. He graduated from Shakopee High School in 2009. But he had never ridden a winner in Shakopee.
Until Thursday night.
Canchari, whose father, Luis, rode at Canterbury in the early days, was on Woodyville for owner/trainer Loren Brocka in the sixth race. There was a contingent of Patrick’s high school classmates waiting for him outside the winner’s circle when he dismounted.
There was also a trainer waiting to see if Canchari would return to Canterbury next Wednesday to ride for him.
Yes, Canchari said, he would make the trip from Prairie Meadows, where he is located now.
Canchari began riding on Feb. 11 and has 14 wins in his brief career. He left Shakopee after Thursday’s race in quite a hurry. He had the cook in the jockey’s room prepare him food to go for his return trip to Iowa.
Simply put, Brittany Arterburn’s summer is quickly becoming one of “Splendor on the Grass.’’
Her workdays are often short but productive.
Or as Jerry Simmons, the jockey room custodian, put it: “Ride one, win one, go home.’’
Arterburn had just entered the jockeys’ room after riding Left It In Vegas to a solid win on the turf in the second race, her only mount on Thursday’s card. She has done that more than once this season and more often than not it’s after a race on the turf, on one of her parents’ horses.
Arterburn has won seven races this meet, six of them on the grass where she is an astounding 6-for-10. She rides almost exclusively for her parents’ barn, on horses she works and even sometimes shoes.
It’s truly a family operation .
The Arterburns left Florida this winter, headed for Shakopee with 14 horses. “We ended up with a lot of turf horses,’’ Brittany said. “We thought of Canterbury right away because of the great course here.’’
Lonnie Arterburn, meanwhile, has sent out 19 horses and has seven wins, three seconds and two thirds.
Brittany Arterburn recently married Scott Rhone, a farrier who makes the rounds of the Canterbury stable area on a daily basis. She has picked up tips from him and her father on the fine points of shoeing a horse.
“I might do the front half of a horse one day and finish him up the next,’’ she said, admitting that it can be a grueling business.
The subject of shoeing horses quickly caught fire. ‘I did one horse in my life,’’ said Simmons. “That was all I wanted.’’
“Hey, we’ve got a young valet here who’s studying the trade.’’
“I’ve been studying the last six weeks under Les Harper,’’ said Antony Steele, the valet in question. “It think it’s a good trade. You have to know what you’re doing though. It’s sometimes like a puzzle, figuring out a horse’s foot and fitting the shoe.’’
Simmons agreed.
“Oh, you have to clip those toes just right,’’ he said. ‘It might take a certain angle to correct the foot.’’
Horses don’t always appreciate the effort, either.
“One got me the other day,’’ said Steele. “He began pushing on me while I had a foot so I pushed back. He got me in the left heel and right here (upper leg).’’
Arterburn’s win was part of an evening when the girls ruled…well, sort of.
Anne Von Rosen got the card under way with her 11th win of the meet, on Stamp of Approval in race one for trainer Mike Chambers, who had two wins on the card.
Lori Keith has been on a roll since the reopening after the state shutdown. She brought in Dixie Buck at 20-1 in race four, ran second on Marina Nolan (no relation to Paul) in race five, and won on Hula King for Chambers in race seven.
The two wins were Keith’s 16th and 17th of the meet and lifted her into fourth place in the standings, behind Dean Butler, Derek Bell and Ry Eikleberry.
“She’s a good little rider,’’ said Chambers. “She had a good meet in Phoenix. She can ride, and she’s smart. Real Smart.’’
A LONG RIDE TO SARATOGA SPRINGS
The second place horse in the race won by Left It In Vegas was Oak Flat, trained by Valorie Lund, who was headed back to the barn in short order to finish packing for a trip to New York.
Lund left Thursday night with the big horse in her barn, Atta Boy Roy, his companion pony and the horse’s groom for Saratoga Race Course.
Atta Boy Roy will run in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes on Aug. 7. Lund and her assistant had a long hike ahead of them after leaving Shakopee late Thursday.
She expected to make the first stop between Toledo and Cleveland in the early hours Friday and arrive at their destination late Friday or early Saturday.
Roy and Ellie Schaefer, the horses’ owners, will fly to Saratoga Springs from their home in Port Orchard, Wash., for the race.
Jesus Castanon, who rode Shakleford to a Preakness Stakes victory, will ride Atta Boy Roy for Lund.
If they win?
“There will be a big party at the barn,’’ she said.
The barn in Shakopee, of course.
A WINNING HOMECOMING
Patrick Canchari grew up in Shakopee. He graduated from Shakopee High School in 2009. But he had never ridden a winner in Shakopee.
Until Thursday night.
Canchari, whose father, Luis, rode at Canterbury in the early days, was on Woodyville for owner/trainer Loren Brocka in the sixth race. There was a contingent of Patrick’s high school classmates waiting for him outside the winner’s circle when he dismounted.
There was also a trainer waiting to see if Canchari would return to Canterbury next Wednesday to ride for him.
Yes, Canchari said, he would make the trip from Prairie Meadows, where he is located now.
Canchari began riding on Feb. 11 and has 14 wins in his brief career. He left Shakopee after Thursday’s race in quite a hurry. He had the cook in the jockey’s room prepare him food to go for his return trip to Iowa.
Helping Each Other Into Canterbury's Hall of Fame
by Angela Hermann
Canterbury welcomes its 2011 Hall of Fame inductees next week. The Minnesota racing fan that has not heard of Mac Robertson, Derek Bell or Sir Tricky is a rarity. Although all of our new Hall-of-Famers have won their share of races (and them some), these three as a team packed quite a punch. Let’s take a look back at their success together:
· 2008 Blair’s Cove Stakes - Leading an uncoupled three horse entry from the Robertson barn, Sir Tricky avenged his defeat in the 2007 edition of the Blair’s Cove by defeating rival Torpedo Man. Sitting just off the pace under D-Bell, the gelding waited patiently and took over when asked, defeating stablemate Joni’s Justice by a neck at 5-2. This was Sir Tricky’s second turf stakes win, but his first strike with his fellow Hall of Famer.
· 2008 Minnesota Sprint Championship Stakes – Showcasing his versatility, ‘Tricky shortened up and switched surfaces for his second stakes victory of 2008, closing from short range to track down future stablemate Captain Canaveral. The public was not fooled twice, sending him off favored for a paltry $3.80 payoff. Though he would not return to defend his title in 2009, Mac & Derek retained the Sprint with a win by speedy three year old Bizet.
· 2008 Kenny Schoepf Stakes – Closing day in 2008 was another winning afternoon for Sir Tricky, as he and fellow Robertson trainee Bee O Bee Bob took on five foes in the Kenny Schoepf. Setting the stage for a few years down the road, Derek Bell and Dean Butler closed together to put away a talented field in 1:10 and 2/5. To no one’s surprise, a dollar exacta returned a whopping $5.60. Their one-two finish as the first and second choices (respectively) put the icing on the cake of another championship season for Mac.
· 2009 10,000 Lakes Stakes – Though all three went on to future success, their final hurrah together came in Sir Tricky’s second 10,000 Lakes triumph. Though he finished fourth in 2008, the gallant old gelding turned in a strong rally in his 2009 debut to win by two widening lengths. This ended up being his only victory of the season, but certainly not his swan song in Minnesota stakes racing. What happened next? Well, Sir Tricky did what any 10,000 Lakes winner would do – Become the following year’s Champion Turf Horse.
Congratulations to this trio, and to all of our 2011 inductees. Hats off to you gentlemen!
Canterbury welcomes its 2011 Hall of Fame inductees next week. The Minnesota racing fan that has not heard of Mac Robertson, Derek Bell or Sir Tricky is a rarity. Although all of our new Hall-of-Famers have won their share of races (and them some), these three as a team packed quite a punch. Let’s take a look back at their success together:
· 2008 Blair’s Cove Stakes - Leading an uncoupled three horse entry from the Robertson barn, Sir Tricky avenged his defeat in the 2007 edition of the Blair’s Cove by defeating rival Torpedo Man. Sitting just off the pace under D-Bell, the gelding waited patiently and took over when asked, defeating stablemate Joni’s Justice by a neck at 5-2. This was Sir Tricky’s second turf stakes win, but his first strike with his fellow Hall of Famer.
· 2008 Minnesota Sprint Championship Stakes – Showcasing his versatility, ‘Tricky shortened up and switched surfaces for his second stakes victory of 2008, closing from short range to track down future stablemate Captain Canaveral. The public was not fooled twice, sending him off favored for a paltry $3.80 payoff. Though he would not return to defend his title in 2009, Mac & Derek retained the Sprint with a win by speedy three year old Bizet.
· 2008 Kenny Schoepf Stakes – Closing day in 2008 was another winning afternoon for Sir Tricky, as he and fellow Robertson trainee Bee O Bee Bob took on five foes in the Kenny Schoepf. Setting the stage for a few years down the road, Derek Bell and Dean Butler closed together to put away a talented field in 1:10 and 2/5. To no one’s surprise, a dollar exacta returned a whopping $5.60. Their one-two finish as the first and second choices (respectively) put the icing on the cake of another championship season for Mac.
· 2009 10,000 Lakes Stakes – Though all three went on to future success, their final hurrah together came in Sir Tricky’s second 10,000 Lakes triumph. Though he finished fourth in 2008, the gallant old gelding turned in a strong rally in his 2009 debut to win by two widening lengths. This ended up being his only victory of the season, but certainly not his swan song in Minnesota stakes racing. What happened next? Well, Sir Tricky did what any 10,000 Lakes winner would do – Become the following year’s Champion Turf Horse.
Congratulations to this trio, and to all of our 2011 inductees. Hats off to you gentlemen!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Canterbury Park Reschedules Promotional Events
Canterbury Park officials have released a revised promotional schedule for the remainder of the live meet following a 20-day state government shutdown which cost the racetrack 12 days of live racing and its customers a number of popular events. The revised schedule includes six added race dates, the previously canceled Extreme Race Day, a championship weiner dog race and free hotdogs.
The added days of racing will be: Wednesday, Aug. 3, Thursday, Sept. 1 and 8 and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sept. 9 – 11. Post times for the added dates are 7:00 pm on weeknights, 1:30 on Saturday, and 11:00 am on Sunday, Sept. 11, the final day of the 2011 meet.
Extreme Race Day, rescheduled for Aug. 6, features exhibition races by camels and ostriches and also includes several horse races with unusual conditions, run at distances unique to the day. Free pony rides, face painting, and a petting zoo will also be offered.
Labor Day, Sept. 5, will now feature free Hormel hot dogs and a weiner dog race. Both events had previously been planned for Independence Day.
Also rescheduled is Canterbury’s Cigar Smoker, now on Saturday, Aug. 20.
“Adding racing days was important to the horsemen spending their summer in Minnesota,” Senior Marketing Manager John Groen said. “Our fans really enjoy the camels and ostriches, so getting that back on the schedule was a priority as well.”
Events that will be held as originally scheduled include the Saturday, Aug. 13 Food Truck Festival, the Friday, Aug. 19 Canterbury Uncorked wine event, and the Minnesota Festival of Champions Sept. 4.
###
The added days of racing will be: Wednesday, Aug. 3, Thursday, Sept. 1 and 8 and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sept. 9 – 11. Post times for the added dates are 7:00 pm on weeknights, 1:30 on Saturday, and 11:00 am on Sunday, Sept. 11, the final day of the 2011 meet.
Extreme Race Day, rescheduled for Aug. 6, features exhibition races by camels and ostriches and also includes several horse races with unusual conditions, run at distances unique to the day. Free pony rides, face painting, and a petting zoo will also be offered.
Labor Day, Sept. 5, will now feature free Hormel hot dogs and a weiner dog race. Both events had previously been planned for Independence Day.
Also rescheduled is Canterbury’s Cigar Smoker, now on Saturday, Aug. 20.
“Adding racing days was important to the horsemen spending their summer in Minnesota,” Senior Marketing Manager John Groen said. “Our fans really enjoy the camels and ostriches, so getting that back on the schedule was a priority as well.”
Events that will be held as originally scheduled include the Saturday, Aug. 13 Food Truck Festival, the Friday, Aug. 19 Canterbury Uncorked wine event, and the Minnesota Festival of Champions Sept. 4.
###
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A DAY OF THOUGHT, REFLECTION AND TRACK RECORD
By JIM WELLS
It was a day for thought, reflection and celebration Sunday, a day for memorializing old friends and welcoming some, too, a day for sadness, joy and stories.
Oh, the stories. Some were told in whispers, others in loud bursts of emotion. Not all of them will be repeated here.
There is no place like the racetrack environment for capturing the rhythms of life, the passings and arrivals, the defeats and triumphs.
On a happy note there was the return of Luis Quinonez, the Q as he is known, winner of 546 races and five consecutive riding titles in Shakopee. He was in town, for the first time since 2003, to ride Dale Schenian’s Rys Alley Cat in the Dean Kutz Derby, a race named for the late two-time riding champion and Hall of Fame rider.
There was also the scintillating effort of Jess A Runner, trained by Kenny Laymon and ridden by Doug Frink, a blowout, three-length winner of the $15,000 Great Lakes quarter horse stakes in a sizzling, track record time of :21.16.
On a more somber note, two long-time stalwarts in the racing world were memorialized with races named in their honor: Dr. Les Martens, the gentlemanly figure never without his cigarette and often in his green pants and pink polo, an owner of Hall of Fame horse Northbound Pride and a racing fan through and through, was remembered in race No. 3, The Les Martens Memorial. Dr. Martens died in January.
One race later, Robert “Bun” Colvin, a trainer on Canterbury’s backside since Day One, make that Race One, in track history was remembered. Colvin grew up on a horse and was still breaking babies at age 73. Try as he might, he could never leave racing, returning after retiring three times. Colvin died at home in South Dakota last December. Oh, that very first horse he saddled? Sultan’s Gold, who ran third to Faiz in the state’s first pari-mutuel race.
The winner of the Dean Kutz Derby was Wild Jacob, trying the turf for the first time. Owned by Stanley Mankin of Grand Island, Neb., Wild Jacob cruised home a length in front of Fairing and Juan Rivera, 3 in front of Cactus son.
Mankin recently retired from farming and went into training on his own. He has four horses in Shakopee, two of them 2-year-olds. He ran a horse here a few years ago by the name of Skunk Tail, who was still winning at age 13.
Incidentally, the figure eight on Quinonez’s horse (the noseband) broke in the gate, and Rhys Alley Cat was never a factor.
Then there was the Blair’s Cove Stakes, named for the 1988 Horse of the Year at Canterbury, won on Sunday by Tubby Time, ridden by the master of pace, Derek Bell. “He’s just a push button horse, a very nice horse,’’ said Bell after finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Mac’s Blackhawk and Paul Nolan, with Bizet in third.
Bell was concerned for an instant at the head of the lane that his horse was going to quit on him. “I whacked him a couple of times and he responded,’’ Bell said.
There was one more race in honor of a former Canterbury and Minnesota horseman and horse, the Bob Morehouse/Cash Caravan Stakes. Morehouse was a well-known quarter horse breeder and owner who had an impact on the fledgling industry in Minnesota.
Lien On Me was the upset winner in that race with Jennifer Schmidt up. Owned and bred by Tom Pouliot of Cocoran, Lien On Me finished a half length in front of It’s a Jazzin Time with Seis It Fast, the 2010 Canterbury Horse of the Year, next.
Lien On Me was bottle fed his first two weeks after his dam, Lenas Rare Lady, nearly died. Now three, he is long removed from those perilous days and had the competition running for their lives on Sunday.
So it went on Sunday, one story after another, some of victory, others of defeat and still others simply in memory.
There was one final vignette on Bun Colvin, who was at home in Ethan, S.D., last Dec. 4, his wife, Marlene, at his side. They were watching the races on TVG when Bun died suddenly, suffering an aortic aneurism.
Three weeks later, Sultan’s Gold died and was buried on the farm in a spot already dug and prepared by Bun in anticipation of just such an event, should it occur in the winter when the ground was frozen. Shortly after that, the family cat went, too, and Marlene searched high and low, finally locating a spot prepared for the feline as well.
Mark Erickson, Canterbury’s vice president of facilities, recalled a Colvin complaint about the hard surface of the racetrack in the late 1990s.
“He told me I didn’t know how hard it was because I didn’t have to ride a horse on it,’’ Erickson said.
So, Colvin invited Erickson to the backside one morning. “I’d only been on a horse once or twice in my lifetime,’’ Erickson said. Colvin outfitted the man from facilities on a horse and escorted him to the track.
All went well as they trotted out to the front of the grandstand until they turned around, in the direction the horses run. “That horse took off with me,’’ Erickson said. “Bun” was laughing, all the trainers on the viewing stand were laughing.’’
The trainer had made his point.
It was a day for thought, reflection and celebration Sunday, a day for memorializing old friends and welcoming some, too, a day for sadness, joy and stories.
Oh, the stories. Some were told in whispers, others in loud bursts of emotion. Not all of them will be repeated here.
There is no place like the racetrack environment for capturing the rhythms of life, the passings and arrivals, the defeats and triumphs.
On a happy note there was the return of Luis Quinonez, the Q as he is known, winner of 546 races and five consecutive riding titles in Shakopee. He was in town, for the first time since 2003, to ride Dale Schenian’s Rys Alley Cat in the Dean Kutz Derby, a race named for the late two-time riding champion and Hall of Fame rider.
There was also the scintillating effort of Jess A Runner, trained by Kenny Laymon and ridden by Doug Frink, a blowout, three-length winner of the $15,000 Great Lakes quarter horse stakes in a sizzling, track record time of :21.16.
On a more somber note, two long-time stalwarts in the racing world were memorialized with races named in their honor: Dr. Les Martens, the gentlemanly figure never without his cigarette and often in his green pants and pink polo, an owner of Hall of Fame horse Northbound Pride and a racing fan through and through, was remembered in race No. 3, The Les Martens Memorial. Dr. Martens died in January.
One race later, Robert “Bun” Colvin, a trainer on Canterbury’s backside since Day One, make that Race One, in track history was remembered. Colvin grew up on a horse and was still breaking babies at age 73. Try as he might, he could never leave racing, returning after retiring three times. Colvin died at home in South Dakota last December. Oh, that very first horse he saddled? Sultan’s Gold, who ran third to Faiz in the state’s first pari-mutuel race.
The winner of the Dean Kutz Derby was Wild Jacob, trying the turf for the first time. Owned by Stanley Mankin of Grand Island, Neb., Wild Jacob cruised home a length in front of Fairing and Juan Rivera, 3 in front of Cactus son.
Mankin recently retired from farming and went into training on his own. He has four horses in Shakopee, two of them 2-year-olds. He ran a horse here a few years ago by the name of Skunk Tail, who was still winning at age 13.
Incidentally, the figure eight on Quinonez’s horse (the noseband) broke in the gate, and Rhys Alley Cat was never a factor.
Then there was the Blair’s Cove Stakes, named for the 1988 Horse of the Year at Canterbury, won on Sunday by Tubby Time, ridden by the master of pace, Derek Bell. “He’s just a push button horse, a very nice horse,’’ said Bell after finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Mac’s Blackhawk and Paul Nolan, with Bizet in third.
Bell was concerned for an instant at the head of the lane that his horse was going to quit on him. “I whacked him a couple of times and he responded,’’ Bell said.
There was one more race in honor of a former Canterbury and Minnesota horseman and horse, the Bob Morehouse/Cash Caravan Stakes. Morehouse was a well-known quarter horse breeder and owner who had an impact on the fledgling industry in Minnesota.
Lien On Me was the upset winner in that race with Jennifer Schmidt up. Owned and bred by Tom Pouliot of Cocoran, Lien On Me finished a half length in front of It’s a Jazzin Time with Seis It Fast, the 2010 Canterbury Horse of the Year, next.
Lien On Me was bottle fed his first two weeks after his dam, Lenas Rare Lady, nearly died. Now three, he is long removed from those perilous days and had the competition running for their lives on Sunday.
So it went on Sunday, one story after another, some of victory, others of defeat and still others simply in memory.
There was one final vignette on Bun Colvin, who was at home in Ethan, S.D., last Dec. 4, his wife, Marlene, at his side. They were watching the races on TVG when Bun died suddenly, suffering an aortic aneurism.
Three weeks later, Sultan’s Gold died and was buried on the farm in a spot already dug and prepared by Bun in anticipation of just such an event, should it occur in the winter when the ground was frozen. Shortly after that, the family cat went, too, and Marlene searched high and low, finally locating a spot prepared for the feline as well.
Mark Erickson, Canterbury’s vice president of facilities, recalled a Colvin complaint about the hard surface of the racetrack in the late 1990s.
“He told me I didn’t know how hard it was because I didn’t have to ride a horse on it,’’ Erickson said.
So, Colvin invited Erickson to the backside one morning. “I’d only been on a horse once or twice in my lifetime,’’ Erickson said. Colvin outfitted the man from facilities on a horse and escorted him to the track.
All went well as they trotted out to the front of the grandstand until they turned around, in the direction the horses run. “That horse took off with me,’’ Erickson said. “Bun” was laughing, all the trainers on the viewing stand were laughing.’’
The trainer had made his point.
BUN COLVIN, A HORSEMAN'S HORSEMAN
BY JIM WELLS
Trivia lovers easily recall the English-bred horse who won the first race in Minnesota pari-mutuel history. Faiz was in headlines all over the state the next day, with trainer Martin Kenney running a close second.
It's tougher to recall the horse that got up for show money in that race. He was Sultan's Gold and he was trained by Robert "Bun" Colvin, a near permanent fixture in Canterbury's stable area the next 25 years.Colvin was a horseman's horseman from South Dakota, a man of his word and trustworthy with a handshake.
"I met him when I was 12 years old at Aksarben and I've been friends with him and his wife, Marlene, ever since,'' said trainer Mac Robertson. "He was a hard-working man, an honest man. Not many around like him.''
And Colvin was durable.
How many men do you know still galloping their horses, or breaking two-year-olds at age 73.
Bun Colvin did. "Most men that age are sitting in the stands,'' Robertson added.
A couple of years ago, Colvin was galloping a horse one morning at Canterbury when an outrider approached him. "Hey, old man, what are you doing out here,'' the fellow jested. "You should talk,'' Colvin responded. "I can see what you've got hanging over that saddle horn.''
As the years piled on, Colvin considered giving up breaking young horses. "I don't know if I can do it anymore,'' he told Marlene, his wife of nearly 57 years. "Then he'd start to get fit and I'd see him out in the pasture on a young horse,'' she said.
Colvin tried to retire two or three times, but couldn't make it stick.
"We tried fishing in 2000 (his first retirement),'' Marlene said. "He bought his brother's old boat, but didn't have much success catching fish. He ended up giving the boat away and went back to breaking colts. You should have seen him. It was amazing.''
Colvin started riding at age five at his father's hand. He loved horses and he loved racing. He'd sit in his favorite chair and read the Blood Horse, study blood lines or watch the races on TVG.
That's what he was doing, watching the races, last Dec. 4, a Saturday, with Marlene at his side, when he gasped and died on the spot of an aortic aneurism.
He was 74 years, one month and four days old.
Bun Colvin was 17 and Marlene was 16 when they married in 1954 in Mitchell, S.D. Eleven years later they purchased acreage near Mitchell and opened a breeding, training and racing operation.
"We were partners, best friends, the whole ball of wax,'' Marlene said. "We worked together seven days a week.''
Colvin prided himself on his strength, right up to the end. "He walked three or four miles, rode a colt the same distance. He was very healthy. Then this sudden thing hit him, sitting in his chair,'' Marlene said.
Trainer Randy Pfeifer was 17 or 18 years old when he met Colvin at Park Jefferson in South Dakota. "I'm 60 now,'' Pfeifer said. "Bun used to ride up to my barn about 4:30 each day on his bicycle. We'd talk. Sometimes he'd stay to dinner. I miss that.''
Pfeifer and Robertson had matching descriptions, nearly word for word, for Colvin: "He was a true horseman. He took awful good care of his horses right to the end.''
Stable superintendent Mark Stancato interacted with Colvin at various tracks. "From Aksarben to here, he was on every stall list wherever I was,'' Stancato said. "He had a terrific fondness for hugging women,'' Stancato added. "If you were a woman and Bun never hugged you, there was something awfully wrong with you.''
Stancato didn't discover what he liked best about the man until after his death. "I found out after he died that Bun was a good Democrat,'' Stancato said. "I was glad to hear that.''
Colvin never had the big horse, but had plenty he grew right fond of. There was Sugar Dust, Petro D Jay and, of course, Plana Dance, the only two-time winner of the Princess Elaine Stakes. Plana Dance won five stakes and 11 races for the Colvins. Now she is producing babies.
Marlene made reservations for 35 at the Canterbury Inn this weekend. "Mostly my sisters and their families,'' she said. They are in Shakopee for today's running of the Bun Colvin Memorial race. Among those in the gathering will be Dr. William Hemminger, an equine veterinarian from Kentucky.
Hemminger is Bun's nephew, his sister's son. "He came to live with us when he was 12,'' Marlene said. "I always felt bad. We hauled him all over the place, racing. But he says it helped him learn about the world.''
There is more to it than that. Hemminger had words of advice for his aunt Marlene when he talked to her recently.
"Have plenty of Kleenix in the winner's circle on Sunday,'' he told her.
Trivia lovers easily recall the English-bred horse who won the first race in Minnesota pari-mutuel history. Faiz was in headlines all over the state the next day, with trainer Martin Kenney running a close second.
It's tougher to recall the horse that got up for show money in that race. He was Sultan's Gold and he was trained by Robert "Bun" Colvin, a near permanent fixture in Canterbury's stable area the next 25 years.Colvin was a horseman's horseman from South Dakota, a man of his word and trustworthy with a handshake.
"I met him when I was 12 years old at Aksarben and I've been friends with him and his wife, Marlene, ever since,'' said trainer Mac Robertson. "He was a hard-working man, an honest man. Not many around like him.''
And Colvin was durable.
How many men do you know still galloping their horses, or breaking two-year-olds at age 73.
Bun Colvin did. "Most men that age are sitting in the stands,'' Robertson added.
A couple of years ago, Colvin was galloping a horse one morning at Canterbury when an outrider approached him. "Hey, old man, what are you doing out here,'' the fellow jested. "You should talk,'' Colvin responded. "I can see what you've got hanging over that saddle horn.''
As the years piled on, Colvin considered giving up breaking young horses. "I don't know if I can do it anymore,'' he told Marlene, his wife of nearly 57 years. "Then he'd start to get fit and I'd see him out in the pasture on a young horse,'' she said.
Colvin tried to retire two or three times, but couldn't make it stick.
"We tried fishing in 2000 (his first retirement),'' Marlene said. "He bought his brother's old boat, but didn't have much success catching fish. He ended up giving the boat away and went back to breaking colts. You should have seen him. It was amazing.''
Colvin started riding at age five at his father's hand. He loved horses and he loved racing. He'd sit in his favorite chair and read the Blood Horse, study blood lines or watch the races on TVG.
That's what he was doing, watching the races, last Dec. 4, a Saturday, with Marlene at his side, when he gasped and died on the spot of an aortic aneurism.
He was 74 years, one month and four days old.
Bun Colvin was 17 and Marlene was 16 when they married in 1954 in Mitchell, S.D. Eleven years later they purchased acreage near Mitchell and opened a breeding, training and racing operation.
"We were partners, best friends, the whole ball of wax,'' Marlene said. "We worked together seven days a week.''
Colvin prided himself on his strength, right up to the end. "He walked three or four miles, rode a colt the same distance. He was very healthy. Then this sudden thing hit him, sitting in his chair,'' Marlene said.
Trainer Randy Pfeifer was 17 or 18 years old when he met Colvin at Park Jefferson in South Dakota. "I'm 60 now,'' Pfeifer said. "Bun used to ride up to my barn about 4:30 each day on his bicycle. We'd talk. Sometimes he'd stay to dinner. I miss that.''
Pfeifer and Robertson had matching descriptions, nearly word for word, for Colvin: "He was a true horseman. He took awful good care of his horses right to the end.''
Stable superintendent Mark Stancato interacted with Colvin at various tracks. "From Aksarben to here, he was on every stall list wherever I was,'' Stancato said. "He had a terrific fondness for hugging women,'' Stancato added. "If you were a woman and Bun never hugged you, there was something awfully wrong with you.''
Stancato didn't discover what he liked best about the man until after his death. "I found out after he died that Bun was a good Democrat,'' Stancato said. "I was glad to hear that.''
Colvin never had the big horse, but had plenty he grew right fond of. There was Sugar Dust, Petro D Jay and, of course, Plana Dance, the only two-time winner of the Princess Elaine Stakes. Plana Dance won five stakes and 11 races for the Colvins. Now she is producing babies.
Marlene made reservations for 35 at the Canterbury Inn this weekend. "Mostly my sisters and their families,'' she said. They are in Shakopee for today's running of the Bun Colvin Memorial race. Among those in the gathering will be Dr. William Hemminger, an equine veterinarian from Kentucky.
Hemminger is Bun's nephew, his sister's son. "He came to live with us when he was 12,'' Marlene said. "I always felt bad. We hauled him all over the place, racing. But he says it helped him learn about the world.''
There is more to it than that. Hemminger had words of advice for his aunt Marlene when he talked to her recently.
"Have plenty of Kleenix in the winner's circle on Sunday,'' he told her.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
IT’S POLAR PLUNGE, VICTORY SLED ON A SULTRY DAY
BY JIM WELLS
Saturday afternoon’s steamy, oppressive weather conditions were just the ticket for a filly named Polar Plunge and a colt named Victory Sled.
Clearly the tropical weather conditions were no hindrance for these horses with arctic-like appellations.
Polar Plunge is clearly a filly to keep an eye on. Her commanding six-length victory in the $35,000 Frances Genter Stakes for 3-year-old state-bred fillies established her as a horse to reckon with.
Victory Sled, on the other hand, got everything to go right for a 1 ¼ length victory over Samendra in the $35,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes.
You could pick up comments among horsemen and onlookers alike after the Genter Stakes.
“She’s the real deal.” “That’s a horse.”
“She’s a filly of the future,’’ said winning trainer Gary Scherer.
Owner Cam Casby was filled with uncertainty before the race. “We didn’t know what to expect,’’ she said. “We didn’t know if she was all the way back.’’
Polar Plunge, the 3-5 favorite Sunday, underwent ankle surgery in January. She won an allowance outing easily on June 19, but…
“That one didn’t count,’’ Casby said.
A daughter by Successful Appeal from Shakopee, Polar Plunge’s chief competition was Esprit de Bleu. Those two fillies were born a week or two apart at Bleu Valley Farm in May Township.
The dams to the two fillies raced against one another at one time, as well.
Shakopee won the Frances Genter, just ahead of Bleu’s Apparition in 2004. The two met three times in all. Bleu finished ahead of Shakopee in the Minnesota Oaks; it was the other way around in the Minnesota Distaff Sprint.
Jeff Hilger, who owns Esprit de Bleu with his wife, Deb., joined the winner’s circle continent after the race. “I told you a horse foaled at Bleu Valley Farm would win this race,’’ he cracked.
Casby was gleeful with Saturday’s result after her horse took command in the stretch to finish six lengths in front of Esprit de Bleu, who had ¾ length on Bert’slittlesister.
“We’ve been waiting for a horse like this a long time,’’ she said.
“She’s really, really nice,’’ said winning rider Dustin Dugas. “She’s doing everything right so far. She’s getting better and better.’’
And she’s three-for-three.
The winning time was 1:01 and 4/5.
The boys were on stage in the Victor S. Myers Stakes. Samendra was the 4-5 favorite, Black Tie Benny was second choice at 2-1 and Desert Alley was next at 5-1. But it was Victory Sled at 15-1 who took a trip to the winner’s circle, rallying with a stretch drive to finish 1 ¼ lengths in front of Samendra and another half length in front of Desert Alley.
Winning trainer Bruce Riecken had a succinct appraisal of the race after his horse broke from the No. 1 hole and took the rail to the winner’s circle.
“Good Post. Good ride. Saved ground. Fast fractions. Smart jockey,’’ Riecken said.
“Good horse,’’ added winning rider Derek Bell.
BIG WEEKEND FOR ALMAR FARMS
Al and Marlys Goebel were frequent visitors to Canterbury in years past, running their horses in the colors of Almar Farm and producing state-bred champions many times over the years.
The Gobels advancing years prevent them from attending the races these days, but their horses still leave an impression.
Friday night, For Instance, ridden by Anne Von Rosen, was a winner. The horse is owned and bred by the Goebels.
The Gobels’ daughter, Claudia, heads Almar Partners. Their horse, Speakfromyourheart, was also a winner on Friday.
“I brought the win pictures over to show my dad at 8:15 this morning,’’ Claudia said. “He smiled when he saw them, especially a winner he bred.’’
Claudia will have more to show her parents after Saturday’s card. Mesa Mirage, another Almar Farms owned and bred horse, won the fourth race.
There could be more today. Almar Partners’ First Captain is in the Blair’s Cove Stakes.
“We’re in real tough in that one,’’ Claudia said.
Saturday afternoon’s steamy, oppressive weather conditions were just the ticket for a filly named Polar Plunge and a colt named Victory Sled.
Clearly the tropical weather conditions were no hindrance for these horses with arctic-like appellations.
Polar Plunge is clearly a filly to keep an eye on. Her commanding six-length victory in the $35,000 Frances Genter Stakes for 3-year-old state-bred fillies established her as a horse to reckon with.
Victory Sled, on the other hand, got everything to go right for a 1 ¼ length victory over Samendra in the $35,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes.
You could pick up comments among horsemen and onlookers alike after the Genter Stakes.
“She’s the real deal.” “That’s a horse.”
“She’s a filly of the future,’’ said winning trainer Gary Scherer.
Owner Cam Casby was filled with uncertainty before the race. “We didn’t know what to expect,’’ she said. “We didn’t know if she was all the way back.’’
Polar Plunge, the 3-5 favorite Sunday, underwent ankle surgery in January. She won an allowance outing easily on June 19, but…
“That one didn’t count,’’ Casby said.
A daughter by Successful Appeal from Shakopee, Polar Plunge’s chief competition was Esprit de Bleu. Those two fillies were born a week or two apart at Bleu Valley Farm in May Township.
The dams to the two fillies raced against one another at one time, as well.
Shakopee won the Frances Genter, just ahead of Bleu’s Apparition in 2004. The two met three times in all. Bleu finished ahead of Shakopee in the Minnesota Oaks; it was the other way around in the Minnesota Distaff Sprint.
Jeff Hilger, who owns Esprit de Bleu with his wife, Deb., joined the winner’s circle continent after the race. “I told you a horse foaled at Bleu Valley Farm would win this race,’’ he cracked.
Casby was gleeful with Saturday’s result after her horse took command in the stretch to finish six lengths in front of Esprit de Bleu, who had ¾ length on Bert’slittlesister.
“We’ve been waiting for a horse like this a long time,’’ she said.
“She’s really, really nice,’’ said winning rider Dustin Dugas. “She’s doing everything right so far. She’s getting better and better.’’
And she’s three-for-three.
The winning time was 1:01 and 4/5.
The boys were on stage in the Victor S. Myers Stakes. Samendra was the 4-5 favorite, Black Tie Benny was second choice at 2-1 and Desert Alley was next at 5-1. But it was Victory Sled at 15-1 who took a trip to the winner’s circle, rallying with a stretch drive to finish 1 ¼ lengths in front of Samendra and another half length in front of Desert Alley.
Winning trainer Bruce Riecken had a succinct appraisal of the race after his horse broke from the No. 1 hole and took the rail to the winner’s circle.
“Good Post. Good ride. Saved ground. Fast fractions. Smart jockey,’’ Riecken said.
“Good horse,’’ added winning rider Derek Bell.
BIG WEEKEND FOR ALMAR FARMS
Al and Marlys Goebel were frequent visitors to Canterbury in years past, running their horses in the colors of Almar Farm and producing state-bred champions many times over the years.
The Gobels advancing years prevent them from attending the races these days, but their horses still leave an impression.
Friday night, For Instance, ridden by Anne Von Rosen, was a winner. The horse is owned and bred by the Goebels.
The Gobels’ daughter, Claudia, heads Almar Partners. Their horse, Speakfromyourheart, was also a winner on Friday.
“I brought the win pictures over to show my dad at 8:15 this morning,’’ Claudia said. “He smiled when he saw them, especially a winner he bred.’’
Claudia will have more to show her parents after Saturday’s card. Mesa Mirage, another Almar Farms owned and bred horse, won the fourth race.
There could be more today. Almar Partners’ First Captain is in the Blair’s Cove Stakes.
“We’re in real tough in that one,’’ Claudia said.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Stars Go Dark For Ms. Keith
BY JIM WELLS
It must have been an alignment of the stars, a celestial clue to eclipse all clues.
Or as announcer Paul Allen put it, “the hunch bet of all time.’’
The grand subject of Friday night’s card was none other than jockey Lori Keith, who was not only celebrating her 29th birthday but acknowledging it with appearances in the winner’s circle.
Heading into race six, Keith had two wins in the bag for trainer Vic Hanson, who was hoping for another in the upcoming race.
There was no reason to think the stars were not sending a message as the facts of the matter fell into place just before post time.
Keith was gunning for a hat trick on her birthday. The horse she was riding was named The Third Guy, and the race was labeled “Laurie’s Birthday Dash’’ although for another birthday celebrant who spelled her name differently.
Think of it: It was all there.
Allen was right, the hunch bet of the century.
Hanson got his win in the race, only with Anne Von Rosen, who was riding For Instance for him. The Third Guy beat only two guys in the 12 horse field.
So much for hunch bets. Maybe the cloud cover obscured the starlight.
Nonetheless, Keith was having a royal 29th. She was aboard Pleasant Life for Hanson in the third race, a 71/2 furlong maiden event on the grass. “I thought maybe she’d place,’’ Keith said. “I didn’t think she’d win.’’
But Pleasant Life did just that, stretching out in front of J’Noodle in the final strides.
Keith made it two for the night in the fifth, aboard Speakfromyourheart. “I love that horse,’’ she said. “I thought he could win.’’
Keith also had mounts in the seventh and eighth races, to no avail.
As she considered the notion of a triple early in the evening, she was asked about her last hat trick.
“I had a quadruple just before I left Phoenix,’’ she said.
Getting an acknowledgment of her correct age was another matter. “I’m 21,’’ she said behind an emerging grin.
“Tell me, or I’ll make something up, just like News of the World,’’ she was told.
That was all it took for the English lass to give it up.
By the way, riding leader Dean Butler had a quadruple on Friday’s card.
HORSEMEN EXPRESS GRATITUDE
Horsemen clearly were pleased with the response from management during the shutdown that deprived them of 12 racing days.
The track remained open for workouts. Trainers were able to go about their daily chores as usual.
Horsemen were delighted with the response from CEO/President Randy Sampson and the Canterbury board of directors.
“We want Randy and the board to know how much we appreciate that,’’ said HBPA president Tom Metzen. “They went to exorbitant expense to keep the place open and allow us to train.
“We want them to know how pleased we are with what they have done for the industry during a very difficult time.’’
Management is now in talks with horsemen to rescue as many races as possible from the 12 race cards that were cancelled during the shutdown. “We won’t get all our days but we know we’ll get as many as we possibly can,’’ Metzen added.
“The rest of the country should know about this,’’ he added. “They’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty for us here.’’
STEVENS ON THE MEND
Each day he says the pain is a bit less and he thus infers that the healing process is under way. It didn’t start out that way, however.
Scott Stevens underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder on Tuesday and felt good enough to make a trip to Canterbury Park on Thursday night, although he was still in considerable pain.
“It’s a lot better today,’’ he said on Friday. “It was awfully painful.’’
Doctors were pleased with the results. “They seemed to think everything went well,’’ Stevens said.
Stevens’ right scapula was cracked and a bone on the top of his left shoulder was chipped in a gate accident in June.
The right shoulder has healed. Now he will begin that process on the other one after having five metal clips, two cables and two screws inserted to stabilize the shoulder.
Stevens originally wanted the surgery done even earlier, but is glad now it was postponed. “It’s probably a good thing that I waited,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t have been able to drive or anything right off the bat. ‘’
He would have been without even limited use of either arm had the surgery on the left shoulder taken place before his right shoulder healed.
“At least I know I’m on the upswing now,’’ he said.
Doctors predicted a recovery period of four to six months, although Stevens has already altered that prognosis in his mind. “I’m saying maybe three,’’ he said.
Pain or no pain, nothing could stop Stevens from attending the races on Thursday night.
“I couldn’t miss the second opening of the year,’’ he said.
It must have been an alignment of the stars, a celestial clue to eclipse all clues.
Or as announcer Paul Allen put it, “the hunch bet of all time.’’
The grand subject of Friday night’s card was none other than jockey Lori Keith, who was not only celebrating her 29th birthday but acknowledging it with appearances in the winner’s circle.
Heading into race six, Keith had two wins in the bag for trainer Vic Hanson, who was hoping for another in the upcoming race.
There was no reason to think the stars were not sending a message as the facts of the matter fell into place just before post time.
Keith was gunning for a hat trick on her birthday. The horse she was riding was named The Third Guy, and the race was labeled “Laurie’s Birthday Dash’’ although for another birthday celebrant who spelled her name differently.
Think of it: It was all there.
Allen was right, the hunch bet of the century.
Hanson got his win in the race, only with Anne Von Rosen, who was riding For Instance for him. The Third Guy beat only two guys in the 12 horse field.
So much for hunch bets. Maybe the cloud cover obscured the starlight.
Nonetheless, Keith was having a royal 29th. She was aboard Pleasant Life for Hanson in the third race, a 71/2 furlong maiden event on the grass. “I thought maybe she’d place,’’ Keith said. “I didn’t think she’d win.’’
But Pleasant Life did just that, stretching out in front of J’Noodle in the final strides.
Keith made it two for the night in the fifth, aboard Speakfromyourheart. “I love that horse,’’ she said. “I thought he could win.’’
Keith also had mounts in the seventh and eighth races, to no avail.
As she considered the notion of a triple early in the evening, she was asked about her last hat trick.
“I had a quadruple just before I left Phoenix,’’ she said.
Getting an acknowledgment of her correct age was another matter. “I’m 21,’’ she said behind an emerging grin.
“Tell me, or I’ll make something up, just like News of the World,’’ she was told.
That was all it took for the English lass to give it up.
By the way, riding leader Dean Butler had a quadruple on Friday’s card.
HORSEMEN EXPRESS GRATITUDE
Horsemen clearly were pleased with the response from management during the shutdown that deprived them of 12 racing days.
The track remained open for workouts. Trainers were able to go about their daily chores as usual.
Horsemen were delighted with the response from CEO/President Randy Sampson and the Canterbury board of directors.
“We want Randy and the board to know how much we appreciate that,’’ said HBPA president Tom Metzen. “They went to exorbitant expense to keep the place open and allow us to train.
“We want them to know how pleased we are with what they have done for the industry during a very difficult time.’’
Management is now in talks with horsemen to rescue as many races as possible from the 12 race cards that were cancelled during the shutdown. “We won’t get all our days but we know we’ll get as many as we possibly can,’’ Metzen added.
“The rest of the country should know about this,’’ he added. “They’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty for us here.’’
STEVENS ON THE MEND
Each day he says the pain is a bit less and he thus infers that the healing process is under way. It didn’t start out that way, however.
Scott Stevens underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder on Tuesday and felt good enough to make a trip to Canterbury Park on Thursday night, although he was still in considerable pain.
“It’s a lot better today,’’ he said on Friday. “It was awfully painful.’’
Doctors were pleased with the results. “They seemed to think everything went well,’’ Stevens said.
Stevens’ right scapula was cracked and a bone on the top of his left shoulder was chipped in a gate accident in June.
The right shoulder has healed. Now he will begin that process on the other one after having five metal clips, two cables and two screws inserted to stabilize the shoulder.
Stevens originally wanted the surgery done even earlier, but is glad now it was postponed. “It’s probably a good thing that I waited,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t have been able to drive or anything right off the bat. ‘’
He would have been without even limited use of either arm had the surgery on the left shoulder taken place before his right shoulder healed.
“At least I know I’m on the upswing now,’’ he said.
Doctors predicted a recovery period of four to six months, although Stevens has already altered that prognosis in his mind. “I’m saying maybe three,’’ he said.
Pain or no pain, nothing could stop Stevens from attending the races on Thursday night.
“I couldn’t miss the second opening of the year,’’ he said.
Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The Canterbury Park Hall of Fame committee today announced the class of 2011. Honored in an Aug. 6 ceremony will be: thoroughbred breeders Jeff and Deb Hilger of Stillwater, thoroughbred trainer Mac Robertson, quarter horse trainer Ed Ross Hardy, jockey Derek Bell, and Minnesota-bred thoroughbred Sir Tricky. These inductees join a group of more than forty individuals and horses that comprise the best of Minnesota racing.
The Hilgers operate Bleu Valley Farm in May Township near Stillwater, MN, where they have bred several stakes winners. The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association named them Minnesota’s Outstanding Breeder four times. Hilger horses have won the Canterbury Horse of the Year award twice, in 2000 with Bleu Victoriate and in 2009 with Chick Fight. Jeff also has served as director and vice president of the Minnesota HBPA board.
Mac Robertson has been the leading thoroughbred trainer the past six seasons. He holds records for both single-season and all-time in-the-money percentages, all-time win percentage, and single-season earnings.
Ed Ross Hardy has been the leading American Quarter Horse trainer the past nine seasons and 10 times overall. He is the historical leader in both earnings and wins.
Derek Bell has won six riding titles at Canterbury, more than any other jockey. He is the single-season and all-time leader in earnings and also holds the single-season records for win and in-the-money percentages.
Sir Tricky was bred in Minnesota by William Hobbs and foaled in 2001. For the final five years of his career, which ended with a win in the 2010 Minnesota Turf Championship, Sir Tricky was trained by Robertson and owned by Barry and Joni Butzow of Eden Prairie, MN. By the sire Sir Cat, he won seven stakes at Canterbury Park including the 10,000 Lakes (twice), the Blair’s Cove and the Minnesota Sprint Championship. His earnings of $315,633 at Canterbury is second on the all-time list. He won 12 times at Canterbury.
The Canterbury Hall of Fame was founded in 1995 to recognize people and horses that have made important and lasting contributions to the racing industry within the state. The selection committee consists of representatives of local horsemen organizations, local media, and Canterbury Park.
The Hilgers operate Bleu Valley Farm in May Township near Stillwater, MN, where they have bred several stakes winners. The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association named them Minnesota’s Outstanding Breeder four times. Hilger horses have won the Canterbury Horse of the Year award twice, in 2000 with Bleu Victoriate and in 2009 with Chick Fight. Jeff also has served as director and vice president of the Minnesota HBPA board.
Mac Robertson has been the leading thoroughbred trainer the past six seasons. He holds records for both single-season and all-time in-the-money percentages, all-time win percentage, and single-season earnings.
Ed Ross Hardy has been the leading American Quarter Horse trainer the past nine seasons and 10 times overall. He is the historical leader in both earnings and wins.
Derek Bell has won six riding titles at Canterbury, more than any other jockey. He is the single-season and all-time leader in earnings and also holds the single-season records for win and in-the-money percentages.
Sir Tricky was bred in Minnesota by William Hobbs and foaled in 2001. For the final five years of his career, which ended with a win in the 2010 Minnesota Turf Championship, Sir Tricky was trained by Robertson and owned by Barry and Joni Butzow of Eden Prairie, MN. By the sire Sir Cat, he won seven stakes at Canterbury Park including the 10,000 Lakes (twice), the Blair’s Cove and the Minnesota Sprint Championship. His earnings of $315,633 at Canterbury is second on the all-time list. He won 12 times at Canterbury.
The Canterbury Hall of Fame was founded in 1995 to recognize people and horses that have made important and lasting contributions to the racing industry within the state. The selection committee consists of representatives of local horsemen organizations, local media, and Canterbury Park.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Racing Resumes After Unwanted Hiatus
BY JIM WELLS
Racing returned to Canterbury Park Thursday night and so did something resembling humane humidity. To celebrate the occasion, management opened the gates and let 6,504 patrons file through without charge.
There were all sorts of returns of good will, handshakes and smiles from track employees and participants in the races, 10 in all.
Among the riders extremely pleased to be back in the saddle was Nik Goodwin, who broke his right collarbone and a rib on the upper right in an accident on June 5. Goodwin spent the entire shutdown finishing his convalescence.
The state shutdown was officially over on the racetrack, and management is conferring with horsemen in an attempt to reschedule 12 racing cards lost since July 1.
Although there were indications that all of the races, including stakes, lost during the shutdown will take place through some sort of extension of the season combined with an extra day here or there, track president and CEO Randy Sampson said Thursday it was certain that at least six of the 12 days lost will be made up.
Meanwhile, racing fans were welcomed back with traditional Thursday night fare: $1 hot dogs, Pepsi and nachos with cheese.
Even more enticing were the payoffs from horses running for the first time in three weeks. Long shots ruled the day, none more enticingly than the winner of the sixth race, Alex’s Tomcat, trained by Red Rarick and ridden by Goodwin.
The gelded son of Iron Cat returned a hefty $70.80, $22.40, $5.60 across the board, the big return on a night of big returns.
How to explain it?
Lots of factors, Goodwin said.
“The horses are all fresh with a three-week layoff. We don’t know how hard some of them worked during that time. Plus there is a rhythm to training and entering horses that was interrupted. Everything is maybe out of rhythm right now.’’
Well, that was one explanation anyway for an evening of nice payoffs. It started with race No. 1 Champ Laila, trained by Bruce Riecken and ridden by Luis Robletto returned
Mogilny with Anne Von Rosen up returned $19.20 in the second race. In race three, In For A Song and Derek Bell returned $17.20, followed by Samantha’s Rule, with Von Rosen up, with a $30.40 payback.
In a stretch duel between Local Big Shot and Somerset Mariton, Juan Rivera got a much needed win aboard Big Shot, owned by Tom and Karen Metzen and Gary McCloud and trained by Mike Biehler.
“I was tired,’’ Rivera said, referring not only to his horse.
Rivera’s winner, by Thursday’s standards, returned a modest $8.40.
Finally, in race seven, a favorite came through. Missnorasdouble, under caught Speaker’s Action, 8-1, at the wire to return $3.80.
Race eight was not much different with 3-1 favorite Stillwater Storm nipping Heart’s Of Gold, 23-1, at the wire.
Not all was peachy with the return of racing, however. Some owners were still incensed at money invested in boarding and training with no chance of a return for 12 race days.
Riders took various approaches to the shutdown. Derek Bell spent the time riding at home in Indiana and at Prairie Meadows. Other riders stayed at Canterbury, working horses in the morning, earning zip and awaiting the return of racing.
Jockey Brittany Arterburn married farrier Scott Rhone, last Sunday night at the Wilds. The wedding and reception went without a hitch. The marriage? “Check back with me in 20 years,’’ Rhone cracked.
Bernell Rhone, father to the groom, admitted to a hangover. Grandchildren from North Dakota arrived with a concoction made from the notorious Everclear. “It was some sort of Kickapoo juice,’’ Rhone said. “Very pleasant tasting and easy to drink. Then, an hour later….’’
The real hangovers belonged to the riders, trainers, owners and track management still recovering from the stress and anxiety of three weeks without work.
Racing returned to Canterbury Park Thursday night and so did something resembling humane humidity. To celebrate the occasion, management opened the gates and let 6,504 patrons file through without charge.
There were all sorts of returns of good will, handshakes and smiles from track employees and participants in the races, 10 in all.
Among the riders extremely pleased to be back in the saddle was Nik Goodwin, who broke his right collarbone and a rib on the upper right in an accident on June 5. Goodwin spent the entire shutdown finishing his convalescence.
The state shutdown was officially over on the racetrack, and management is conferring with horsemen in an attempt to reschedule 12 racing cards lost since July 1.
Although there were indications that all of the races, including stakes, lost during the shutdown will take place through some sort of extension of the season combined with an extra day here or there, track president and CEO Randy Sampson said Thursday it was certain that at least six of the 12 days lost will be made up.
Meanwhile, racing fans were welcomed back with traditional Thursday night fare: $1 hot dogs, Pepsi and nachos with cheese.
Even more enticing were the payoffs from horses running for the first time in three weeks. Long shots ruled the day, none more enticingly than the winner of the sixth race, Alex’s Tomcat, trained by Red Rarick and ridden by Goodwin.
The gelded son of Iron Cat returned a hefty $70.80, $22.40, $5.60 across the board, the big return on a night of big returns.
How to explain it?
Lots of factors, Goodwin said.
“The horses are all fresh with a three-week layoff. We don’t know how hard some of them worked during that time. Plus there is a rhythm to training and entering horses that was interrupted. Everything is maybe out of rhythm right now.’’
Well, that was one explanation anyway for an evening of nice payoffs. It started with race No. 1 Champ Laila, trained by Bruce Riecken and ridden by Luis Robletto returned
Mogilny with Anne Von Rosen up returned $19.20 in the second race. In race three, In For A Song and Derek Bell returned $17.20, followed by Samantha’s Rule, with Von Rosen up, with a $30.40 payback.
In a stretch duel between Local Big Shot and Somerset Mariton, Juan Rivera got a much needed win aboard Big Shot, owned by Tom and Karen Metzen and Gary McCloud and trained by Mike Biehler.
“I was tired,’’ Rivera said, referring not only to his horse.
Rivera’s winner, by Thursday’s standards, returned a modest $8.40.
Finally, in race seven, a favorite came through. Missnorasdouble, under caught Speaker’s Action, 8-1, at the wire to return $3.80.
Race eight was not much different with 3-1 favorite Stillwater Storm nipping Heart’s Of Gold, 23-1, at the wire.
Not all was peachy with the return of racing, however. Some owners were still incensed at money invested in boarding and training with no chance of a return for 12 race days.
Riders took various approaches to the shutdown. Derek Bell spent the time riding at home in Indiana and at Prairie Meadows. Other riders stayed at Canterbury, working horses in the morning, earning zip and awaiting the return of racing.
Jockey Brittany Arterburn married farrier Scott Rhone, last Sunday night at the Wilds. The wedding and reception went without a hitch. The marriage? “Check back with me in 20 years,’’ Rhone cracked.
Bernell Rhone, father to the groom, admitted to a hangover. Grandchildren from North Dakota arrived with a concoction made from the notorious Everclear. “It was some sort of Kickapoo juice,’’ Rhone said. “Very pleasant tasting and easy to drink. Then, an hour later….’’
The real hangovers belonged to the riders, trainers, owners and track management still recovering from the stress and anxiety of three weeks without work.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Canterbury to Resume All Operations Thursday
Canterbury Park will resume card casino, simulcast and live racing operations on Thursday, following the end to a 20-day state government shutdown which closed state regulatory agencies on July 1, causing all gaming operations at Canterbury to cease. A state budget was passed by the Minnesota legislature early this morning during a special session and signed by Gov. Dayton, allowing state agency employees to return to work as early as Thursday.
Canterbury Park’s card casino will reopen at 10:00 AM Thursday; Simulcast racing operations at 11:00 AM and live racing will begin at 7:00 PM.
Business at Canterbury Park came to a halt July 1 with the state shutdown and subsequent closure of the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC), the state regulatory body that oversees gaming operations. More than 1,000 Canterbury employees have been on unpaid leave since that date. The MRC is fully-funded by the industry and receives no money from the general fund.
“We are relieved that this shutdown has come to an end. It has caused undue hardship for far too many,” Canterbury President Randy Sampson said. “I look forward to welcoming back our employees, loyal customers, and horsemen, who will once again be able to compete for purses.”
Racino legislation, which would have permitted slot machines at the state’s two race tracks, was not addressed in the special session.
“It is very disappointing that racino legislation was not part of this budget resolution,” Sampson said. “Racinos are proven job creators, proven revenue streams, and would also allow Minnesota’s racing industry, which already employees several thousand, to remain competitive and viable. We remain committed and will continue to work to see that racino legislation is passed for Minnesota.”
Studies have indicated that racinos would generate an estimated $125 million annually while creating thousands of jobs in the racing, hospitality, and equine industries. Polls have consistently shown that more than 70% of Minnesotans favor racino legislation. Twelve other states and more than 40 race tracks throughout North America have benefitted from similar legislation.
JM
Canterbury Park’s card casino will reopen at 10:00 AM Thursday; Simulcast racing operations at 11:00 AM and live racing will begin at 7:00 PM.
Business at Canterbury Park came to a halt July 1 with the state shutdown and subsequent closure of the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC), the state regulatory body that oversees gaming operations. More than 1,000 Canterbury employees have been on unpaid leave since that date. The MRC is fully-funded by the industry and receives no money from the general fund.
“We are relieved that this shutdown has come to an end. It has caused undue hardship for far too many,” Canterbury President Randy Sampson said. “I look forward to welcoming back our employees, loyal customers, and horsemen, who will once again be able to compete for purses.”
Racino legislation, which would have permitted slot machines at the state’s two race tracks, was not addressed in the special session.
“It is very disappointing that racino legislation was not part of this budget resolution,” Sampson said. “Racinos are proven job creators, proven revenue streams, and would also allow Minnesota’s racing industry, which already employees several thousand, to remain competitive and viable. We remain committed and will continue to work to see that racino legislation is passed for Minnesota.”
Studies have indicated that racinos would generate an estimated $125 million annually while creating thousands of jobs in the racing, hospitality, and equine industries. Polls have consistently shown that more than 70% of Minnesotans favor racino legislation. Twelve other states and more than 40 race tracks throughout North America have benefitted from similar legislation.
JM
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Track workers Petition For Their Jobs
BY JIM WELLS
Jockeys, stable hands, concession workers, grain suppliers, horsemen and their families spread out on the grandstand apron Wednesday afternoon, most of them unemployed.
In the barns on the backside, 1,300 unemployed horses whinnied, chewed on straw, pranced in their stalls and waited to return to work as well.
More than 1,000 people who work in the racing industry were on hand for a press conference and rally called by state legislators from the area, Sen. Claire Robling of Jordan and Rep. Mike Beard of Shakopee, who expressed their support for the racing industry and pledged to help in reopening Canterbury Park.
Meanwhile, unemployed workers at Canterbury and in horse businesses associated with racing pitched their messages on signs just about anywhere one cared to look.
Need More Taxes. Try a Racino.
I Want My Job Back.
The Government Shutdown is Killing Horse Racing.
Turn Our Lights Back On.
Get Us Back On Track. Pass a Racino.
Of the numerous signs, one drew repeated comment:
Quit Horsin' Around.
The track supplied lunch, hot dogs, chips and cold drinks, to the horsemen who gathered for the occasion. Track president and CEO Randy Sampson addressed the workers before the press conference, thanked them for their ongoing patience and support and urged them to stay positive, while updating them on current negotiations to reopen Canterbury.
Robling expressed her support for a Racino, considered necessary for the state horse industry and Canterbury to grow, for them to compete with states that already have those advantages.
"That would be a big win for racing and a big win for the state,'' she said. "The polls show (consistently) that 70 percent of the state supports a Racino. Twelve other states have Racinos and we know that they've been successful. We need to look to our neighbors (for successful ideas).''
Beard acknowledged that horsemen and their stables, that breeding farms, that Canterbury itself are examples of Minnesota small businesses that need support. He urged Governor Dayton to call the legislature back to work so that they could do something about resolving the work stoppage that has affected Canterbury, the Minnesota horse industry and the state.
Mayor John Schmitt of Shakopee talked about the billion dollar entertainment industry in the area, mentioning Valley Fair, Canterbury Park and, to a scattering of boos, Mystic Lake. "I knew I'd get you with that one,'' he said.
"We need the doors open (at Canterbury),'' Schmitt said. "We need the ponies back on the track.''
Jeff Hilger, a prominent breeder from rural Stillwater, talked about the horse industry and Canterbury as "truly a family. We stick together,'' he said. "You all should be very proud of the way you have handled a very troubling situation.''
Jockey Paul Nolan delivered perhaps the most heartfelt words on the ongoing situation. Many trainers and horsemen travel to Canterbury annually from Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, the Dakotas.
"I probably came the farthest,'' said Nolan. "I moved here from England. I made Minnesota my home. I am a Minnesota resident. I love it here.''
Nolan also spoke for many of his colleagues, who are at Canterbury summer after summer, lured here by a well-kept backside, superb track conditions and Canterbury management.
"Every jockey I know loves this place,'' Nolan said. "We love Minnesota, the people here, the track, the crowds for the races. But we have only 62 days of racing. We need every one of them.''
Trainer Mac Robertson commented after the press conference.
"It's sad,'' he said. "But what can we do. We're powerless.''
For 60 minutes Wednesday afternoon, it didn't seem that way. One sign sized up the general attitude:
Do your Job. Put us Back to Work.
Jockeys, stable hands, concession workers, grain suppliers, horsemen and their families spread out on the grandstand apron Wednesday afternoon, most of them unemployed.
In the barns on the backside, 1,300 unemployed horses whinnied, chewed on straw, pranced in their stalls and waited to return to work as well.
More than 1,000 people who work in the racing industry were on hand for a press conference and rally called by state legislators from the area, Sen. Claire Robling of Jordan and Rep. Mike Beard of Shakopee, who expressed their support for the racing industry and pledged to help in reopening Canterbury Park.
Meanwhile, unemployed workers at Canterbury and in horse businesses associated with racing pitched their messages on signs just about anywhere one cared to look.
Need More Taxes. Try a Racino.
I Want My Job Back.
The Government Shutdown is Killing Horse Racing.
Turn Our Lights Back On.
Get Us Back On Track. Pass a Racino.
Of the numerous signs, one drew repeated comment:
Quit Horsin' Around.
The track supplied lunch, hot dogs, chips and cold drinks, to the horsemen who gathered for the occasion. Track president and CEO Randy Sampson addressed the workers before the press conference, thanked them for their ongoing patience and support and urged them to stay positive, while updating them on current negotiations to reopen Canterbury.
Robling expressed her support for a Racino, considered necessary for the state horse industry and Canterbury to grow, for them to compete with states that already have those advantages.
"That would be a big win for racing and a big win for the state,'' she said. "The polls show (consistently) that 70 percent of the state supports a Racino. Twelve other states have Racinos and we know that they've been successful. We need to look to our neighbors (for successful ideas).''
Beard acknowledged that horsemen and their stables, that breeding farms, that Canterbury itself are examples of Minnesota small businesses that need support. He urged Governor Dayton to call the legislature back to work so that they could do something about resolving the work stoppage that has affected Canterbury, the Minnesota horse industry and the state.
Mayor John Schmitt of Shakopee talked about the billion dollar entertainment industry in the area, mentioning Valley Fair, Canterbury Park and, to a scattering of boos, Mystic Lake. "I knew I'd get you with that one,'' he said.
"We need the doors open (at Canterbury),'' Schmitt said. "We need the ponies back on the track.''
Jeff Hilger, a prominent breeder from rural Stillwater, talked about the horse industry and Canterbury as "truly a family. We stick together,'' he said. "You all should be very proud of the way you have handled a very troubling situation.''
Jockey Paul Nolan delivered perhaps the most heartfelt words on the ongoing situation. Many trainers and horsemen travel to Canterbury annually from Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, the Dakotas.
"I probably came the farthest,'' said Nolan. "I moved here from England. I made Minnesota my home. I am a Minnesota resident. I love it here.''
Nolan also spoke for many of his colleagues, who are at Canterbury summer after summer, lured here by a well-kept backside, superb track conditions and Canterbury management.
"Every jockey I know loves this place,'' Nolan said. "We love Minnesota, the people here, the track, the crowds for the races. But we have only 62 days of racing. We need every one of them.''
Trainer Mac Robertson commented after the press conference.
"It's sad,'' he said. "But what can we do. We're powerless.''
For 60 minutes Wednesday afternoon, it didn't seem that way. One sign sized up the general attitude:
Do your Job. Put us Back to Work.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A Day in the Life of Paul Allen
Fox 9's Dawn Mitchell calls a race at Canterbury Park
Follow Dawn Mitchell of Twitter at twitter.com/dawnmitchellat9
Follow Dawn Mitchell of Twitter at twitter.com/dawnmitchellat9
A Day in the Life of Paul Allen at Canterbury Park: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Racino Will Solve All This
BY JIM WELLS
Here's a suggestion for the Minnesota Legislature:
You can atone for years of neglect, abuse and ongoing ignorance of the Minnesota horse racing industry and its attendant benefits to the state with one simple act:
A Racino.
The latest example of the outright abuse of an industry _ touching all corners of the state and the interior, too _ is the shutdown of Canterbury Park.
Breeders, veterinarians, farriers, trainers, owners, riders, exercise boys and girls, hotwalkers, tack suppliers, farmers, graineries, truck drivers and Minnesota horse racing fans are all affected.
Horse racing _ approved overwhelmingly by the citizenry of Minnesota in 1983 _ arrived in 1985 and was not yet on its financial feet when Minnesota lawmakers opened the door to multiple forms of competition that all but wiped out the industry by 1992. Canterbury Downs, then only seven years old, went dark. Weeds began to sprout from the blacktop and other surfaces surrounding the track. Only the vision, commitment and steadfast devotion of the Sampson family revived racing and the associated breeding industry from near certain death in the state. Yet this industry is still only a faction of what it could be with appropriate action from Minnesota lawmakers. There is no better time for that action than now.
Racing needs an infusion of cash. Minnesota needs an infusion of cash. A Racino could satisfy both.
Minnesotans voted in racing by a commanding margin, 60-34 percent, still support it in record turnouts during the racing season _ and with their voices. In one poll after another, seventy percent or more of the state is in favor of a Racino at Canterbury. Few lawmakers pay attention.
The topic of a much-needed racino, whose existence becomes more necessary with each passing year, was a small part of the discussion on Monday, a footnote to other subjects during the annual HBPA general membership meeting at Canterbury.
Once again, more immediate goals _ those of survival _ took precedence over the racing's long-term plans and hopes of growth.
The four Twin Cities network television affiliates were present, interviewing trainers, jockeys and others associated with racing for their views on the recent shutdown that denied Canterbury Park its most prosperous weekend of the summer and threatens the rest of the meet.
Horsemen are optimists by nature. They could not last in a business built on uncertainty if they were not. Yet, they are realists when it comes to a dollar.
"I have no plans on leaving here,'' said trainer Larry Donlin Monday. "But at some point my owners might demand it.''
Donlin can still collect his day fees for stabling, feeding and training a racehorse. The owners of those horses need races and purses to make the investment worthwhile.
Jockey Scott Stevens, sidelined with injuries to both shoulders, had another viewpoint. Annually since 1969, Stevens has spent his winters at Turf Paradise in Phoenix and his summers at Canterbury. He keeps a trailer in Shakopee for his summer living accomodations, but now is considering what before was unthinkable. "I might have to move it out of here,'' he said. "If this shutdown continues, horsemen are going to leave with their horses and they aren't coming back.''
This year?
"Not ever,'' Stevens added.
Farfetched?
Not under this scenario: "It costs a fortune to ship horses all the way from Phoenix to Shakopee,'' Stevens added. "A lot of trainers won't take the chance any more if this shutdown doesn't end.''
Taking a shot in a race against a better-bred horse is one thing. Taking a shot that a racetrack might close through no fault of its own is quite another.
Stevens is awaiting surgery here later this month on one of this two injured shoulders. He is not riding at present but loves this sport and stays involved, healthy or injured. He is a Canterbury Park Hall of Fame rider who will not leave Shakopee easily. But he, too, is a realist.
Many horsemen eschew tracks offering better purse money for Canterbury, simply because of the clean, well-kept backside, grandstand amenities and unmatched attention from management they receive in Shakopee. Even that might not be enough soon, because of the ever-widening disparity between the money available in Minnesota versus that offered at other tracks with casino operations.
"Pretty soon it will cost more to ship horses here and back (to Phoenix) than a person can earn during a summer,'' trainer Doug Oliver said recently.
Monday, track president and CEO Randy Sampson updated horsemen and their stable help during the HBPA meeting on recent developments with the shutdown.
He had little to offer but hope. The hope that an appeal to the courts will permit a resumption of racing, with luck this week.
The HBPA and track offered horsemen and their stable help a free lunch of pizza, hot dogs and drinks after Monday's meeting. HBPA president Tom Metzen told them that his organization and the track will present them with free meal tickets for the next couple of days.
In addition, Metzen said that horses entered in races eliminated by the shutdown will get anywhere from $500 to $2,000 the next time they race in Shakopee to compensate for those lost opportunities. The track also plans to run most stakes races lost during the shutdown at another point in the meet.
In the meantime, the state's horse industry and its leading venue, Canterbury Park, are closed for business, struggling for survival once again.
But that's nothing new in Minnesota. It's time for a change. It's time for a Racino.
As Stevens put it Tuesday:"I hope I didn't break both of my shoulders for nothing.''
Here's a suggestion for the Minnesota Legislature:
You can atone for years of neglect, abuse and ongoing ignorance of the Minnesota horse racing industry and its attendant benefits to the state with one simple act:
A Racino.
The latest example of the outright abuse of an industry _ touching all corners of the state and the interior, too _ is the shutdown of Canterbury Park.
Breeders, veterinarians, farriers, trainers, owners, riders, exercise boys and girls, hotwalkers, tack suppliers, farmers, graineries, truck drivers and Minnesota horse racing fans are all affected.
Horse racing _ approved overwhelmingly by the citizenry of Minnesota in 1983 _ arrived in 1985 and was not yet on its financial feet when Minnesota lawmakers opened the door to multiple forms of competition that all but wiped out the industry by 1992. Canterbury Downs, then only seven years old, went dark. Weeds began to sprout from the blacktop and other surfaces surrounding the track. Only the vision, commitment and steadfast devotion of the Sampson family revived racing and the associated breeding industry from near certain death in the state. Yet this industry is still only a faction of what it could be with appropriate action from Minnesota lawmakers. There is no better time for that action than now.
Racing needs an infusion of cash. Minnesota needs an infusion of cash. A Racino could satisfy both.
Minnesotans voted in racing by a commanding margin, 60-34 percent, still support it in record turnouts during the racing season _ and with their voices. In one poll after another, seventy percent or more of the state is in favor of a Racino at Canterbury. Few lawmakers pay attention.
The topic of a much-needed racino, whose existence becomes more necessary with each passing year, was a small part of the discussion on Monday, a footnote to other subjects during the annual HBPA general membership meeting at Canterbury.
Once again, more immediate goals _ those of survival _ took precedence over the racing's long-term plans and hopes of growth.
The four Twin Cities network television affiliates were present, interviewing trainers, jockeys and others associated with racing for their views on the recent shutdown that denied Canterbury Park its most prosperous weekend of the summer and threatens the rest of the meet.
Horsemen are optimists by nature. They could not last in a business built on uncertainty if they were not. Yet, they are realists when it comes to a dollar.
"I have no plans on leaving here,'' said trainer Larry Donlin Monday. "But at some point my owners might demand it.''
Donlin can still collect his day fees for stabling, feeding and training a racehorse. The owners of those horses need races and purses to make the investment worthwhile.
Jockey Scott Stevens, sidelined with injuries to both shoulders, had another viewpoint. Annually since 1969, Stevens has spent his winters at Turf Paradise in Phoenix and his summers at Canterbury. He keeps a trailer in Shakopee for his summer living accomodations, but now is considering what before was unthinkable. "I might have to move it out of here,'' he said. "If this shutdown continues, horsemen are going to leave with their horses and they aren't coming back.''
This year?
"Not ever,'' Stevens added.
Farfetched?
Not under this scenario: "It costs a fortune to ship horses all the way from Phoenix to Shakopee,'' Stevens added. "A lot of trainers won't take the chance any more if this shutdown doesn't end.''
Taking a shot in a race against a better-bred horse is one thing. Taking a shot that a racetrack might close through no fault of its own is quite another.
Stevens is awaiting surgery here later this month on one of this two injured shoulders. He is not riding at present but loves this sport and stays involved, healthy or injured. He is a Canterbury Park Hall of Fame rider who will not leave Shakopee easily. But he, too, is a realist.
Many horsemen eschew tracks offering better purse money for Canterbury, simply because of the clean, well-kept backside, grandstand amenities and unmatched attention from management they receive in Shakopee. Even that might not be enough soon, because of the ever-widening disparity between the money available in Minnesota versus that offered at other tracks with casino operations.
"Pretty soon it will cost more to ship horses here and back (to Phoenix) than a person can earn during a summer,'' trainer Doug Oliver said recently.
Monday, track president and CEO Randy Sampson updated horsemen and their stable help during the HBPA meeting on recent developments with the shutdown.
He had little to offer but hope. The hope that an appeal to the courts will permit a resumption of racing, with luck this week.
The HBPA and track offered horsemen and their stable help a free lunch of pizza, hot dogs and drinks after Monday's meeting. HBPA president Tom Metzen told them that his organization and the track will present them with free meal tickets for the next couple of days.
In addition, Metzen said that horses entered in races eliminated by the shutdown will get anywhere from $500 to $2,000 the next time they race in Shakopee to compensate for those lost opportunities. The track also plans to run most stakes races lost during the shutdown at another point in the meet.
In the meantime, the state's horse industry and its leading venue, Canterbury Park, are closed for business, struggling for survival once again.
But that's nothing new in Minnesota. It's time for a change. It's time for a Racino.
As Stevens put it Tuesday:"I hope I didn't break both of my shoulders for nothing.''
Friday, July 1, 2011
Canterbury forced to cancel Saturday race program
Canterbury Park has cancelled racing for Saturday, July 2 as a result of the ongoing state shutdown and no ruling from Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin.
Canterbury Park, along with Running Aces Harness Park, appeared today in Ramsey County Court in hopes of obtaining a ruling that would allow the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC), the regulatory body that oversees both Minnesota racetracks, to operate. Judge Gearin has yet to issue a ruling following the hearing. The MRC is entirely funded by the racing industry, receives no money from the general fund, and has already received reimbursement for expected July expenses.
“Our horsemen need time to prepare their horses to race and the uncertainty of when the judge might rule has forced us to cancel a second day of racing at Canterbury Park,” track president Randy Sampson said.
A decision on the July 3 and 4 racing programs will be made tomorrow.
Canterbury Park, along with Running Aces Harness Park, appeared today in Ramsey County Court in hopes of obtaining a ruling that would allow the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC), the regulatory body that oversees both Minnesota racetracks, to operate. Judge Gearin has yet to issue a ruling following the hearing. The MRC is entirely funded by the racing industry, receives no money from the general fund, and has already received reimbursement for expected July expenses.
“Our horsemen need time to prepare their horses to race and the uncertainty of when the judge might rule has forced us to cancel a second day of racing at Canterbury Park,” track president Randy Sampson said.
A decision on the July 3 and 4 racing programs will be made tomorrow.
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