Canterbury has handle decline

Canterbury Park concluded its 2007 meeting on Labor Day with declines in all-sources and ontrack handle. Attendance at the Shakopee, Minn., track increased for the 11th consecutive year.

Total handle from all sources - including wagering from Canterbury on simulcasts from other tracks - during the 68-day meeting was $50,832,724, a decrease of 4 percent from the 2006 total of $53,082,340, also for 68 days. Ontrack handle on Canterbury's races totaled $15,375,451 - an average of $226,110 per day - a 9 percent decrease from 2006.

Some of the decline in handle can be attributed to the absence of the Claiming Crown, traditionally the biggest day of the meet, which was held at Ellis Park this year.

Total attendance came to 372,358, for a daily average of of 5,476, a 5 percent increase over last year.

Mac Robertson earned his third consecutive training title with 65 wins. Trainer Edward Ross Hardy won his sixth Quarter Horse training title with 23 victories. Derek Bell won the leading rider title for the fifth time at Canterbury Park with 81 victories. Run With Joy, owned by Frances Genter Williams, was named horse of the meet following her victories in the Frances Genter Stakes and Minnesota Oaks.