Canterbury Park track report

Canterbury Park concluded its 2005 meeting on Labor Day with mixed returns. While average daily attendance increased for the ninth consecutive year, betting handle declined in several categories.

The 2005 Canterbury Park race meeting was shortened to 68 days as a result of a cancellation on the second-last day of the meet, but it still attracted 348,804 fans for an average daily attendance of 5,129, a 3 percent increase over last year's 67-day meet.

Total handle from all sources, including money bet on incoming simulcasts, during the meeting was $49,087,897, a 7.5 percent decrease from the previous year's $53,058,841. Ontrack wagering on Canterbury's live races totaled $17,590,805, a 2.2 percent decrease from 2004's record handle of $17,990,353.

Wagering at offtrack facilities on the Canterbury Park signal in 2005 totaled $14,179,613, an 18.8 percent decrease from the record $17,412,011 that was wagered on the signal in 2004. Some of that decrease can be attributed to a decline in handle on Claiming Crown Day, which had fewer starters than in previous years.

Mac Robertson concluded the meet as the leading trainer with 53 wins from 202 starts and earnings of $809,976. Seth Martinez won the leading rider title with 96 wins from 453 mounts. In the Quarter Horse standings, trainer Edward Ross Hardy continued to dominate with 27 victories. Tad Leggett was the leading Quarter Horse rider with 18 wins.

In a poll of Canterbury Park employees, Lt. Sampson was named horse of the meet. He is owned by Canterbury Park chairman Curtis Sampson.