Incentive program, bigger field size leads to 12.4 increase in handle

Total commingled handle on Thoroughbred races at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., was up 12.4 percent during this year’s meet, according to an analysis conducted by Daily Racing Form.

The jump in wagering occurred during a 54-day meet in which Canterbury attempted to focus on drawing more trainers and boosting field size. Prior to the meet, Canterbury implemented a novel incentive program that rewarded trainers with upfront bonuses for starters, and field size this year was up nearly an entire horse, from 6.46 horse per race last year to 7.40 horses this year, according to the analysis.

Canterbury has had to revamp its racing program since a cross-marketing agreement expired at the end of 2022 in which the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux tribe propped up purses at the track by approximately $4 million a year. The track dropped 10 days from its traditional live racing schedule in 2023 and trimmed purses to approximately $9 million a year. Total handle dropped by half in that first year.

Total handle on Thoroughbred races this year jumped from $44.3 million to $49.8 million, according to the analysis. Average handle on Thoroughbred races climbed 11.5 percent.

“I was optimistic prior to this season,” said Amber Carlisle, the track’s senior manager of racing operations. “Of course there are challenges with available purse money but we assembled a very qualified team in the racing department, recruited hard, offering trainers incentives to run, and we achieved our goals.”

Total Thoroughbred purses were up 4.8 percent, while the average Thoroughbred purse was up 4.0 percent, to $23,918. In 2022, the last year in which Canterbury received subsidies, the average purse was $24,837. Canterbury ran approximately 140 more races in 2022 than in 2024.

Canterbury has been seeking authorization for slot machines or historical horse racing machines since the agreement expired, but those efforts have been stymied by the legislature in the face of opposition from the state’s Indian tribes. The agreement between Canterbury and the Shakopee tribe prevented the track from seeking expanded gambling.

Randy Sampson, the president of Canterbury Park, said that the track will renew efforts for expanded gambling or purse subsidies in 2025.

“We all understand that purse enhancements are required for [Canterbury] to be successful,” Sampson said. “We plan to work with the state legislature again in the coming session to explore opportunities that will provide a higher level of purses.”

On the track, Luis Fuentes won 66 races to lead all riders. Mac Robertson was the leading trainer with 46 wins. Novogratz Racing Stables had 17 wins to top the owner’s list.

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