Workers scramble to replace damaged rail

Track maintenance supervisor Ian Gamble had a problem after the seventh race last Friday at Canterbury Park when a 70-foot section of the outside rail was damaged when the starting gate was being moved from the backstretch chute to the front of the track.

Gamble and his crew worked until late into the morning hours Saturday repairing the rail. Following the suggestion of Canterbury Park president and general manager Randy Sampson, Gamble used the rail from the turf course as a temporarily stopgap until replacement rails could be delivered.

* The Minnesota Legislature adjourned late Monday night without passing a gaming bill that would have allowed slot machines to be installed at Canterbury. Presently, slot machine gaming is offered in Minnesota at a number of casinos located on Native American reservations. The largest casino in the state is located just a few miles away from Canterbury.