Canterbury Park Horse Owners Take Gripe about Running Aces to State Board

At a meeting of the Minnesota Racing Commission last Thursday, horse owners from Canterbury Park squared off with rival racetrack Running Aces, which they say hasn't kept up agreed-upon payments to purses at the Shakopee track, according to news reports. 

The dispute pits the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Canterbury Park against North Metro Harness Initiative, which runs Running Aces, the StarTribune reported:

When Running Aces applied for its operating license in 2005, it agreed to pay a portion of its card-club revenues to help fund purses at Canterbury. The HBPA, in turn, dropped its opposition to licensing the harness track. The payments were to continue until legislation was passed to allow the tracks to install slot machines.

Last summer, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community cut a deal with Canterbury to contribute $75 million to purses over 10 years. In exchange, Canterbury agreed to drop its pursuit of slots and to oppose such legislation in the future. That deal, Running Aces contends, will make it impossible to end its payments to the purse fund — and it filed suit to end the agreement, claiming breach of contract. Hennepin County ­District Judge Ronald L. Abrams is expected to rule on the matter soon.

Read the full Star Tribune article at StarTribune.com.

Meanwhile, the two sides had their say before the racing commission March 7, KSTP-TV reported (see KSTP-TV video above or at KSTP.com). According to KSTP, Running Aces board member John Derus said:

"I don't know how much time this is going to take, but you're talking about 600 jobs, millions of dollars in tax base, and just by holding this meeting, you're sullying our reputation." ... The Racing Commission did not make a decision and did not indicate when it would rule on the petition to revoke the gambling license at Running Aces.

See the full KSTP-TV report at KSTP.com.

Related Patch reports:

• Canterbury/Shakopee Mdewakanton Deal Approved
• State Rep. Michael Beard Talks Racino Odds