Canterbury Park Handicapping Helper for July 7

The weekly handicapping helper for Thursday, July 7's program at Canterbury Park is now available.  There is some rain in the Shakopee, Minnesota, area this afternoon and is forecasted to continue this evening, so if you are playing tonight's races, keep an eye on changes and a possible move off the turf course.  There are nine races on the card, with the first two being Quarter Horse events

Don't forget, we also have a free guide to Canterbury, courtesy of Equinometry, with historical stats, racing styles, and other thoughts that should help you if you don't have experience playing there.  We'd like to thank Lenny Moon for putting the guide together.

Craig Milkowski (Chief Figure Maker for TimeformUS)

Horse in Focus at Canterbury on Thursday July 7

Race 3:

Stormquility (#5)
-Top last race TimeformUS Speed Figure with a 100
-Drops in class from stakes (TimeformUS Race Rating 110) to allowance (Race Rating of 101)
-Pace Projector predicts clear early lead in a race favoring horses on / near early lead
9/2 on ML

Candice Hare (Canterbury Park national handicapping correspondent)

R1: 4-7-3-1
R2: 11-8-6-3
R3: 3-5-2-4
R4: 7-5-4-6
R5: 5-8-7-1
R6: 6-8-3-1
R7: 3-5-7-8
R8: 3-2-4-7
R9: 4-1-3-2

Pick 3: R6 6,8 w ALL w 2,3

Brian Arrigoni (Paddock analyst for Canterbury Park) 

1: 3/7/4

2: 8/7/6

3: on turf 4/5/2 off turf 6/5/2

4: on turf 1/3/7 off turf 6/5/7

5: on turf 8/4/5 off turf 6/3/7

6: 3/8/1

7: 7/6/2

8: 6/7/4

9: 4/6/1

Early pick 4

3: 1456

4: 13457

5: 4578

6: 3

Late pick 4

6: 138

7: 267

8: 2467

9: 4

Dave - The Track Phantom - cut his teeth as a handicapper at Canterbury and has been having an excellent meet thus far. Dave has agreed to provide this Thursday's sheet for free!

You can see it right here!

Thanks Dave. Please visit his site for more information, and to look at his other tracks.

Jeff Platt of Jcapper software also has agreed to post his core selections, directly from the software.

Here are his power ratings (note the first two races are Quarter Horse races, so it starts in race three)

3-6,4,5

4-5,1,7

5-5,8,7

6-3,8,6

7-7,5,8

8-2,4,1

9-4,1,2

Johnny Love's thoughts on the card from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune are available here.

Other Twitter handles to follow for Canterbury:

Press Box
Bruce Meyer
Doug McPherson
Wes Reynolds
Andrew Malecha
Zach

Canterbury Park Handicapping Primer for June 30

The weekly handicapping helper for Thursday, June 30's program at Canterbury Park is now available.  Tonight's card has 10 races, with the final eight being Thoroughbred events.  The early pick 4 starts in race three, the late pick 4 in race seven, and the pick 5 in race six.

Don't forget, we also have a free guide to Canterbury, courtesy of Equinometry, with historical stats, racing styles, and other thoughts that should help you if you don't have experience playing there.  We'd like to thank Lenny Moon for putting the guide together.

Craig Milkowski (Chief Figure Maker for TimeformUS)

Horse in Focus at Canterbury on Thursday June 30

Race 5:

Classy Teacher (#6)

-Top late speed rating in a race projected to have a fast pace by TimeformUS.
-First start for new trainer Joe Sharp, rated 89 of 100 with new acquistions.
-Poor last race can be ignored, was on dirt---never hit board in four tries on surface.

4/1 on ML

Candice Hare (Canterbury Park national handicapping correspondent)

R1: 8-7-1-2
R2: 3-4-2-8
R3: 1-5-6-2
R4: 3-7-6-5
R5: 3-6-5-7
R6: 3-2-5-1
R7: 3-1-5-2
R8: 9-5-7-3
R9: 4-3-6-5
R10: 6-5-1-2

Best Bet: R2 #3 Love James Bond

P3: R3 1 w 3,5,6,7 w 3,6,7

Brian Arrigoni (Paddock analyst for Canterbury Park) 

1: 3/7/8
2: 1/4/8
3: 6/5/3
4: 7/2/3
5: 3/2/5
6: 1/6/2
7: 6/9/3
8: 9/3/4
9: 1/4/3
10: 6/1/3

Early pick 4
3: 13456
4: 12367
5: 235
6: 1

Late pick 4
7: 369
8: 23479
9: 1347
10: 6

Dave - The Track Phantom - cut his teeth as a handicapper at Canterbury and has been having an excellent meet thus far. Dave has agreed to provide this Thursday's sheet for free!

You can see it right here!

Thanks Dave. Please visit his site for more information, and to look at his other tracks.

Jeff Platt of Jcapper software also has agreed to post his core selections, directly from the software.

Here are his power ratings (note the first two races are Quarter Horse races, so it starts in race three)

3-1,2,5
4-1,2,7
5-6,2,3
6-6,1,5
7-1,2,8
8-9,3,4
9-4,3,7
10-1,6,5

Johnny Love's thoughts on the card from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune are available here.

Other Twitter handles to follow for Canterbury:

Bruce Meyer
Doug McPherson
Wes Reynolds
Andrew Malecha
Zach

Handicapping Canterbury Park for Thursday, June 23

Here are the selections from our group for this Thursday's card at Canterbury Park.  The pick 5 begins in race six and the late pick 4 in race seven.  TVG will have coverage of races six through ten.

Don't forget, we also have a free guide to Canterbury, courtesy of Equinometry, with historical stats, racing styles, and other thoughts that should help you if you don't have experience playing there.  We'd like to thank Lenny Moon for putting the guide together. 

Craig Milkowski (Chief Figure Maker for TimeformUS)

Horse in Focus At Canterbury on Thursday June 23rd

Race 9:

My Brother Dan (#7)

Co-top last race TimeformUS Speed Figure in the field with a 101 (tied with 5)

Second start for new trainer after claim; ran lifetime best in first try and now moves to allowance ranks

Projected to be on a clear lead in the TimeformUS Pace Projector in a race that should favor horses on / near early lead

3/1 on ML

Candice Hare (Canterbury Park national handicapping correspondent)
R1: 1-3-4-8
R2: 3-2-5-8
R3: 5-4-1-2
R4: 5-7-2-4
R5: 7-6-12-1
R6: 7-2-4-1
R7: 1-4-5-3
R8: 2-5-8-7
R9: 5-7-2-4
R10: 6-4-7-3

P3: R6 -- 7 w 1,3,4,5 w 2,5,8

Brian Arrigoni (Paddock analyst for Canterbury Park)

1: 4/2/5

2: 8/2/7
3: 4/1/2
4: 4/7/2
5: 1/2/6
6: 1/4/7
7: 3/5/1
8: 4/5/2
9: 4/2/5
10: 4/6/1

Early pick 4
3: 1245
4: 4
5: 126712
6: 1247

Late pick 4
7: 12357
8: 45
9: 4
10: 123456

Pick 5
6: 1247
7: 12357
8: 45
9: 4
10: 146

Dave - The Track Phantom - cut his teeth as a handicapper at Canterbury and has been having an excellent meet thus far. Dave has agreed to provide this Thursday's sheet for free!

You can see it right here!

Thanks Dave. Please visit his site for more information, and to look at his other tracks.

Johnny Love's thoughts on the card from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune are available here.  Johnny tweeted earlier today that he is a big fan of tonight's early pick 4 sequence that begins in race three.

Other Twitter handles to follow for Canterbury:

Bruce Meyer
Doug McPherson
Wes Reynolds
Andrew Malecha
Zach

Handicapping Canterbury Park for Thursday, June 16 - Pick 5 Debuts This Evening

This marks the second week of Thursday cards at Canterbury Park, and the selections from our group are now available.  Canterbury Park has added a pick 5 to their wagering menu starting tonight.  It is a normal pick 5 wager, not a jackpot, and the takeout is 18%.  The pick 5, which is a 50-cent base wager, starts in race six tonight.

Don't forget, we also have a free guide to Canterbury, courtesy of Equinometry, with historical stats, racing styles, and other thoughts that should help you if you don't have experience playing there.  We'd like to thank Lenny Moon for putting the guide together.

Craig Milkowski (Chief Figure Maker for TimeformUS)

Horse in Focus At Canterbury on Thursday June 16th

Race 4:
Mr Leadbox (#5)

Made big move on the turn last out, gaining 5.5 lengths into a slow pace before being cut off in his second career start on turf---romping winner in 1st turf try

Race is projected by TimeformUS to feature a fast pace; only seven are entered, but six have a running style of speed or tracker

Top late speed rating in the race of 73, 10 higher than any other entrant

4/1 on ML

Candice Hare (Canterbury Park national handicapping correspondent)

R1: 2-3-1-4
R2: 3-8-4-7
R3: 2-5-6-3
R4: 2-6-5-4
R5: 12-6-9-5
R6: 2-3-1-4
R7: 5-8-2-7
R8: 8-3-9-1
R9: 7-1-2-4
R10: 1-6-3-2

Late Pick 4: 2,5,8 w 8 w 1,7 w 1

Brian Arrigoni (Paddock analyst for Canterbury Park) 

1: 2/3/4
2: 8/5/6
3: 2/3/6
4: 5/2/3
5: 9/1/5
6: 4/2/6
7: 8/3/7
8: 9/8/1
9: 2/4/1
10: 1/2/4

Early pick 4
3: 1236
4: 12345
5: 9
6: 246

Late pick 4.
7: 13578
8: 16789
9: 124
10: 1

Dave - The Track Phantom - cut his teeth as a handicapper at Canterbury and has been having an excellent meet thus far. Dave has agreed to provide this Thursday's sheet for free!

You can see it right here!

Thanks Dave. Please visit his site for more information, and to look at his other tracks.

Jeff Platt of Jcapper software also has agreed to post his core selections, directly from the software.

Here are his power ratings (note the first two races are Quarter Horse races, so it starts in race three)

R3:  5-2-6
R4:  6-2-4
R5:  9-6-5
R6:  6-2-5
R7:  5-4-1
R8:  8-9-7
R9:  2-1-7
R10:  1-4-2

Johnny Love's thoughts on the card from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune are available here.

Other Twitter handles to follow for Canterbury:

Bruce Meyer
Doug McPherson
Wes Reynolds
Andrew Malecha
Zach

California Racing: To Hell with the bettors

Quote from a column written by Tom Jicha that appeared at the HORSERACEINSIDER site Wed. June 15, 2016:

California Horse Racing Board member Steve Beneto said, “To Hell with the bettors,” a couple of weeks ago. Golden Gate and its jockeys put this attitude into practice in a big way on Sunday.

The pity is, this happened at the tail end of the most glorious non-Breeders’ Cup weekend in memory, the Belmont Stakes Festival. 

Instead of everyone feeling upbeat about the game, the latest screwing of the customers is the topic among those who follow and participate in racing most avidly. 

You can only abuse people so long before they get disgusted and walk away. Indeed, there are already calls for a boycott of California racing as a result of this.

MIAMI, June 16, 2016--Golden Gate had a jackpot of almost $2 million Sunday in its version of the Rainbow 6. Because it was closing day, the pool had to be distributed without the “single winner” qualifier. As usually happens, this attracted enormous participation of more than $4 million from bettors nationwide. 

In the midst of the wager, the jockeys decided the turf course was unsafe and they refused to ride the 10th and 12th races on the grass. This was after they had already ridden three races on the turf, including the 8th race, which was part of the jackpot sequence. 

There was no change in the weather or description of the “firm” course. Maybe a new listing needs to be created, “chopped up.” 

If there was a potential problem, the riders should have informed management after one of the earlier grass races, before the Rainbow 6 began. They were not oblivious to the extraordinary action taking place Sunday.

The jockeys’ decision necessitated making the 10th and 12th races “all’s.” The Rainbow 6 became a pick 4, which resulted in a tiny payout of $146.16 per winning 50-cent ticket.

The whales and syndicates, which invested tens of thousands, were royally shafted. So were smaller players who pooled resources to cover more combinations.

This abomination could have a carryover effect—excuse the term--on all such mandatory payoff pools. A reluctance to jump in with both fists might develop out of fear of an encore wherever the bet is offered.

There is shared culpability here. Golden Gate, as painful as it might have been, should have announced a total refund when it learned two of the final three races would have to be all’s. Management could not have been unaware that the turf course was problematic. 

With the huge pool anticipated, no turf races should have been scheduled. They were, of course, because grass races draw bigger fields, which translates to more combinations having to be covered.

The jockeys involved have to receive sanctions. They were aware of what was at stake. The course couldn’t have been that bad. They rode it three times earlier in the day without incident. Nevertheless, they made a decision that gave the entire sport a black eye with repercussions still to be felt.

The CHRB should issue fines and/or suspensions as the least of the consequences. The chances of this happening are, of course, nil. As Beneto said, “To Hell with the bettors.”

Read the full article at the link:
http://www.horseraceinsider.com/Ante-Post/comments/06152016-news-was-not-all-good-on-belmont-weekend

.

Canterbury Park Picks, Stats and More for Thursday, June 9th's Evening Card

Starting with this Thursday's card, we'll be posting some picks and statistics for each Thursday night program at Canterbury Park from some familiar faces from Horseplayer Monthly and elsewhere. 

Canterbury Park slashed takeouts for this meet, and they are definitely worth a look.

We also have a free guide to Canterbury, courtesy of Equinometry, with historical stats, racing styles, and other thoughts that should help you if you don't have experience playing Canterbury.  We'd like to thank Lenny Moon for putting the guide together.

Stats from Charlie Davis - inside posts have been good on the dirt!

All dirt:

 

Dirt Sprints:

Craig Milkowski (Chief Figure Maker for TimeformUS)

Horse in Focus At Canterbury on Thursday June 9th

Race 5:

D R C’s Pretty Sky (#1)

Tries turf sprint for the first time in 11th career start; TimeformUS Breeding Rating of 90 for turf sprints, only 77 for dirt sprints.

Top trainer Villafranco (98 TimeformUS Trainer Rating) ships to Canterbury for first time this year with this horse from Prairie Meadows---no turf course there.

Overcame three horse speed battle while on the outside to win last with a 100 TimeformUS Speed Figure in minor stakes race; best last race number in field

4/1 on ML

Candice Hare (Canterbury Park national handicapping correspondent)

R1: 5-4-3-2

R2: 2-3-6-4

R3: 9-2-7-4

R4: 7-11-9-5

R5: 1-2-3-8

R6: 4-1-5-3

R7: 5-4-1-3

R8: 5-6-3-1

R9: 4-2-6-1

Brian Arrigoni (Paddock analyst for Canterbury Park) 

1: 6/2/4

2: 2/3/5

3: 2/4/10

4: 5/6/9

5: 1/5/2

6: 4/2/3

7: 7/5/2

8: 5/6/3

9:  6/2/4

Dave - The Track Phantom - cut his teeth as a handicapper at Canterbury and has been having an excellent meet thus far. Dave has agreed to provide this Thursday's sheet for free!

You can see it right here!

Thanks Dave. Please visit his site for more information, and to look at his other tracks.

Jeff Platt of Jcapper software also has agreed to post his core selections, directly from the software.

Here are his power ratings (note the first two races are Quarter Horse races, so it starts in race three)

3-7,9,10
4-5,8,6
5-8,9,7
6-3,1,5
7-2,4,7
8-6,3,5
9-2,5,3

Johnny Love's thoughts on the card from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune are available here.

Other Twitter handles to follow for Canterbury:

Bruce Meyer
Doug McPherson
Wes Reynolds
Andrew Malecha
Zach

Canterbury Park's Meet Starts With a Bang

Canterbury Park - the Shakopee, MN racetrack that lowered takeout's this season - had a very nice weekend opener. Friday through Sunday, handle was up over 30%, year over year.

Although the weather cooperated, and on-track wagering was up, it's still (by any measure) a super result for the track who had hoped to generate some buzz with simulcast players. Wagering outside the state via ADW and other racetracks was up 34%.

Canterbury debuted an HD signal (to a couple complaints on social media, mainly regarding the lack of visibility of the odds in full fields), and odds that update every ten seconds, giving players a pretty good experience for a smaller racetrack. They also flew in Katie Gensler to help with the two new candidates for paddock analyst, and the pre-game show had a professional feel.

The track catered to both its on-track and off-track customers by doing the right thing with the takeout decrease -- they promoted it. It's messaging is on the starting gate, the track announcer mentions it, and during the pre-game show the analysts talked about and explained that lower takeout means their customers' tickets pay more. "When you win, you win more" is a strong message to patrons. 

They seemed to push all the right buttons to set the table for a decent meet. 

Canterbury, as many of us have learned, is in a unique position as a racetrack. While most tracks earn the vast majority of their wagering dollars from off-track sources, Canterbury has an amazingly strong on-track business; upwards of half of some evenings total wagering comes from people on track. Although many of these bettors are younger and per capita wagering is low -- they have mainly come for other activities and promotions -- it does again set the table for growth. If even a handful of these newbies get that if this new 18% trifecta takeout (with some work) can be beatable, it's again very strong messaging.

While we as bettors can enjoy the perks of better takeout, it's also those of us who are fans and horse owners to be quite excited for the meet itself. Also not left out are the trainers.

Trainer Robert Diordino said things at Canterbury are different, “At a lot of tracks, you feel like you’re walking into an empty bingo hall,” said Robertino Diodoro, Canterbury’s leading trainer last year. “It doesn’t feel like you’re even at a racetrack any more.”

Donna Keen who sent a string to Canterbury last season loved the family vibe and people in the stands, “It's unbelievable. I love seeing the families here and the young people..."

For most of us not at the track, Canterbury's Friday evening races are at 6:30CT (there will be Thursday night racing at some point), and racing continues this weekend with a special Monday matinee for holiday weekend at 12:45CT.

For Canterbury Park on social media during the races, Candice Hare will be handicapping @chare889 as the national handicapping correspondent,  Brian Arrigoni is the on-track paddock analyst @MrB_CBanalyst, and there are others playing on social media with the hashtag #playcanterbury

This article was reprinted with permission.

Churchill's Change to Pick 6 Rules Symptomatic of a Sport Which Has Lost Its Way

Back in March, Churchill Downs petitioned the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a change to the carryover rules for the Derby Day pick 6.

As Steve Crist wrote in the DRF at the time:

Sick 6 at Churchill - Speaking of carryovers, here’s hoping someone hits the pick six on the Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs on May 7. Otherwise, a game of parimutuel three-card monte will kick in under a scheme unfortunately approved this week by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

To see how it works, let’s suppose that the Derby pick six pool, where the minimum bet is $2, is exactly $1 million. After the usual 22 percent takeout, that leaves $780,000 that’s supposed to be paid out – $190,000 in Derby Day consolations and $570,000 that normally would be up for grabs in a carryover pool when racing at Churchill resumes on Thursday, May 12.

Instead, Churchill will add only half of that $570,000 to the May 12 pool, which will be conducted with a 20-cent minimum and with a mandatory payout. The other half of the pool will be carried over to Friday, May 13, to seed a new Rainbow-style “Single 6” pool that Churchill is beginning that day. That pool is paid out only when there is a lone winner, so it’s entirely possible that the Derby Day carryover money won’t be paid out until June.

This is dangerous policy that disrespects the integrity of the wagering pools. It makes the effective pick six takeout on Derby Day a whopping 49 percent

This ended up happening. As Marty McGee pointed out today:

"Here's what's happening with the $686,309 pick-6 carryover from Kentucky Derby Day:
Half of it ($343,154) is being used in a MANDATORY-PAYOUT pick-6 (now called the "Single Six") when racing resumes Thursday with an 8-race card (races 3-8). First post is 5 ET (Twilight Thursdays the rest of the meet.) The other half ($343,154) is being used to "seed" a new single-6 wager on Friday after the bet is dispersed Thursday."

Seeding jackpot bets with another pools money, and "three card monte" - as Steve Crist puts it - we feel are emblematic of a sport who has forgot someone very important: The Betting Customer.

The Pick 6 stuff from Churchill makes me want to not bet a dime there this meet. Thankfully it will be easy to pass up those field sizes

— JoshD (@_JoshD) May 9, 2016

The "#Sick6" is something that's being used to cure a bottom line, while in our opinion, it should be looking out for an entire industry.

Some (not all, see Keeneland and Kentucky Downs and Canterbury to name a few) in the sport all too often feel it has to resort to such prestidigitation, because "no one is betting horse racing." Well, for that, they do have a point:

We ask, what came first, the chicken or the egg?

Although some would like you to believe this drop has been inevitable, we see evidence that the argument is faulty.

In 2006, Nevada sports betting was bringing in $2.4 billion. This year - 2016 - it's slated to do $5 billion.That's over a double.

During this time Nevada sports wagering has taken 5.5% off a bet, expanded reach, and treated customers fairly well - so well, they want to bet more and more money on sports. No funny parlay's, no sick 6, no takeout hikes. Just betting and customer service.

Unlike horse racing, Nevada sports betting has not had a monopoly on internet wagering like racing has. It doesn't have legal status in 43 states. It does not have hundreds of tracks and OTB's as distribution points. It does not have dozens of ADW's. It's being done in one city, miles and miles away from the rest of the country's bettors at a tremendous disadvantage.

The gambling business is big and growing. For horse racing it has not grown for many years. With policies like the "sick 6", which add to takeout, and anger and madden customers, we can fully understand why.

Crist Opines on Canterbury's Two Moves & the Breeders' Cup

In the DRF today, Steve Crist highlighted two huge moves by Canterbury Park. First he lauded the takeout reduction:

"Canterbury is well positioned to show substantial gains. It has had virtually no national simulcasting presence, so almost any business from players wanting to vote their approval of the new rates will be entirely new business. "

CBY Ad

What he touched on next was even more compelling. Canterbury also was considering a "jackpot" bet at high takeout, but after discussing the bet with players, they decided just this week to scrap it.

This is a bold move. Canterbury wants to be known as horseplayer friendly by returning more money to customers when they hit a bet. That increased balance on your voucher (or in your ADW account) will be rebet, encouraging more churn. With a jackpot bet, it kills churn, so on-track players especially may be saving more on one hand, but betting it from the other into a terrible bet.  It kind of destroys the whole concept.

So far the Minnesota track has made some good moves. With the reverse on the jackpot just this week, they're keeping the momentum going.

There is a new Horseplayer Monthly coming out in May. We'll have Barry Meadow and the usual columnists, but we're adding a preview of the Canterbury meet, with stats and more. If you want the magazine delivered in your inbox free, you can visit our magazine page here. 

Good luck and good racing everyone.

Press Release: Kentucky Downs Tops the 8th Annual Horseplayers Association of North America Racetrack Rankings

(Charlottesville, VA, April 21, 2016): Kentucky Downs, the Franklin, Kentucky racetrack that races a short, all-turf meet, has topped the 2016 HANA Racetrack Rankings for the second consecutive year.

The rankings are based on an algorithm using factors indicative of horseplayer betting value, gleaned from both empirical and academic study. Key factors including takeout rate, field size, wager variety, pool size, and signal distribution are analyzed track by track and weighted to produce a final composite score.

"With low takeout and a field size of over ten horses per race, Kentucky Downs continues to excite customers," said HANA President Jeff Platt. “Despite an abbreviated meet, the ratings algorithm does not discriminate when it comes to betting value; Kentucky Downs has it and horseplayers responded with another year of record handles.”

“Kentucky Downs is honored to be named HANA’s number one track for the second year in a row. It is a testament to the hard work that our team puts into providing the horseplayer with the best value possible. We are especially appreciative of HANA’s efforts to represent the best interests of horseplayers and look forward to working with them for years to come,” said Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen.

Keeneland, with their 16% straight and 19% exotic takeout menu was second. Perennial horseplayer favorite Saratoga rounded out the top three.

Canterbury Park, which announced a massive takeout decrease just this week, vaulted up to sixth in the rankings. Suffolk Downs, with their 15% across the board takeout menu, also moved up appreciably.

For a list of all tracks rated one through sixty two, full ratings coverage including statistics, analysis, and track executive and insider interviews, please visit a special 'Industry Issue' of Horseplayer Monthly, our free e-magazine at this link. http://www.horseplayersassociation.org/hanamonthly.html

For a web copy of this release, please visit here: http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/

-30-

 The Horseplayers Association of North America is a 3,000 strong grassroots group of horseplayers who are not affiliated with any industry organization. HANA hopes, through proactive change on several key issues (including but not limited to), open signal access, lower effective takeouts, affordable data and customer appreciation, the industry’s handle losses can be reversed. Joining HANA is free. 

Click here to sign up early!

Canterbury Park Slashes Takeout for Upcoming Meet

 Note: In this week's 8th Annual "Track Ratings and Industry Issue" of the Horseplayer Monthly, we'll have a feature interview with Canterbury Park officials. To sign up for the free magazine, delivered to your inbox, please do here.

Canterbury Park racing officials today announced a sweeping reduction in pari-mutuel takeout that will result in the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack offering a wagering product priced lower, on average, than any track in the country. With win, place, show takeout set at 15 percent and all exotic wagers at 18 percent, Canterbury Park will be the best horse racing wagering opportunity in the United States when its 69-day race meet begins May 20.

“Canterbury Park has long strived to be the most horsemenf-friendly track in the country. Now, we want to be the most horseplayer-friendly racetrack in America,” Vice President of Racing Operations Eric Halstrom said. “With the growth in the quality of our racing program we, with the support of our horsemen, are taking the next step and making our races the most profitable wagering opportunity. By changing our takeout to the lowest in the United States, we’re giving horseplayers worldwide great value and drawing attention to what is sure to be the finest racing season in Minnesota history.”
Horse racing is conducted using a unique form of wagering called pari-mutuel wagering. Within the pari-mutuel system, all wagers are pooled together and those that pick winners share the money within the pool after a portion of the pool is withheld by the racetrack. This withholding is called takeout. The takeout is used to pay for purses for the races and to pay the operator, Canterbury Park, for putting on the races and facilitating the wagering.

Racing and gaming industry economists suggest that handle, the amount of money wagered, will increase substantially as takeout is reduced. Canterbury officials are confident that bettors will embrace the lower takeout and continually improving quality of racing with field size that regularly exceeds the national average. Horsemen purses have increased by 91 percent since 2010 due to tribal purse enhancements, and out-of-state handle on Canterbury’s races has risen by 114 percent over that same time period.

“We have been successful in increasing handle as our racing quality has improved. However, substantial upside still exists, and we believe this bold move will help us recognize that potential and create passionate Canterbury Park fans throughout the country.  We’re excited to offer something that no other racetrack in the United States has – the highest return to bettors all over the world,” Halstrom said.

Tom Metzen, President of the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents trainers and owners racing in the state, is in agreement with the takeout changes. “Racing at Canterbury Park continues its upward trend and the Minnesota HBPA supports the idea of a reduced takeout for our horseplayers,” Metzen said. “It will not only increase handle but show race fans everywhere what a jewel Minnesota racing is on the national scene.”

The reduction in takeout has also been met with widespread approval from major racing organizations including the nation’s premier horseplayer advocate group, the Horseplayers Association of North America (HANA).

“Canterbury Park has made a bold gesture for 2016, lower takeout for all. Their new wagering menu offers tremendous value. It also tells me they want my business,” HANA President Jeff Platt said. “I’ll be giving Canterbury a long, hard look this year and would encourage horseplayers everywhere to do the same.”

The takeout restructuring will be discussed by the Minnesota Racing Commission April 21.

Press Release: HANA Harness Handicapping Challenge Horse Rescues Prize Fund Reaches a Record $5,750; Horse Rescues Named

March 8, 2016 – HANA Harness is pleased to announce the addition of Hoosier Park Racing and Casino as a Gold Sponsor, raising the prize fund for the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs to a record $5,750.  With the sponsorship deadline being March 12, additional sponsorships may yet be named.

With the new year, race fan/handicapper Russ Adams and DRF Harness’ Matt Rose join the roster of handicappers to make a baker’s dozen with the possibility of one last handicapper joining the fray. 

As is the tradition of this contest, each handicapper chooses a rescue of their choosing and this year’s cast of handicappers have made the following selections: Russ Adams, Heart of Phoenix; Michael Carter, New Vocations; Ray Cotolo, Changing Fates Equine Rescue; Mark Deutsch, Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals; Ray Garnett, Rockin T Equine Rescue; Sally Hinckley, Rainhill Sanctuary; Jay Hochstetler, Central Virginia Horse Rescue; Rusty Nash, Racer Placers; Dennis O’Hara, Sunshine Horse Rescue; Bryan Owen, Standardbred Retirement Foundation; Matt Rose, Starting Gaits Standardbred Transition Program; Anne Stepien, Heading For Home; Gordon Waterstone, Horse Lovers United.

The Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge begins next weekend, March 18-19 with the first legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Memorial Series at Yonkers Raceway.  You may follow this year’s contest athttp://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.

-30- 

Note: We at HANA are proud of the efforts of Alan and the HANA Harness Handicappers in raising funds and awareness for their horse charities. We would also like to thank the sponsors who have been amazingly supportive over the years, culminating in this year's record funding.