Canterbury situation has no resolution in sight..
 

Horsemen will meet today.. This is some mess...

http://www.drf.com/news/canterbury-h...pples-finances

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2184010.shtml?cat=1

It is sad.

I would be at Canterbury sitting outside in the grandstand at this moment getting ready to bet the third race.

While the shut down of state government is both party's fault for not reaching an agreement, the shut down of Canterbury Park was asked for by Governor Dayton.

He sent a list of all government services he felt should be deemed essential or non-essential for Judge Gearen to rule on. The Minnesota Zoo, the state lottery and Canterbury---all three which generate revenue to the state--- were ruled non-essential and thus closed.

On appeal the zoo was ruled to re-open.

Canterbury pays for the racing commision one year ahead, so NO state funds would be needed for the cost of the commision, stewards or veterinarians.

Owners and horsemen met Monday morning at 11:30 AM (CT) Horse owners, trainers, and jockeys have to decide if and when to leave to other tracks.

Canterbury is plannning an appeal to be heard early this week.

In 2005, our WONDERFUL state was closed for---if I remember---11 days. The track did not shut down.

On our local Sunday TV news and talk shows, political pundits from both sides were asked how long the state shutdown might last. One week to two months was the range of guesses.

Maybe the tough times ahead will get the masses interested in politics instead of The Voice and America's Got Talent.

Canterbury hopeful court appeal leads to track's reopening

Attorneys for Canterbury Park spent Tuesday preparing paperwork for an appeal of a ruling handed down in Ramsey County District Court that denied the track’s request to remain open during a state shutdown. The fate of Thursday’s card, the next scheduled day of live racing, remains up in the air and a decision may not be made until Thursday morning.

Increasingly depressing scenario for everyone at Canterbury.. Good piece by Star-Trib's Jon Tevlin on the cost to the people involved. 1,100 affected by the ongoing stalemate, before even counting those that work with the horses..

At Canterbury Park, no races, no purses, no reason to stay
By JON TEVLIN , Star Tribune

They are among the innocent victims of the state closure, many of them low-paid workers and independent contractors who simply do not earn a living if their horses don't run. Since jockeys and some trainers who own their horses are considered independent business owners, they also don't qualify for unemployment.