Hardly any trainers based there anymore, due to contract uncertainties, lockouts and pathetic prize money (even compared to nearby Indiana and Prairie Meadows). Canterbury Park's resurgence sure to lure more midwestern-based barns away.
Also, the Illinois breeding industry is nearly extinct as a direct consequence of AP's decline. This will not help field sizes in the future.
The resulting product is tough to watch. I go there often, as I live 10 minutes away. But I rarely bet the AP card, as it is virtually impossible to find any value. I'm usually watching the simos from Belmont or Kentucky.
Still one of the nicest track facilities on the planet. Wish I could put some horses up there, but it makes no financial or strategic sense. We run our All-Weather horses at PID and Woodbine because purses are much more attractive and the trainers can operate in a more stable environment.
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"Good luck had just stung me, so to the race track I did go" - Levon Helm
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