The new agreement forges a powerful alliance between Canterbury and the Shakopee tribe, cutting out of the deal Running Aces harness track and Minnesota taxpayers.
'This partnership sets aside long-standing political differences over gaming and allows us to devote our attention and resources to great horse racing and rebuilding a prosperous horse industry in Minnesota.' 'This is a great day for Minnesota horse racing and for our organizations,' said Randy Sampson, Canterbury's president and CEO. The two say they also will work together to fend off future attempts to expand gambling in the metro area. In return, the tribe's nearby Mystic Lake casino will pay tens of millions of dollars to boost track winnings over the next decade. The state's premier horseracing track is joining forces with one of the state's wealthiest tribes in a deal that will enrich purses at ailing Canterbury Park while strengthening the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux's local monopoly on casino-style gambling.Īfter years of expensive political fighting, Canterbury has agreed to ditch its longstanding plans to add video slot machines that would create a racino.
