Commission approves historic deal between tribe, horse track
by Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public RadioST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Racing Commission voted 5 - 3 today in favor of a historic business deal between the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the Canterbury Park horse track.
The tribe offered the track $75 million over a 10-year period to increase purses for winning horses. Supporters say it will bring faster, better horses to the track and help bolster the thoroughbred industry in Minnesota. In return, Canterbury dropped its long bid for slot machines.
Running Aces Harness Park, the state's other track, opposed the deal and asked the commission to turn it down. Running Aces officials said the tribe's offer only proved a competitive racino might be close to winning state approval.
But racino backers at the meeting told the commission it was time to make peace between the rival gambling operations at Canterbury and Mystic Lake Casino four miles away.
