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Canterbury Park, Running Aces report mixed season; veterinary staff and licensing note testing and heat-related issues
Summary
Track operators told the Racing Commission their seasons remained generally strong despite weather and competition; veterinary staff reported increased testing and some heat-related incidents, and licensing staff reported 11 rulings in July.
Representatives from Canterbury Park and Running Aces reported to the Racing Commission on Monday that the 2025 season remained generally steady despite weather, air-quality and regional competition pressures.
Canterbury Park staff said there were 14 race days left in the season and that the track had received three-year accreditation after a year-long review. Staff noted recent challenges this season from weather and air-quality-related off-turf races that affected field sizes and attendance. Staff also described a new Boardwalk restaurant at Turn 2 that has attracted new customers and brought additional wagering activity.
Running Aces reported a small decline in total horses entered for 2025 compared with 2024 but said starters per race remained largely unchanged (7.8 starters per race in 2025 versus 7.9 in 2024). Running Aces reported a 2% decline in overall wagering handle compared with 2024 but said live-handle per race was up about 7% when adjusted for 36 fewer races run to date; export handle was down 10% from 2024.
Staff and veterinarians told commissioners they had increased testing during the season. The chief veterinarian reported more heat-exhaustion cases and noted that environmental factors such as heat and air-quality indices had affected operations; commissioners and staff described close coordination with tracks to move, change or cancel races when conditions required it.
Licensing and enforcement staff reported 11 rulings in July, including five minor violations and five commission-level violations related to licensing errors that in some cases prevented individuals from working with horses until licensing issues were resolved. Staff said some licensing processes were under review to determine how people obtained licenses in those cases.
Commission staff also reported recent contract and equipment approvals processed administratively, including replacements for tablets and card scanners, ordering playing cards and a limited contract for automotive-related chips used in gaming operations. Staff noted a pending contract position for investigations/licensing to be filled by the fall and asked that the commission expect further updates.
Separately, staff said the commission was responding to a recent cyber incident that affected some administrative functions but that email service had been restored and core regulatory functions were being resumed.
Commissioners were reminded of upcoming events including a thoroughbred sale that the track is hosting and closing-night championships and other seasonal events scheduled in September.
