CANTERBURY PARK; SEASON WRAP-UP; More sunshine than clouds; Canterbury Park had problems this season, but president Randy Sampson preferred to focus on features that made the track a success in its 11th year under his leadership.

As the clouds built over Canterbury Park on Monday, Randy Sampson tried not to let his mood reflect the skies. The president of the Shakopee track had weathered one disappointment earlier in the 68-day season, when Canterbury's bid for a racino failed, and another near the end when Sunday's races were canceled.
In between, Sampson found enough sunshine to call his summer a success. A record average attendance of 5,129, growing crowds of lively, young patrons on weeknights and barns full of satisfied horsemen highlighted the 11th season under his management. While declines in on- and off-track wagering caused the total handle to fall 7.6 percent from last season, Sampson preferred to focus on the sunlight rather than the shadow.
A crowd of 10,114 turned out for a 12-race finale as the track saluted its season champions. Mac Robertson sprinted away with the thoroughbred training title by saddling 53 winners, and Seth Martinez ended Derek Bell's two-year run atop the jockey standings by finishing with 97 victories.
In the quarter horse ranks, trainer Edward Ross Hardy easily maintained his dominance. He won 30 races - 23 more than runner-up Larry Sharp - and took his fourth consecutive title.
"Generally I'm very pleased with the way things went," Sampson said. "We had a full barn area, attendance was up and response from the horsemen and fans was great. Even with the downturn in simulcasting, I'm optimistic we'll be able to maintain our purses next year and stay on course."
Monday's handle of $582,281 provided a little balm for Sampson, who still felt awful about Sunday's cancellation. The track's jockeys said 5 inches of rain had made the track unsafe, and they refused to ride. Several thousand patrons already had arrived on a day expected to draw 10,000.
That cost Canterbury an estimated $400,000 in handle during a season in which it had little margin for error. Last season, the track logged its highest average attendance and handle since Sampson's family assumed ownership in 1995. Total handle this season was $49 million, a drop of about $4 million caused in part by at-home Internet wagering and a steep decline in out-of-state betting on Claiming Crown day.
Sampson said Internet wagering will be an ongoing concern, as more people choose to bet on simulcasts at home rather than at the track. But the continuing gains in attendance - particularly the young weeknight crowds - give hope for the future. Canterbury's average attendance rose 3.1 percent, the eighth consecutive season it has increased, with gains of 9 percent on Thursdays and 4 percent on Fridays.
"The Thursday crowds aren't betting a lot because a lot of them are new to the track," said Eric Halstrom, Canterbury's vice president of racing and simulcasting. "But getting so many new people out here is great. If we can teach them how to bet and make them feel comfortable, we could add a lot of handle."
Sampson expects next season to look much like this one. He is uncertain whether the Claiming Crown will return; Lone Star Park in Dallas has an opportunity to hold it in 2006, and if that track declines, the event will be run at Canterbury.
The Claiming Crown cost Canterbury about $100,000 this year, and its total handle fell by more than $1 million. Sampson said he still believes in the event, though, and would consider changing its timing to try and maximize its success.
Next season will cover approximately the same dates as this one, from Kentucky Derby day to Labor Day. Sampson said he and the track's horsemen will discuss moving Saturday post times from afternoons to evenings. Horsemen have resisted that change in the past, but Sampson argues it could boost the number of out-of-state locations that simulcast Canterbury's races. Another racino push probably will happen, too. This time, Sampson said, the track might change strategy and try to get the racino proposal on the ballot.
Canterbury also might ask the Legislature for permission to expand its card club; the club still is generating several million dollars for Canterbury purses, but its revenue has flattened because it is operating at capacity.
Of course, nothing can change a mood like a winning horse. Sampson met two of his family's runners - Lt. Sampson and Wally's Choice - in the winner's circle Monday, which helped him end the season with a smile.
"We've had a lot of fun with them," he said. "All in all, it's been a pretty good season."
Rachel Blount is at rblount@startribune.com.
Canterbury champs
The 2005 season champions for Canterbury Park, which ended its season Monday:
Thoroughbred trainer: Mac Robertson
Thoroughbred jockey: Seth Martinez
Thoroughbred owner: Jer-Mar Stable
Quarter horse trainer: Edward Ross Hardy
Quarter horse jockey: Tad Leggett
Quarter horse owner (tie): Cam and Sylvia Casby, Rodney Von Ohlen
Horse of the year, older male, grass horse: Lt. Sampson
Quarter horse of the year: First Smart Muggins
3-year-old colt: Key Issues
3-year-old filly: Glitter Star
2-year-old: The KB Kid
Older female: Bleu's Apparition
Claimer, sprinter: Toga Switch
Canterbury by the numbers
Average attendance at Canterbury Park increased for the eighth consecutive year, but handle declined during the 2005 season that ended Monday. A look at this season's numbers and how they compared to last year's (second figure is percent change from 2004):

Attendance 

Total:       348,804    +4.6 

Average:       5,129    +3.1 

Live on-track handle 

Total:    $17,590,805   -2.2 

Average:     $258,688   -3.7 

On-track simulcasting 

Total:    $17,317,479   -1.9 

Average:     $254,669   -3.4 

Out-of-state handle 

Total:    $14,179,613  -18.9 

Average:     $208,524  -20.0 

Total handle 

Total:    $49,087,897   -7.6 

Average:     $721,881   -9.0