Leech Lake Band, Canterbury Park sign agreements to bring simulcast horseracing to Northern Lights

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) and Canterbury Park Holding Corporation (CPHC) have entered into a management agreement that, pending regulatory approvals, will allow Leech Lake to offer simulcast wagering on horse races from around the world at Northern Lights Casino and Events Center, Walker.
 
At a press conference held Feb. 12 at Northern Lights, Tribal Council and Canterbury Park officials signed the management agreement.

A second document, the purse fund agreement, was also signed by Tribal and Canterbury officials, and by representatives of the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association. It designates part of the simulcast revenue from Northern Lights for live race purses at Canterbury Park.

“The Leech Lake Band has worked hard with Canterbury on this agreement for simulcasting horse races on the reservation,” Tribal Chairwoman Carrie Jones said. “Leech Lake is the first in the state to consider this, including pros and cons,. There is a demand for simulcast horse racing in northern Minnesota. 

“With high unemployment on the reservation, we hope this will create jobs and build economic development.”

“It’s nice that Leech Lake will be the first in the state,” declared Tribal Council Secretary-Treasurer Donald “Mick” Finn.

“This is exactly what we hoped for when we pushed for legislation; that a tribe would be interested in simulcasts,” declared Canterbury Park CEO Randy Sampson. “This gives us the opportunity to introduce horse racing to a new group of people.”

And although live racing at Canterbury is held only in the summer, Sampson noted that simulcasting makes it possible to offer horseracing year-round from other locations world-wide.

“Next year at this time, you will see great racing from racetracks around the world, right here at Northern Lights!”

Sampson stressed that the purse fund agreement will strengthen the horseracing industry as a whole.

“Competitive purses make horseracing successful. This will help build up a successful breeding and racing industry in Minnesota.”

Leech Lake Legal Counsel Leonard Fineday said that  while Leech Lake and Canterbury must still get approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission and National Indian Gaming Commission, “we are very hopeful.” Those discussions are expected to begin soon.

Assuming that approval is obtained, simulcasts could begin at Northern Lights in a few months.

Reported by:  Startribune.com