Canterbury Park Holding Corporation, which operates the Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino in Shakopee, Minnesota, will temporarily suspend all Card Casino, simulcast and special events operations from 11:59 pm on Friday 20 November.
The move is in response to a 18 November executive order issued by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The order requires temporary closure of places of public accommodation, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Canterbury Park Racetrack is the only thoroughbred and quarter horse racing facility in Minnesota. The operator offers live racing from May to September, along with year-round wagering on simulcast horse racing and other special events.The Card Casino hosts card games 24 hours a day, seven days a week, dealing both poker and table games.
“The health and wellbeing of our team members and guests will always be our paramount concern,” Randy Sampson, Canterbury Park’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
Canterbury Park was closed due to COVID-19 mitigation orders earlier this year. Sampson said since it resumed operations in June, with certain limitations, officials put in place a “detailed COVID-19 Preparedness Plan,” which included enhanced sanitation protocols and the promotion of social distancing throughout the Card Casino and its racing operations.
“We believe this plan has been successful and are unaware of any spread of the virus among our team members or guests related to our operations since we reopened,” Sampson said.
“We are committed to maintaining the same high level of diligence around our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan once we are able to resume operations after this temporary suspension.”
