Horsemen refusing to quit on each other

At Canterbury Park, July 4th always features large and lively crowds, free hot dogs and the ever-popular dachshund race, which puts sprightly little wiener dogs on a track usually reserved for horses. The only thing that survived this year was the frankfurters, part of a free lunch the track provided for people who work in the stable area.

They were the only people at Canterbury on Monday. The sun beat down on empty asphalt that should have been overflowing with cars, vacant picnic tables that usually would be crowded with horseplayers, and a lonely, silent paddock. While legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton took a break -- further delaying an end to the government shutdown that forced Canterbury to close -- track President Randy Sampson figured that canceling four days of holiday weekend racing had cost his company $1.3 million in revenue.

People in horse racing traditionally care for one another in hard times. In addition to Monday's free pizza, hot dogs and ice cream, Sampson distributed coupons for free food in the track kitchen for workers whose income has been reduced by the shutdown. Canterbury's horsemen, in turn, applauded him at a meeting in the track chapel, and many said they would weather at least one more week without racing before considering a move to another track.

It is unfathomable that the government's inability to reach agreement on a budget has endangered one large private business and several small ones. It is worse that so many of our elected officials are so selfish, so blinded by party dogma, that they remain unmoved by the hardship and anxiety they have created.

They have failed all of us. If Canterbury survives this debacle -- which will become more challenging with every racing day lost -- it will be because its officials, horsemen and employees did not fail each other. If the government demonstrated a fraction of their cooperative spirit, faith and respect for one another, the situation might never have come to this.

"I want to stay here," said trainer Bernell Rhone, who has been racing at Canterbury since the track opened in 1985. "I can hang in there a while longer. The Sampsons are fighting as hard as they can. They've gone above and beyond. It's just sad that the government is playing political football with our jobs."

It's also impossible to understand. Canterbury Park was forced to close its entire operation, including the card club and wagering on races from other states, because the law requires its activities to be regulated by the Minnesota Racing Commission. The racing commission is a state agency. But all of its funding comes from Canterbury and its horsemen; not one penny of public money is used.

Canterbury has paid for those regulatory services through July, and the horsemen have paid their license fees for the season. With the government shut down, though, so is the commission. Judge Kathleen Gearin has twice denied Canterbury's petition to stay open, because she has chosen to order funding only for core government services.

Her desire to limit the court's role is understandable. But the fact remains that the government took money from the track and its horsemen to provide a service it is now failing to provide, which has prevented all of them from doing business. That is dishonest, unethical and potentially grounds for a lawsuit.

During the election season, candidates jawed incessantly about creating jobs and helping out small businesses. Because so many are putting party politics ahead of people, they are endangering jobs at Canterbury -- including the 1,100 employed by the track and hundreds more employed to care for the horses -- and squeezing the small businesses run by owners and trainers.

The attorney for Canterbury and its horsemen will file an appeal of Gearin's decision Tuesday morning. Sampson hopes for a quick hearing, and the track has continued to take entries for upcoming races, so racing can resume within 24 hours once Canterbury is allowed to reopen. If that doesn't happen by early Thursday morning, more races will be canceled.

In another effort to ease the pain of the shutdown, it was announced Monday that trainers who entered horses in races that were canceled will be eligible for bonus payments if they run their horses at Canterbury when the season resumes. "I can't believe how encouraging everyone is," said Sampson, who has been overwhelmed by the loyalty of the racing community. "We appreciate the support, understanding and patience. It's something we all can be proud of."

As opposed to our government, which is eliciting a much different reaction right now. Many of our state officials have proven to be tireless and adroit slingers of horse manure. Maybe if they came out to the track and shoveled the real thing for a few days, they could see what cooperation and trust look like.

Rachel Blount • rblount@startribune.com