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Judge Denies Canterbury Park, Harness Racing Appeal

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A judge has denied the state's two horse racing tracks' appeal to stay open during the Minnesota government shutdown.

Canterbury Park and Minnesota Harness Racing filed paperwork to appeal the judge's ruling that put the tracks in the dark after the July 1 shutdown.

Though the parks generate their own revenue, the State Racing Commission, who oversees racing, was put out of action during the shutdown.

Judge Kathleen Gearin said that the court reviewed all the documents and testimony, but ruled that the "creative argument that these activities can take place without there being a Commission is, in the court's opinion, not correct as this is a highly regulated industry."

This comes as a disappointment to the nearly 1,000 employees at the horse racing facilities who were laid off when Minnesota shut down.

Canterbury Park generate about $1 million in revenue a week when operational.

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