Canterbury Park has initiated a campaign to build public support for a gaming complex on its grounds in Shakopee, Minnesota.Management at the track wants to build a casino, hotel, and Olympic-caliber equestrian center on the 367-acre site, according to plans released on Thursday, but will have to get state approval in one of two forms.

In order to add slot machines and video games at the track, Canterbury will need the Minnesota Legislature to approve the plan by tying it in some form to the state lottery. Otherwise, a state constitutional amendment will be needed.

Canterbury President Randy Sampson said no decision has been made on which approach to take or on when to present the plan to lawmakers.

"We're interested in gathering public support for the idea first," Sampson said. "We want to demonstrate how well such plans have worked in other states."

Canterbury is using estimates made a year ago by Innovation Group Marketing to project financial expectations during the first year of casino games.

Research shows that the project could produce $55-million in new gaming taxes as well as 1,000 new fulltime and part-time jobs. Purses at Canterbury could benefit by $8-million during the first year of operation.

The cost of a hotel-casino complex is expected to run $50-million or more. The plan is being marketed as the Racino at Canterbury Park.

"Poll after poll shows a majority of Minnesotans support adding gaming options at Canterbury Park," Sampson said. "Our board of directors is asking architects and developers to make recommendations on the makeup and layout of a racino, and we are talking to the horse industry to get feedback."—Jim Wells