Joe Drennan
Staff Writer

Almost as soon as the Minnesota Racing Commission approved a harness racing track/card room in Columbus Township talk of adding a casino to the project began.

With Governor Tim Pawlenty proposing a possible state-tribal casino in the metro area, some lawmakers thought about adding that casino on to either Canterbury Park or the North Metro Harness Initiativeís proposed track in Columbus Township.

Although plenty of people are talking about the idea, those closest to the project arenít.

ìItís not our agreement with the town of Columbus to add a casino,î chief financial officer Tom Fox said. ìWeíve just been approved for a card room and a race track and thatís what weíre focusing on right now.î

Fox says right now NMHI has two initiatives. The first initiative is to have legislation passed that will waive the mandatory 50 days of live racing before the card room can open. The other legislative venture NMHI plans to pursue is to have the laws changed to allow them to not only simulcast harness races, but thoroughbred races as well.

ìThose are just the things weíre going to start working on,î Fox said.

Town chairman Mel Mettler points out that even if legislature allowed for a casino at the NMHI racetrack, the township would have to give their approval.

Top of Page

Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605