Canterbury Park temporarily furloughs employees due to COVID-19 impact

Canterbury Park Holding Company announced Wednesday it has implemented temporary unpaid furloughs for a number of its employees.

According to a news release from the company, the decision is expected to affect a total of 850 employees.

The release said the company will continue to operate with a staff of "key personnel."

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The park closed following Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order closing bars, restaurants and "other public accommodations." The order keeps those businesses closed until May 1 at 5 p.m.

"The additional actions we are implementing today are the hardest we have ever had to make given the impact on our dedicated employees for whom this situation is beyond our collective control," Centerbury Park President and CEO Randy Sampson said in a statement. "While this was an extremely difficult decision to make, the Board of Directors and I remain committed to taking the necessary actions that help ensure our employees’ health and safety as well as the Company’s long-term future."