Under the terms of the deal, Canterbury Park will end its long pursuit of slot machines at the track -- better known as a "racino" -- in exchange for $75 million from the Shakopee tribe over 10 years to fatten its purses. The agreement also includes an extra $8.5 million from the tribe for joint marketing efforts.

The catalyst for a landmark gambling deal cut between horseracing track Canterbury Park and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux tribe was a minor bill that didn’t get a single hearing during the 2012 legislative session.

Dick Day was hired to lobby for the Running Aces track about a month ago, spokesman John Derus said. Day left his job as the lead lobbyist for RacinoNow, a Canterbury Park venture, this summer.

Jeff Hilger describes himself as first and foremost a horse guy. He owns a sprawling farm in Stillwater where he breeds thoroughbreds. He has also worked in the corporate world. One thing Hilger’s a bit low on is political experience.

A lot of things are changing for Dick Day. The former Senate Republican minority leader made a legislative career out of supporting slot machines at racetracks — better known as racino — during his 19 years in the chamber.

Canterbury Park hopes to resume live horse-racing next Thursday. After this weekend, the track will have lost 12 days of racing -- roughly twenty percent of the entire season -- and more than $3 million in revenues.