SHAKOPEE, MN – For those of us involved in Minnesota racing, Saturday evening brings the much-anticipated opening night at Canterbury Park. There are new faces, old faces, good news and not so good news as we head into the starting gate for 2025.

Kicking off with the perennial elephant in the infield: Once again, the Minnesota Legislature has failed to provide the framework for legal sports betting in Minnesota. The state is literally encircled by states (and provinces) that have legalized sports betting and in the parking lots of bordering states’ casinos can be seen hundreds of Minnesota license plates, especially during football weekends.

A compromise bill that was oh-so-close to being adopted last year that had the buy-in of Native casinos, racetracks and charities never really saw the light of day this year except for a poorly executed attempt to get things started early in the session that was killed in committee.

A placeholder was in place within the budget so there could be a sports betting bill substituted in during budget talks and be fair game during the anticipated special session, but was stripped out in Committee.

A contact said (as did Billy Crystal in “Princess Bride”), sports betting isn’t 100% dead but is “mostly dead.”  While just about anything can happen during budget negotiations, it is highly unlikely.

When Canterbury released the cards for opening weekend the first thing noticed is that the initial field sizes are strong.

A total of 186 horses were entered by 42 trainers for an average field size of 8.46. Last season averaged 7.36 starters per race, a 13 percent increase over 2023. 

Saturday and Sunday are well ahead of the 2024 pace with 8.75 and 9.14 starters per race, respectively. While Sunday does drop to 7.88 starters per race, that’s still ahead of 2024. Turf races, especially, are once again proving to be of great interest to owners and trainers.

“We plan to use our turf course extensively again this meet,” Senior Manager of Racing Operations, Amber Carlisle said. “Turf racing is popular with trainers and those betting on the races and is a huge asset for Canterbury. Our turf crew does a great job maintaining the course allowing us to offer racing at all class levels and several distances.”

“Again this year, we had more stall requests for horses than we can hold, which is always an encouraging sign,” said Carlisle. “Additionally, with big fields for opening weekend, we know trainers and horses came here ready to race. The jockey colony this year is large and deep in talent, leaving everyone in anticipation of an exciting and competitive live racing season.”

After a year (or more) away, Canterbury will be welcoming back jockeys Harry Hernandez, Lindey Wade, Erica Murray, Victor Santiago and Leandro Goncalves. Constantino Roman, Eduardo Gallardo, Fausto DaSilva, Chad Linday, Jermaine Bridgemohan, Karlo Lopez, Guillermo Rodriguez, Kelsi Harr and Betty Williams will also be returning from last season.

Canterbury Park Hall of Fame trainers Mac Robertson, Mike Biehler and David Van Winkle are all returning for the summer as well as new face, Rafael Barraza, and Canterbury regulars Tim Padilla, Gary Scherer, Jose Silva Jr, Gabriel Silva, Valorie Lund, Lynn Rarick and Robert Kline. This will be the first year of racing in Shakopee without Hall of Famer, Bernell Rhone, who retired at the end of last season.

Canterbury’s all time winningest quarter horse rider, Nik Goodwin, will have a string of horses he trains in Shakopee this summer after a successful Tampa Bay Downs meet.

The wagering menu will again include a 50-cent Pick 5 with a 10 percent takeout beginning in the second race each day. The 10 percent takeout rate is the lowest in North American racing. Last season’s highest paying Pick 5 was $35,735.40 on a 50-cent wager.

Canterbury’s premiere races will again be clustered on four Saturdays throughout the summer beginning with the Northern Stars Turf Festival on June 21, Hall of Fame Night July 12, Made in Minnesota Night featuring the Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Oaks Aug. 9, and the 32nd rendition of the Minnesota Festival of Champions Sept. 6.

The 2025 meet will feature racing primarily on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Six Thursday programs will be offered later in the season along with a Friday, July 4 card. The meet concludes Sept. 20.

“Live racing at Canterbury Park is back for another season and promises to offer fun at every turn,” general manager John Groen said. “I am confident our racing will be exciting and our promotional calendar will draw crowds of long-time fans as well as first-time guests. We’re focused on providing an amazing guest experience that can’t be replicated in the Twin Cities.”

“Our long-term commitment to the Minnesota horse racing industry is evident in the infrastructure investments we’ve made over the past few years,” Groen continued. “Our goal is to position Canterbury Park to be the top summer racetrack in the Midwest in the coming years.”

Finishing touches to a $15 million investment in racing infrastructure that began two years ago have been completed and include an RV park and recreational area as well as new roads and landscaping in the stable area. Prior improvements saw the construction of dormitories and horse barns, the installation of a new LED track lighting system and an enhanced safety rail

The 2025 season kicks off at 5 PM on Saturday with 1 PM cards being offered on Sunday and Monday, Memorial Day.