Canterbury Park abruptly cancelled training this morning. The following is a statement from track management on the cancellation and additional safety measures going forward.

Canterbury Park officials were made aware of two individuals in the horse stabling area reported to be presenting potential symptoms associated with COVID-19.  Out of caution, the proactive decision was made to cancel Saturday morning horse training while more information was gathered. Canterbury officials have learned that neither individual in question has received test results at this time.  The two individuals have been isolated.  Specific stable areas, including barns and dormitories, associated with those individuals have been disinfected and are currently under quarantine.   Canterbury Park will resume training on Sunday morning with the following enhancements:

• Masks will be mandatory between barns, to and from the racetrack and when utilizing the starting gate.
• Barns associated with the individuals awaiting test results will be unable to participate in training.
• Additional access restrictions to the stable area will be implemented for the immediate future.

 “We understand the short-notice cancellation of training was an inconvenience for the many workers, trainers and jockeys in our stable area, but we believe our aggressive response to these reports was the prudent course of action while we gained additional information,” Andrew Offerman, Vice President of Racing Operations said.   

Two additional protocols have been adopted by Canterbury Park effective today, July 11·

• Effective this morning, owners and jockey agents were again restricted from the stable area.·
• Additionally, chapel service has been suspended effective as of tomorrow’s service.

Live racing continues Monday at 4:40PM.   Wednesday is the Canterbury Park Turf Festival with five stakes races with purses totaling $350,000.  Dedicated barns have been established for all horses shipping in for the event. An auxiliary jockey room is set up for visiting riders.  All trainers, riders and workers in the Canterbury stable area, along with all Canterbury Park employees and Minnesota Racing Commission employees, continue to be subject to daily health screenings to gain access to the facility.