SHAKOPEE, MN – On the eve of Minnesota Festival of Champions Day, Canterbury Park inducted three new members to the Hall of Fame: trainer Francisco Bravo, contributor Ralph Strangis and owners Barry & Joni Butzow.

First up was Bravo who was surprised by the arrival of his brother Boris to induct him into the Hall and gave the assemblage insights into their childhood and how he taught his younger brother some of life’s lessons early on.  The biggest reveal to the crowd, however, was Francisco’s childhood nickname: Pancho.

Bravo weaved a story of an immigrant who combined hard work with opportunity to realize the American dream.  The native Chilean earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in Animal Science and trained show horses for years before he started breaking thoroughbreds which led to training racehorses on the racetrack.

“It wasn’t easy leaving home,” said Bravo. “And I never thought I’d be standing here.”

Bravo took the time to credit long time clients and friends Michael Grossman and Dale Schenian as essential pieces of his success before emotionally thanking and crediting his family – wife Lori and daughter Natalie, we well as his extended family as well – for their love and support.

The late Ralph Strangis was inducted next by current Minnesota Racing Commission chairman Jim Lane and was accepted by Strangis son and namesake, Ralph Strangis Jr.

“Once again I get something with ‘Ralph Strangis’ on it, and it doesn’t belong to me,” said Strangis Jr., launching into his funny, engaging and poignant reminiscence.

Strangis senior was an one time an owner, another a regulator and always a racing fan.  He was instrumental in denying Ladbroke Racing when they wanted to ditch live racing at Canterbury for a simulcast only facility. That would have cemented the end of live racing in Minnesota but Strangis said no, paving the way for the facility to be purchased by a group led the by the Schenian and Sampson families and the return of live racing to Minnesota.

“Dad stared down Ladbroke,” junior said, “because he loved live racing.”

By shutting down betting in the short term, he saved racing in the long term.

“While dad would have loved this,” Strangis said, “he would not have talked about his accomplishments.  He would have called himself lucky and that any success was due to his friends and colleagues.

“It’s been a year,” he finished up.  “I can’t believe he’s gone.  He was a king.  He was immortal.”

And he will live forever in the Hall of Fame.

In what felt like was an overdue honor, longtime owners Barry & Joni Butzow were the final inductees of the evening. Pete Mattson, inducting the couple, appropriately called them great stewards of the game and an integral part of the various humanitarian efforts of racing including the welfare of backside workers and their families as well as retired racehorses.

The Butzows together have literally lived their lives together at the racetrack.

“Twenty one years ago nearly to the day, my future husband took me on our first date,” said Joni.  “To the racetrack. I figured if I wanted to move forward in the relationship that this was something I would have to learn inside and out.”

The couple thanked Kathy and Dion Kissoon for their mentorship and the Robertsons for all they had done for their operation over the years as well as current trainer, Joe Sharp and his team.

Of their long list of racing accomplishments as graded stakes winning owners, the most important to Barry? Assisting in the founding of the chapel on the backside at Canterbury Park.

“I know how important the Chapel is to the backside,” said Barry. “It’s important to families and especially to the children on the backside as it serves as a gathering place for them all summer long.”

The Butzows have invested heavily in the game, but that has not been limited to racing stock.

“Whenever you talk to Barry about the racetrack, it never starts with the horses or the racing,” said one long time racetracker.  “They focus on the people, who needs help and how they can be a part of solutions.”

“We’ve raced all across the country,” said Joni.  “And there is no place like home.”

And home says that there are no people like Barry and Joni Butzow.