SHAKOPEE, MN – Canterbury Park, with the approval of the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association, today announced the 2025 quarter horse stakes schedule for the 51-day mixed meet that begins May 24.
The MQHRA Stallion Breeders’ Futurity will have an estimated purse of $80,000, the largest of the season. The 350-yard race for eligible 2-year-olds will be run July 10 with trials scheduled for June 25. A total of ten quarter horse stakes will be offered. The Northlands Futurity and the Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby, both being run for the 38th time, are set for Aug. 21. The Grade 3 Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge will be run July 24.The 400-yard race is a qualifier for the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge, part of the AQHA Racing Challenge Oct. 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.
Five of the 10 stakes will be restricted to quarter horses bred in Minnesota. The Cash Caravan on Aug. 13, formerly a state bred stake, will now be open to both Minnesota breds as well as open horses that are at least 50 percent owned by a Minnesota resident.
“We continue to make improvements to our Quarter Horse schedule,” Racing Operations Senior Manager Amber Carlisle said. “There are many trainers in the Midwest at various racetracks, not just stabled at Canterbury, that will find the timing of our biggest races appealing.”
Quarter horse racing will be conducted primarily on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity and Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby, will be part of the annual Minnesota Festival of Champions Saturday, Sept. 6. The North Star State Futurity and North Star State Derby, will be the first quarter horse races of the season June 11.
Initial nomination payments for the MQHRA Stallion Breeders’ Futurity are due April 1. Participating sires must have had a donated breeding sell in the MQHRA Stallion Service Auction ending in February, 2022 or have paid a fee of $200 into the program only after the donated breeding did not sell. The list of eligible sires can be found at this link: https://mqhra.com/2025-eligible-stallions/
Northlands Futurity and Canterbury Park Derby payments begin March 1. The entire stakes schedule can be found at this link: https://canterburypark.egnyte.com/dl/ykFkscmuxj
