Shakopee, Minn.  —  Canterbury Park racing officials have released a condition book for the first 10 days of the 2025 season that runs 51-days, May 24 through Sept. 20. Also announced are the thoroughbred stakes schedule, several named allowance races that were formerly stakes and a shipping loan program. An estimated $9 million in purses will be awarded in 2025, with an average of approximately $175,000 per day.

Several stakes have had their purses reduced or moved to a “names allowance” status. The premier two and three year old races, the Northern Lights Futurity and Debutante and the Minnesota Oaks and Derby, will be run for $75,000 and carry the highest purses for the season.

Minnesota Festival of Champions of Day, September 6, will include the pair of Northern Lights, the $50,000 Crocrock Sprint and Princess Elaine Distaff Turf and the $30,000 Bella Notte and Blair’s Cove Allowances.

The full stakes schedule can be accessed here.

As far as overnight races, Minnesota bred maiden special weights will check in at $28,000 while open maiden specials will carry a purse of $23,000, both reductions from last year. However there may be some relief coming from St. Paul.

Legislation under consideration by the Minnesota House and Senate would authorize in-person and online sports betting through the state’s tribal casinos, using a portion of the new tax revenues for purse enhancements at Minnesota’s two racetracks and reducing the tax on local charitable gambling. Passage of this legislation prior to or during the racing season would allow for an increase in daily purses and return some of those allowance races to stakes status, with more significant changes in 2026 when sports betting is fully operational.

“Over the past year, we have worked with legislators to reach agreement on a sports betting bill that has the support of Minnesota’s tracks, tribes and charities, as well as members of all four caucuses at the Capitol,” said Randy Sampson, CEO and Chairman of Canterbury Park. “The bill would demonstrate that Minnesota’s commitment to racing and the horse industry matches the steps taken in other states, and increased purses will attract more horses and investment in local breeding and training. We are hopeful lawmakers will pass this historic compromise legislation in time to make a difference in Minnesota racing this year.”

After several years of construction in the stable area, horse owners and trainers arriving at Canterbury Park in 2025 will be greeted by the completion of a $15 million racing infrastructure improvement project, including a 30-pad permanent RV park and new circulation roads, fencing and landscaping. The project began in 2023 with the addition of a 36-unit dormitory, replacement of the main track lighting system and reconfiguration of the training track. Completed in 2024 were three new barns holding more than 300 horses, a new safety rail on the main track, relocation of the stable entrance gate and construction of a main track chute that accommodates races at seven furlongs.

Stall applications are available and due March 28. The stable area, which holds 1,100 horses, will open May 5 with the main track scheduled to open May 12 for training.

Canterbury Park will, upon review, extend shipping loans to qualified applicants whose horses arrive prior to the start of the 2025 season.  Applications will be due with stall applications.  Applicants are eligible for $1,000 per horse, with a maximum loan of $20,000 per owner, to cover the cost of horse transportation to the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack.

Canterbury Park and the Minnesota Racing Commission are collaborating to cover costs associated with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regulatory fees so that those costs will not be passed on to racehorse owners in 2025.

Triple Crown Residences, a gated community with luxury apartments located on Canterbury property, is offering five-month leases with no short-term premium pricing to accommodate our seasonal horsepeople. More information can be obtained by calling the Triple Crown Residences leasing team at 952-234-6396.