SHAKOPEE, MN – Canterbury’s closing night had a little bit of everything: a legend winning his last race before retiring; a jockey winning three on his birthday; an excellent crowd and solid closing night handle (a shade under $1.5 million) made it a closing night for the books in Shakopee.
It’s difficult to call the 2024 season anything but a success.
Overall handle for the season increased by 13% year over year to $52,976,187. Daily on track handle was a statistically flat $151,789 but off-track daily handle increased 13% to $846,394. Directly attributable to handle was the increase in field size this season. Thoroughbred field size increased from 6.49 per race to 7.42 per race.
The increase in handle and field size is remarkable considering that the number of races rained off the turf, historically larger fields than dirt races, increased 129%, from 14 last year to 32 this year.
“I was optimistic prior to this season,” Senior Manager of Racing Operations Amber Carlisle said. “Of course, there are challenges with available purse money, but we assembled a very qualified team in the racing department, recruited hard, offering trainers incentives to run horses, and we achieved our goals.”
Claiming activity for the season was up year over year as well. In 2023 there were 56 horses worth a total of $604,750 claimed versus this season’s 67 horses claimed valued at $679,750.
Thoroughbred purses paid increased by 5% or $904 per race.
Quarter Horse field size was down slightly from 6.97 to 6.78. Purses for Quarter Horses were down 7% with 24 fewer unique horses starting a race this season. In contrast, there were 12 more unique Thoroughbred starters this season than 2023.
“With a change to the length of our racing season, a revised condition book and trainer starter incentives, we saw some encouraging results and positive numbers compared to 2023,” Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson said.
Canterbury continued its $15 million investment in its racing infrastructure, constructing three 108-stall barns that opened at the start of the meet. A seven-furlong race distance was introduced in August along with a stable gate relocation and new circulating road.
“We received much positive feedback from trainers and racehorse owners,” Sampson said. New dormitories were added in 2023 along with a state-of-the-art track lighting system.
“The support of the owners and trainers is greatly appreciated as we work together to make racing successful in Minnesota but we all understand that purse enhancements are required for that to be sustainable,” Sampson said. “We plan to work with the state legislature again in the coming session to explore opportunities that will provide a higher level of purses.”
RHONE RETIRES
Prior to the sixth race, friends and family of trainer Bernell Rhone gathered in the winners’ circle to give him his due as he saddled his last horse in his long career.
The horse, Philo Beddoe, pulled away late under birthday boy Guillermo Rodriguez and gave Rhone his 1,498thcareer victory and closing out his career earnings total at $20,785,098.
A fitting finale to a great career.
Rodriguez Boots Home Three
In addition to winning Rhone’s retirement race, Rodriguez picked up wins with Rynotograce in the last race of the season and also booted home the longest price winner of the day, Pierre Noel ($14.40). A great closing night to a successful meet for Rodriguez and great way to celebrate his birthday.a-
SHAKOPEE JUVENILE HANDICAP
Undefeated Don’t Fly Stand By, guided to the outside by jockey Fausto Da Silva at the top of the stretch, turned on the jets and left favored R N R Audible in his wake and stormed off to a 2 ¼ length victory in the $40,000 Shakopee Juvenile Handicap.
Trained by Kevin Eikleberry and owned by Wallstreet Racing Stables IV, the son of Upstart ran the six-furlongs in 1:12.75 and paid $6.40. RNR Audible ($3.00) held off the Minnesotbred North Lights Futurity Champion, Able Seaman ($6.80) for second.
“I rode for Kevin down at Turf Paradise so I knew him,” said winning jockey Fausto Da Silva. “I watched the horse’s last couple of races so I knew what I wanted to do. He felt really good in my hands and wherever I asked him to go, he was going to go.”
Horse of the Meet
Tony’s Tapit, owned by Kirk Sutherland and trained by Jose Silva, Jr., was voted Horse of the Meet. The 6-year-old won all five of his starts, three sprinting and two at the mile distance. Tony’s Tapit ran the fastest six-furlong time of the meet stopping the clock in 1:08.85. He also was voted Champion Older Horse.
The Meet Leaders and Divisional Champions were also determined tonight at Canterbury
Meet Leaders
Thoroughbred
Leading Owner: Novogratz Racing Stables
Leading Trainer: Mac Robertson
Leading Jockey: Luis Fuentes
Quarter Horse
Leading Owner: Tom Maher
Leading Trainer: Jason Olmstead
Leading Jockey: Armando Alvadrez
Divisional Champions
Horse of the Meet: Tony’s Tapit (owner: Kirk Sutherland: trainer: Jose Silva, Jr.)
Sprinter: Thealligatorhunter (owner: Peter Mattson & Tim Padilla: trainer: Tim Padilla)
2-Year-Old: Relentless Rocket (QH) (owner: Tom Maher: trainer: Jason Olmstead )
3-Year-Old Male: Street Warrior (owner: Suzanne Stables: trainer: Joel Berndt)
3-Year-Old Female: Retired Kathy (owner: Peter Mattson: trainer: David Van Winkle)
Older Male: Tony’s Tapit (owner: Kirk Sutherland: trainer: Jose Silva, Jr.)
Older Female: Cupid’s Crush (owner: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC: trainer: Mac Robertson)
Grass Horse: Cupid’s Crush (owner: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC: trainer: Mac Robertson)
Claimer of the Meet: Cliff Diver (owner: Rocket Wrench Racing LLC: trainer: Tony Rengstorf)
Quarter Horse: Relentless Rocket (owner: Tom Maher: trainer: Jason Olmstead )
