SHAKOPEE, MN – You would think that four stakes races featuring a couple of heavy favorites being upset and another with a head bobbing finish would have been enough to make for a great night of racing.
But in 2020, nothing is normal, so here is what else the evening had in store for fans and bettors:
Highest Handle of the Season Thus Far
Total handle nearly eclipsed $2 million dollars. Total handle was $1,954,795 including $118,331 on track. This is rarified air for Canterbury with handle this high usually limited to Claiming Crown days. While the tremendous handle increase is impressive, it is also necessary considering the track makes three to four times less money on the out of state handle than it does with on track handle.
A Huge Upset
First time starter, Madisonian, unheralded in the win pool at 46-1 drove down the lane under Chad Lindsay and won like a good thing clearing the field by 4 1/2 lengths, triggering a $95.40 win mutual. The 3-year old filly is by Old Topper out of Via di Roma and was bred in Minnesota by owners Joshua and Joseph Madison. The trainer is Bruce Reicken.
With favored Ms. Kela Time off the board, the one dollar exacta paid $370.90 and the $0.50 trifecta paid $1178.
Naturally a payoff this big was going to monkey with the multi-race wagers and did it ever.
Record Pick 5 Payout
The Canterbury Park 10% takeout non-jackpot Pick 5 featured a sequence of: 17-1; 46-1; 6-1; 1-1; 14-1. With only one favorite winning, the winning payout was a Canterbury Park Pick 5 record of $85,340.35. This is the second record payout in eleven racing days for the resurrected wager. Pool size has hovered around $100,000 and, though many thought last night would be the night, there has not yet been a carryover.
Players have been clamoring for a lower takeout, non-jackpot bet and so far the response has been solid. Record payouts should draw help draw even more national attention to the wager as well.
It was a great night of racing which included more than it’s share of internal stories.
Post time at Canterbury Park tonight is 4:40 PM. Tickets are available through the Canterbury Park website, space is limited and reservations are required. There are four different seating categories ranging from free (simulcast area) to $15 (clubhouse table and outdoor cabana seating) . Bronze MVP card holders receive a $5 discount while Silver and Gold receive $10 off.
Canterbury will be running Monday – Thursday evenings through August. September racing will be limited to fewer days a week until the finale on September 16.
