Shakopee, MN – Canterbury Park’s thoroughbred racing season begins Friday, May 4 with an expanded schedule of 70 race days and a more lucrative starter incentive program. Total purses are projected to exceed $15 million, a record level for the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack, with a per-day average of approximately $215,000.
Canterbury Park racing officials, with the assistance of the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, have increased available funding for the starter incentive program, creating a system that rewards stables that come to the meet with ready-to-race thoroughbreds.
“We are hopeful that trainers will come to Canterbury Park in 2018 ready to take advantage of this starter incentive program,” Randy Sampson, Canterbury Park CEO, said. “We believe that this program will attract more race-ready horses to start our meet and, in turn, will increase field sizes in the early days of our 2018 season.”
The incentive builds off of the 2017 program and this year includes trainers into the mix as well as owners. The $150,000 program, which continues until the funds are exhausted, offers the following bonuses for eligible horses:
$750 Bonus ($600 to Owner & $150 to Trainer) if the horse makes its first start at Canterbury Park from May 4 – May 12.
$500 Bonus ($400 to Owner & $100 to Trainer) if the horse makes its first start at Canterbury Park from May 18 – May 28.
$250 Bonus ($200 to Owner & $50 to Trainer) if the horse makes its first start at Canterbury on or after June 1.
For example, a field containing eight eligible horses would add the following amounts to the already published purse:
May 4 – May 12: $6,000
May 18 – May 28: $4,000
On or After June 1: $2,000
“We anticipate a total purse increase of approximately 10 percent in 2018,” Sampson said. “We also have added three days to the meet, equaling the most we have run in Canterbury Park history, and have increased purses in both overnight races and in our stakes schedule.”
