SHAKOPEE, MN – Canterbury Park will launch the 31st year of live racing in Minnesota tonight when live racing returns for a 71 day meet.
“After a long winter everyone is ready to get outside and enjoy a day at the races,” company president Randy Sampson said. “Long-time fans and those new to horse racing flock to the track on Kentucky Derby Day for a unique experience. Derby Day is a huge party at Canterbury Park.”
“We expect to see new trainers and jockeys here again this season,” Sampson said. “The response to our racing program has been tremendous and the competition on the racetrack will reflect that.”
Among several new trainers to Canterbury this season is graded stakes winning trainer Chris Richard. Richard has been a top trainer in Iowa, Arkansas, Kentucky and other locations throughout the years. Richard has won 875 races and owns a career win percentage of 23%. He’ll be a strong addition to a group that already includes Mac Robertson, Robertino Diodoro, Joe Sharp, Bernell Rhone and Francisco Bravo. Robertson will be absent opening night as he will be saddling 2017 Horse of the Meet, Amy’s Challenge, in the Grade 2 Eight Belles stakes on Friday at Churchill Downs.
Back to the jockey colony after absences are Ry Eikleberry and Leandro Goncalves. Goncalves was the leading rider in 2015 and is returning after a two year absence. Eikleberry was the leading thoroughbred rider in 2014 and held the Canterbury record for all time Quarter Horse riding wins until last season when he was passed by Nik Goodwin. Goodwin is also returning this season. Jareth Loveberry, leading rider last season, and Dean Butler, leading rider multiple years, most recently 2016, are also back. Combining the last four years’ riding champions with returning veterans such as Orlando Mojica, Leslie Mawing, Hugo Sanchez and Denny Velazquez make this one of the deepest group of riders in recent memory in Shakopee.
On June 23rd, Canterbury will host the annual Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser along with the Mystic Lake Northstars Racing Festival. In addition to the fundraising event, expected to be attended by more than a dozen Hall of Fame riders, there will also be five stakes races totaling $500,000 in purses including the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby, the $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile and the $100,000 Lady Canterbury.
Weeknight racing in 2018 begins at 6:30 p.m. Racing on weekends and holidays will begin at 12:45 p.m. with a few exceptions. Saturdays, June 23 and August 25 will have 6:00 p.m. post times. The Tuesday, July 3 racing program will begin at 4:00 p.m. followed by the annual Fireworks Spectacular and live music at dusk.
Sunday race days are again Pepsi Family Day and Thursdays are buck night with $1 admission along with food and beverage specials.
In August, racing will be held the first four Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM with no Sunday racing. Canterbury has spent the winter renovating the north end of the grandstand with new betting windows, concession stands redesigned for efficiency and variety and a renovated indoor/outdoor bar.
The first race of opening night is scheduled to go off at 6:40 PM.
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