SHAKOPEE, MN – Gorgeous weather and the Kentucky Derby combined to give Canterbury Park a big increase in opening weekend handle year over year.  Live handle was up 4% over the two days while all sources handle was up 42%.  Attendance was 19,326.

On Saturday, on track handle was $309,060 while all sources handle reached $723,186, despite the pair of stakes on the card being decimated by defections and only able to muster 3 and 4 horse fields, respectively.  The other races on the card averaged a respectable 8.75 runners.

Kentucky Derby day started out 82 and sunny but, in an ironic twist, suffered a downpour that hit the race track during the break in the live action for the Derby simulcast, though not to the extent the heavens opened up in Louisville.  When live racing returned for races 9 and 10, the track had been downgraded to sloppy from fast for the first 8 races on the day.

The rain wasn’t the only thing that Shakopee had in common with Louisville Saturday.  Much of the crowd that filled Canterbury came in their racing finery fit for the Derby.  Men and women, young and old all came together in the spirit of the day.

In additional to the live racing action that you can see here and here, our photo editor managed to spend some time amongst the crowd as well.  We hope you enjoy – and maybe even see yourself – in the photos of some of the fans!