Canterbury Park concluded its thirtieth season of horse racing Saturday night displaying positive factors in deal with and common subject measurement, classes that have been emphasised previous to the beginning of the race meet. The Shakopee, Minn. racetrack performed the identical variety of race dates, 54, as in 2023 however prolonged the period to supply extra racing alternatives, anticipating a constructive impression on these metrics. The meet ran Could 18 by way of Sept. 28, the newest within the fall the monitor has held races since reopening as Canterbury Park in 1995.
“I used to be optimistic previous to this season,” Senior Supervisor of Racing Operations Amber Carlisle stated. “In fact there are challenges with obtainable purse cash however we assembled a really certified crew within the racing division, recruited laborious, providing trainers incentives to run horses, and we achieved our targets.”
Officers believed that rising the variety of horses in every race would make for extra aggressive racing and would enhance deal with, the sum of money wagered. Common subject measurement elevated to 7.4 starters per race in comparison with final 12 months’s common of 6.5. The variety of races initially scheduled for the turf course that have been run on the primary monitor because of inclement climate elevated from 14 in 2023 to 32 in 2024, stopping an excellent bigger enhance in common subject measurement because of scratches. Per race deal with elevated 12 p.c to $120,400 per race in comparison with $107,925 in 2023. Complete deal with elevated 13 p.c to $52,976,187.
“With a change to the size of our racing season, a revised situation guide and coach starter incentives, we noticed some encouraging outcomes and constructive numbers in comparison with 2023,” Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson stated.
Canterbury continued its $15 million funding in its racing infrastructure, setting up three 108-stall barns that opened at the beginning of the meet. A seven-furlong race distance was launched in August together with a steady gate relocation and new circulating street. “We obtained a lot constructive suggestions from trainers and racehorse homeowners,” Sampson stated. New dormitories have been added in 2023 together with a state-of-the-art monitor lighting system.
“The help of the homeowners and trainers is drastically appreciated as we work collectively to make racing profitable in Minnesota however all of us perceive that purse enhancements are required for that to be sustainable,” Sampson stated. “We plan to work with the state legislature once more within the coming session to discover alternatives that may present a better stage of handbags.”
Canterbury Park has lengthy been a cornerstone of Minnesota’s sports activities and leisure panorama, this season attracting greater than 250,000 attendees.
Saturday’s characteristic race, the $40,000 Shakopee Juvenile In a single day Handicap was gained by Do not Fly Stand By. Now three for 3, the 2-year-old colt is educated by Kevin Eikleberry and was ridden by Fausto Da Silva. He was bred in New York by Wallstreet Racing Stables IV.
Luis Fuentes, with 66 wins, was the main thoroughbred rider. Mac Robertson gained his sixteenth thoroughbred coaching title with 46 wins. The main thoroughbred proprietor, with 17 wins, was Joe Novogratz of Chanhassen, Minn. racing beneath the nom de course Novogratz Racing Stables. Novogratz beforehand gained the title in consecutive seasons from 2016 by way of 2019.
Jason Olmstead gained his tenth consecutive quarter horse coaching title with 20 wins. Tom Maher was main quarter horse proprietor for the fourth consecutive season. Armando Alvidrez gained his first quarter horse jockey title. He and Maher every gained 10 races.
Tony’s Tapit, owned by Kirk Sutherland and educated by Jose Silva, Jr., was voted Horse of the Meet. The 6-year-old gained all 5 of his begins, three sprinting and two on the mile distance. Tony’s Tapit ran the quickest six furlong time of the meet stopping the clock in 1:08.85. He additionally was voted Champion Older Horse.
Canterbury Park’s 2024 Horse of the 12 months and divisional champions:
Horse of the 12 months:Â Tony’s Tapit (proprietor: Kirk Sutherland : coach: Jose Silva, Jr.)
Sprinter:Â Thealligatorhunter (proprietor: Peter Mattson & Tim Padilla : coach: Tim Padilla)
Older Horse:Â Tony’s Tapit (proprietor: Kirk Sutherland : coach: Jose Silva, Jr.)
Older Filly or Mare:Â Cupid’s Crush (proprietor: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC : coach: Mac Robertson)
Grass Horse:Â Cupid’s Crush (proprietor: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC : coach: Mac Robertson)
Three-12 months-Outdated Colt or Gelding: Road Warrior (proprietor: Suzanne Stables : coach: Joel Berndt)
Three-12 months-Outdated Filly:Â Retired Kathy (proprietor: Peter Mattson : coach: David Van Winkle)
Two-12 months-Outdated:Â Relentless Rocket (QH) (proprietor: Tom Maher : coach: Jason Olmstead )
Claimer:Â Cliff Diver (proprietor: Rocket Wrench Racing LLC: coach: Tony Rengstorf)
Quarter Horse:Â Relentless Rocket (proprietor: Tom Maher : coach: Jason Olmstead )
Main Thoroughbred Jockey: Luis Fuentes 66 wins
Main Thoroughbred Coach: Mac Robertson 46 wins
Main Thoroughbred Proprietor: Novogratz Racing Stables 17 wins
Main Quarter Horse Jockey: Armando Alvidrez 10 wins
Main Quarter Horse Coach: Jason Olmstead 20 wins
Main Quarter Horse Proprietor: Tom Maher 10 wins
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