Canterbury Park racing season concludes with modest gains

Luis Fuentes wins thoroughbred riding title; Tony’s Tapit voted Horse of the Meet

Canterbury Park concluded its 30th season of horse racing Saturday evening showing gains in handle and average field size, categories that were emphasized prior to the start of the race meet. The Shakopee, Minn. racetrack conducted the same number of race dates, 54, as in 2023 but extended the duration to offer more racing opportunities, expecting a positive impact on those metrics. The meet ran May 18 through Sept. 28, the latest in the fall the track has held races since reopening as Canterbury Park in 1995.

“I was optimistic prior to this season,” Senior Manager of Racing Operations Amber Carlisle said. “Of course there are challenges with available purse money but we assembled a very qualified team in the racing department, recruited hard, offering trainers incentives to run horses, and we achieved our goals.”

Officials believed that increasing the number of horses in each race would make for more competitive racing and would increase handle, the amount of money wagered. Average field size increased to 7.4 starters per race compared to last year’s average of 6.5. The number of races originally scheduled for the turf course that were run on the main track due to inclement weather increased from 14 in 2023 to 32 in 2024, preventing an even larger increase in average field size due to scratches. Per race handle increased 12 percent to $120,400 per race compared to $107,925 in 2023. Total handle increased 13 percent to $52,976,187.

“With a change to the length of our racing season, a revised condition book and trainer starter incentives, we saw some encouraging results and positive numbers compared to 2023,” Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson said.

Canterbury continued its $15 million investment in its racing infrastructure, constructing three 108-stall barns that opened at the start of the meet. A seven-furlong race distance was introduced in August along with a stable gate relocation and new circulating road. “We received much positive feedback from trainers and racehorse owners,” Sampson said. New dormitories were added in 2023 along with a state-of-the-art track lighting system.

“The support of the owners and trainers is greatly appreciated as we work together to make racing successful in Minnesota but we all understand that purse enhancements are required for that to be sustainable,” Sampson said. “We plan to work with the state legislature again in the coming session to explore opportunities that will provide a higher level of purses.”

Canterbury Park has long been a cornerstone of Minnesota’s sports and entertainment landscape, this season attracting more than 250,000 attendees.

Saturday’s feature race, the $40,000 Shakopee Juvenile Overnight Handicap was won by Don’t Fly Stand By. Now three for three, the 2-year-old colt is trained by Kevin Eikleberry and was ridden by Fausto Da Silva. Don’t Fly Stand By, pictured above, was bred in New York by Wallstreet Racing Stables IV.

Luis Fuentes, with 66 wins, was the leading thoroughbred rider. Mac Robertson won his 16th thoroughbred training title with 46 wins. The leading thoroughbred owner, with 17 wins, was Joe Novogratz of Chanhassen, Minn. racing under the nom de course Novogratz Racing Stables. Novogratz previously won the title in consecutive seasons from 2016 through 2019.

Jason Olmstead won his 10th consecutive quarter horse training title with 20 wins. Tom Maher was leading quarter horse owner for the fourth consecutive season. Armando Alvidrez won his first quarter horse jockey title. He and Maher each won 10 races.

Tony’s Tapit, owned by Kirk Sutherland and trained by Jose Silva, Jr., was voted Horse of the Meet. The 6-year-old won all five of his starts, three sprinting and two at the mile distance. Tony’s Tapit ran the fastest six furlong time of the meet stopping the clock in 1:08.85. He also was voted Champion Older Horse.

Canterbury Park’s 2024 Horse of the Year and divisional champions:

•             Horse of the Year – Tony’s Tapit (owner: Kirk Sutherland : trainer: Jose Silva, Jr.)

•             Sprinter – Thealligatorhunter  (owner: Peter Mattson & Tim Padilla : trainer: Tim Padilla)

•             Older Horse –   Tony’s Tapit (owner: Kirk Sutherland : trainer: Jose Silva, Jr.)

•             Older Filly or Mare – Cupid’s Crush (owner: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC : trainer: Mac Robertson)

•             Grass Horse –  Cupid’s Crush (owner: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC : trainer: Mac Robertson)

•             Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding –  Street Warrior (owner: Suzanne Stables : trainer: Joel Berndt)

•             Three-Year-Old Filly – Retired Kathy (owner: Peter Mattson : trainer: David Van Winkle)

•             Two-Year-Old – Relentless Rocket (QH) (owner: Tom Maher : trainer: Jason Olmstead )

•             Claimer – Cliff Diver (owner: Rocket Wrench Racing LLC: trainer: Tony Rengstorf)

•             Quarter Horse – Relentless Rocket (owner: Tom Maher : trainer: Jason Olmstead )

Leading Thoroughbred Jockey: Luis Fuentes   66 wins

Leading Thoroughbred Trainer: Mac Robertson  46 wins

Leading Thoroughbred Owner: Novogratz Racing Stables  17 wins

Leading Quarter Horse Jockey: Armando Alvidrez    10 wins

Leading Quarter Horse Trainer: Jason Olmstead    20 wins

Leading Quarter Horse Owner:  Tom Maher    10 wins

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