Claiming Crown, an annual event that originated at Canterbury Park in 1999, will be held Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Claiming Crown has grown to nine restricted races for claimers with purses totaling $1.1 million. The nine races attracted 121 entries for an average field size of 13.4. Handle will be in the millions, making for huge pools and great betting opportunities.
The second edition of the $110,000 Canterbury Stakes, a five furlong turf race, drew 16 entries. Look for Canterbury VP of Racing Eric Halstrom to present the trophy, and do some recruiting for the upcoming local meet.
First post is 11:05 a.m.
For more Claiming Crown news:
Daily Racing Form story by Mike Welsch
The Turkey
Star Tribune sports writer Patrick Reusse announced the 2015 Turkey of the Year in his much anticipated column on Thanksgiving morning. Among the candidates for the prestigious award were Minnesota Racing Commission officials.
Reusse wrote of the consideration : “Canterbury Park stewards and Racing Commission, for suspension of Mac Robertson. “A trace of meth in a first-time runner at Canterbury, which more than likely came from a worker, and those pompous bureaucrats slap a long suspension on the Shakopee track’s most reliable trainer.”
While the stews and MRC did not win the award, it is likely the nomination alone ruffled some feathers. Take it in stride folks. Reusse recounted, in a follow-up column, a conversation with Vikings GM Mike Lynn after he won the Turkey of the Year: “when calling my house on Thanksgiving morning after being honored in 1989,[Lynn said] “It’s about time. What took so long?”
