2015 Quarter Horse Stakes Schedule
Canterbury Park officials released the 2015 Quarter Horse stakes race schedule this week, highlighted by the 28th running of the Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity July 5. Total purse money for the 13 stakes races is estimated to surpass $500,000, making it the richest Quarter Horse stakes season in the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack’s history. The Northlands purse is expected to be a record $150,000.
“Quarter Horse racing at Canterbury Park should reach new heights in 2015,” Vice President of Racing Operations Eric Halstrom said. “I expect record purses in the Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity and the Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby as well as strong overnight racing throughout the meet.”
Canterbury Park’s 2015 racing season runs May 15 through Sept. 12.
June 7, 2015 Gopher State Derby Eligible 3YO 400 Yards $20,000 Added
June 13, 2015 Skip Zimmerman Memorial 3YO & Up 350 Yards $20,000 Added
June 28, 2015 Bob Morehouse Stakes 3YO & Up / MN-Owned 400 Yards $25,000 Added
July 4, 2015 Great Lakes Bonus Challenge 3YO & Up 400 Yards $27,500 Added
July 5, 2015 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity 2YO 350 Yards $100,000 Guaranteed
July 5, 2015 Canterbury Quarter Horse Derby 3YO 400 Yards $50,000 Guaranteed
July 12, 2015 Minnesota Stallion Breeders’ Futurity Eligible 2YO 350 Yards $20,000 Added
July 18, 2015 Dash in a Flash 3YO & Up 110 Yards $20,000 Added
August 2, 2015 Canterbury Distaff Bonus Challenge 3YO & Up / F & M 400 Yards $27,500 Added
August 9, 2015 NCQHRA Futurity Eligible 2YO 350 Yards $20,000 Added
August 20, 2015 Cash Caravan Stakes 3YO & Up / MN-Bred 440 Yards $30,000 Added
Sept. 6, 2015 Minnesota Derby 3YO / MN-Bred 400 Yards $40,000 Added
Sept. 6, 2015 Minnesota Futurity 2YO / MN-Bred 350 Yards $40,000 Added
Canterbury Park Names George Moncrief As Track Superintendent
The racing department announced the hiring of George Moncrief as track superintendent for the 2015 race meet which begins May 15. Moncrief, who for a decade has worked at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., will oversee track maintenance at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack.
“I am looking forward to this opportunity and am anxious to get to Canterbury this spring,” Moncrief said. He is scheduled to begin at Canterbury April 15, prior to the stable area opening for training. Until then he will continue his assistant track superintendent position at Oaklawn, which begins its meet Friday and races until Arkansas Derby Day, April 11.
“I have heard a lot of good things from Oaklawn trainers that also operate stables at Canterbury. I know that I will inherit an excellent track maintenance crew and will be working with a racing administration that stresses safety, as their admirable record indicates,” Moncrief said.
Moncrief replaces Javier Bajaras who resigned in September to take a similar position at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Canterbury Park set to host the world’s top professional snowmobile racers
The world’s top professional snowmobile racers converge on Shakopee this weekend for the annual running of the Pirtek Snocross National, presented by Jimmy John’s, rounds five and six of 2014-’15 AMSOIL Championship Snocross, powered by Ram.
Professional snocross racing’s Daytona 500, Canterbury Park – a longtime fixture on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross circuit – consistently draws the series’ largest crowds with its unique indoor/outdoor setting and edge-of-your-seat pro snowmobile race track design. Core fans can choose to brave the elements with outside stadium seating, or lounge about indoors while taking in the racing action in the rest of the palatial 300,000 square foot accommodations.
“Canterbury is just an amazing setting for AMSOIL Championship Snocross,” said ISOC President and Race Director Carl Schubitzke. “Fans from the Cites absolutely pack the place, from inside to the grandstand seating section. The event is, hands down, our biggest of the year in terms of attendance.”
This past year professional snocross racing history was made at Canterbury when Minnesota’s own Tucker Hibbert (Pelican Rapids) broke Canadian Blair Morgan’s all-time snocross win record of 84. Hibbert went 1st/1st on the Friday/Saturday at Canterbury event to put his name on top of the list of professional snocross racers.
For 2015 Hibbert returns to defend his titles, and will be met by some eager competition in fellow Minnesotans Logan Christian (Fertile) and Cody Thomsen (Nisswa), both aboard the Minnesotan-made Arctic Cat snowmobiles. Wisconsin locals Kody Kamm (Kenosha) and Justin Broberg (Mukwonago) – aboard Minnesota-based Polaris sleds – will also look to keep Hibbert in check in this national race with global implications.
“We are pleased to again host the AMSOIL Championship Snocross at Canterbury Park,” company president Randy Sampson said. “Fans of snocross look forward to the action each year and appreciate the comforts and accessibility offered at Canterbury. For those new to the sport, our facility provides an excellent race day experience.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased online.
Canterbury College 2015
If you are a handicapping novice or know someone who is, Canterbury College might be time well spent this winter. This progressive, five-class course is for beginners that would like to learn to read Daily Racing Form past performances and make wagers. It’s an excellent introduction to the racing industry as well. Again, this is for newcomers…. registration for Canterbury College, which begins Sunday, February 8, can be done HERE.
And Away They Go…..
by @MizPostParade
The first steps on the Road to Kentucky began on Saturday with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct for the much-anticipated 3-year old colts with 10 points being awarded to the winner. Points will accumulate towards the total needed to get into the gate at the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2015. As expected, most rankings throughout the thoroughbred industry have Carpe Diem and Texas Red in the top two spots, and that might have been a fair debate until Dortmund exploded on the scene……. Read the entire story
coming next week….. a Road to Kentucky Handicapping Contest preview from The Oracle.
