Canterbury Park’s 32nd season of horse racing comes to a close with the final three days of the 50-day meet this week with racing Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. First post each day is 4:10 p.m. CDT with seven races Wednesday, eight Thursday and nine Saturday.
Those 24 races contested over the three days have an 8.13 average field size, 37 percent larger than the meet average. With a very competitive horse racing landscape where racetracks compete for horses and trainers and the deciding factor often is purse structure, Canterbury Park officials expected fewer participants this season and as a result a decrease in off track handle due to decreasing field size. But officials also were confident in the racetrack’s ability to offer a compelling product paired with various promotions that would continue to attract large on track crowds. Both assumptions proved true as daily attendance increased year over year and on track handle is currently up slightly. Off track handle did decrease.
“While purse levels limited our overall horse population, we’re so thankful for those owners and trainers who continue to choose Canterbury Park as their home every summer,” general manager
John Groen said. “We work hard to make our racetrack and backstretch one of the safest, most horseperson friendly tracks in the country, and our turf course remains second to none.”
When the track concludes its season that began May 23, a total of 377 races will have been conducted with 42 percent on the turf course, compared to 38 percent grass races in 2025. One day of racing was cancelled due to a high heat index.
Trainer Mac Robertson will win his 17th thoroughbred training title. His first came in 2005. John Mentz, whose horses are under the care of Robertson, will win the leading owner title for the first time. Manuel Americano is the leading rider. He won the first race of the season and has held a commanding lead throughout.
Canterbury Park will apply to the Minnesota Racing Commission for 2027 race dates later this fall with a meet similar to 2026 expected. The Canterbury Park Casino, which offers table games and poker, remains open year-round and the Racebook offers wagering on racing from around the world daily. Both generate purse revenue.
Things To Know
- Wednesday offers $5 admission; Thursday is $2 Buck Night with $2 admission and $2 food and beverage specials.
- Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night with $5 admission, mystery scratch off ticket giveaway to the first 2,000 and food and beverage specials.
- Racing begins at 4 p.m. each day.
- Leading jockey Manuel Americano in his first season at Canterbury Park currently has 70 victories, 15 more than Eduardo Gallardo .
- Mac Robertson, who has won the training title 16 times, leads all trainers with 44 wins.
- John Mentz of Lakeville, MN is leading owner with 23 victories and will win his first title.
- 2-year-old Minnesota-bred filly Rhyme Away, the Sept. 5 Northern Lights Debutante winner, will run in race 7 on Saturday.
- The largest Pick 5 payout of the season was $30,823.65 for a 50-cent wager and occurred Aug. 1.
- The largest $2 win payout of the meet occurred Aug. 16 when Taking It All paid $45.40.