By Noah Joseph
So you’re spending a day at the races at Canterbury Park. What are you going to do while out there? You might place some bets, high-five the jockeys before and after the races, maybe take some photos. At some point during the day, you might get hungry. Luckily, Canterbury has many options to choose from for food. From pizza and sandwiches to nachos and burgers, Canterbury has something for everyone. In fact, some of the more popular horses to ever race at Canterbury have a connection to food. On the menu for this week, the best food named horses to run at Canterbury.
Let’s start off with some ham and eggs. No, not the meal, the horse. Ham and Eggs was a mare who competed at Canterbury in 2002. Prior to her arrival in Minnesota, she had competed in her home state of Indiana as well as Florida. After finishing 2nd in her Canterbury debut, she then ran in the Minnesota H.B.P.A. Mile Stakes. Sent off at odds of 6-1, Ham and Eggs was up close to the lead for almost the entirety of the race, then rallied in the stretch to win by a neck over the defending champion Picnic Spread. Ham and Eggs was ridden to victory that day by Derek Bell for owner Circle S Ranch and trainer Kenneth Wirth. And while she only raced at Canterbury twice after that, at least on that day, Ham and Eggs left her connections and backers feeling sunnyside up.
Another winner of the Minnesota H. B. P. A. Mile was Lemonlime in 2008. However, her Shakopee success started before that. As a three-year-old, Lemonlime (pictured above) came to Canterbury to run in the Northbound Pride Oaks. She didn’t have the greatest trip in the world, as she had to take up going into the first turn, then was bumped in the stretch and ducked away, yet she bravely re-rallied and got up to win just in time as the favorite under Nik Goodwin. A year later, Lemonlime returned to Minnesota to run in the aforementioned Minnesota H.B.P.A Mile, and this time she had a somewhat cleaner path to victory. Despite being carried out three-wide, Lemonlime took charge in the stretch to win by by over a length, this time with Willie Martinez in the saddle for owner Richard L. Shultz and trainer Anthony Granitz. Lemonlime would race at Canterbury one more time that year, finishing 4th in the Lady Canterbury, but while her two victories at Canterbury may have been sweet for her, they made her competition feel rather sour.
Although not as successful as the other horses listed, Lumpsinmyoatmeal may take the prize for having the longest name. As a two-year-old, Lumpsinmyoatmeal sold for $19,500 in 2008. In his debut that same year, he looked like he was worth much more than that as he won by two lengths going away. That season, Lumpsinmyoatmeal finished in the top three at Canterbury in three of four starts, and that consistency would follow him throughout his career. From 2008 to 2012, Lumpsinmyoatmeal raced at Canterbury 26 times and finished in the top three 18 times, seven of those finishes being wins. His biggest win of them all was in 2009 MTA Stallion Auction Laddie Stakes, which he won by 4 ½ lengths as the heavy favorite with Dean Butler aboard for trainer Coty Rosin and owners Dan Kjorsvik, Caliber Racing Stable, and Web’s Gem Stables. While not as flashy as some other horses to race at Canterbury during his time on the track, no one gave it their all more than Lumpsinmyoatmeal.
Everybody has some sort of favorite candy, and in 2015, Canterbury Park had their own favorite in the form of Candy Ruby. The son of Candy Ride out of Renegade Ruby came to Minnesota on a
sugar high, as he was undefeated in two career starts. However, his Canterbury debut left his connections and backers with a bitter taste in their mouths, as he finished second to last after leading for much of the race. But he was soon on his way to better results. After two consecutive 2nd place finishes, Candy Ruby was entered in the H. B. P. A. Sprint Stakes on the final day of the season. At odds of 5-1, he took the lead right from the break and crushed his competition by over 5 lengths with Jorge Carreno in the irons for trainer Robertino Diodoro and owner Mercedes Stables. After his Canterbury days finished, Candy Ruby made a bit more history as he was one of the last starters sent out by Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg.
At Canterbury Park, horse racing and food go hand in hand. both on the track and in the crowd. Come on out, because when it comes to finding something to eat, playing the ponies, or just having a good time, Canterbury has something for everyone’s appetite.
