Canterbury newcomers Cecily Evans and Justine Klaiber both rode their first winners at this track on Saturday. Klaiber got her first win in the 2nd race on the quarter horse Jess A Chance for trainer Randy Weidner.
After dueling in the early parts of the Quarter Horse dash, Jess a Chance took charge late to win the race by ¾ of a length. Evans crossed the wire first later in the card, in the 8th race aboard Emily’s Entourage for last year’s leading trainer Mac Robertson. Emily’s Entourage drew clear from the rest of the field to win the race by a decisive 3 ½ lengths.
Jockey Betty Jo Williams made a return to the saddle last weekend after a 5 year hiatus. Williams has 109 wins, 131 seconds and 152 thirds from 1,070 starts. In 2011 she was a finalist for the Canadian Sovereign Award for leading apprentice rider. A couple of serious injuries and later becoming a mother have kept Williams from riding, but she has decided that she is ready to make her comeback here at Canterbury Park this summer.
Thursday night racing, more popularly known as Buck Night, returns this week with a 6:30 p.m. post. Admission is just one dollar and there are several $1, $2 and $3 food and beverage specials throughout the facility.
Entries will be taken Wednesday for the Saturday program that will include three $50,000 stakes races. Two are new, the Minnesota Turf and the Minnesota Turf Distaff, and one, the Dark Star Cup, honors a Canterbury Hall of Famer, the late Dark Star.
Dark Star was a fixture at Canterbury beginning in the mid-eighties. He never missed an opportunity to promote Minnesota horse racing on his long running WCCO AM radio program as well as on KFAN where he worked until passing away five years ago. He hosted the replay show, The Canterbury Report, which was the longest running sports show in the Twin Cities, for two decades.
Many friends will gather Saturday to remember Dark Star, including former Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly, who will present the trophy to the winning connections of the Dark Star Cup.
Post time Saturday is 1:45 p.m.
Saturday is also Belmont Stakes day. Advance wagering is available as follows for both the Friday and Saturday Belmont programs.
Available Thursday, 6/8/17:
Advance wagers for Friday’s Belmont card (race 11 is the Belmont Gold Cup)
Advance wagers for Saturday’s Belmont card (race 11 is the Belmont Stakes)
Thursday’s Belmont card
Belmont Gold Cup/Belmont Stakes Double Wager (race 11 on Friday and race 11 on Saturday)
New York Stakes/Metropolitan Handicap Double Wager (race 9 on Friday and race 9 on Saturday)
Available Friday, 6/9/17:
Advance wagers for Saturday’s Belmont card (race 11 is the Belmont Stakes)
Friday’s Belmont card (race 11 is the Belmont Gold Cup)
Belmont Gold Cup/Belmont Stakes Double Wager (race 11 on Friday and race 11 on Saturday)
New York Stakes/Metropolitan Handicap Double Wager (race 9 on Friday and race 9 on Saturday)
Available Saturday, 6/10/17:
Saturday’s Belmont card (race 11 is the Belmont Stakes)
Advance wagering on Canterbury races is always available one day in advance.
