Canterbury Park 2026 racing dates approved by MRC; Unanimous support from commission for 51-day season running May 23 – Sept. 19
Canterbury Park’s request for a 51-day horse racing season in 2026, running Saturday, May 23 through Saturday, Sept. 19, was unanimously approved today by the Minnesota Racing Commission. Racing will be conducted on Thursdays and Saturdays at 5 p.m. central and Sundays and holidays at 1 p.m. Additional race dates include Monday, May 25, Friday, […]
Canterbury Park Requests 51 Race Dates for 2026; Meet would run May 23 through Sept. 19
Canterbury Park has submitted a request to the Minnesota Racing Commission for a 51-day thoroughbred and quarter horse season that would run from Saturday, May 23 through Saturday, Sept. 19. The 2026 racing calendar offers the same number of race days as 2025. Racing would be conducted primarily on Thursdays and Saturdays at 5 p.m. […]
Three Nights Remain in Canterbury Park’s 31st Racing Season; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday programs begin at 4 p.m.
Canterbury Park will conclude its 50-day meet with racing Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. First post each evening is 4 p.m. Attendance throughout the season averaged more than 5,200 while the average number of dollars wagered per race has increased over last season. The Sept. 17 program offers eight races with 63 entries, Sept. 18 has […]
Trainer Larry Donlin wins 1,000th Race
Racehorse trainer Larry Donlin won his 1,000th thoroughbred race Wednesday when West Island crossed the finish line first in the eighth race at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. Donlin, 82, began training in 1973 in Nebraska. By his estimation, Donlin has won another “40 or 50” races but those were not at recognized racetracks or […]
Minnesota HBPA Horse Person of the Week: Olivia Bethke
Each week the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Agency recognizes a person that exemplifies the Minnesota horse racing industry. This week’s honoree is Olivia Bethke. Olivia, daughter of trainer Troy Bethke, has been involved in equestrian pursuits for as long as she can remember. She always could be found working at the track or riding […]
Top Jockey Harry Hernandez wins four on MN Festival of Champions Night
Favorites win 7 of 11 races in 32nd rendition of state-bred celebration Canterbury Park’s leading jockey Harry Hernandez won four of the six thoroughbred stakes races on Saturday’s Minnesota Festival of Champions program. The evening of racing, in its 32nd rendition, featured horses bred in the state. “There’s nothing better than being in the job […]
How Bout That Curt represents Sampson racing legacy in Saturday’s Minnesota Festival of Champions
2-year-old is even money favorite in $75,000 Northern Lights Futurity When Curtis Sampson passed away in 2020, he left behind a horse racing legacy that will be remembered Saturday in the 32nd Minnesota Festival of Champions at Canterbury Park. That there is racing in Minnesota at all is a testament to that legacy. Sampson, along […]
MNHBPA Horse Person of the Week: Ray Hashimoto
Each week the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Agency recognizes a person that exemplifies the Minnesota horse racing industry. This week’s honoree is Ray Hashimoto. Ray was introduced to racing in California by his father, a horse player. In the late 1970s, while visiting Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, Ray met jockey Roy Yaka, […]
Fields set for Saturday’s MN Festival of Champions at Canterbury Park
Nine stakes races share spotlight on 11-race card Post positions were drawn yesterday for the 32nd running of the Minnesota Festival of Champions on Sept. 6, a centerpiece day of racing for Canterbury Park featuring the best state bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses. The 11-race card includes nine stakes races, six for thoroughbreds and three […]
Ding Dang Dulce wins $71,300 Northlands Futurity by a head
Relentless Rocket easy winner of $42,300 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby Ding Dang Dulce, trained and owned by Haley Hobbs, won Canterbury Park’s richest quarter horse race, the $71,300 Northlands Futurity, on Thursday. The 2-year-old gelding, who paid $3.00 to win, prevailed by a head over longshot Rowdi. Fernando Fonseco-Soto rode the winner. Hobbs purchased […]