Keep On Trucking
By Noah Joseph If you’ve ever driven through Shakopee or along any major highway, you’ve seen several 18 wheelers on the road. Well, in the late 1990s, Canterbury Park didn’t have an 18 wheeler, but it did have a four-legged wonder with a lot of horsepower. That was Jest for a Trucker. Jest for a […]
2018 Leading Thoroughbred Jockey Ry Eikleberry
Ry Eikleberry won the 2018 thoroughbred jockey title at Canterbury Park, a feat he also accomplished in 2014. Last season he won 87 races from 441 mounts, a healthy 20 percent clip. His mounts earned $1.714 million in purses, the third highest in Canterbury history. Ry has returned to Shakopee with his eye on another […]
Opening Weekend In Review
Derby Day A Success At Canterbury Park The sun was shining brightly in Shakopee for Kentucky Derby Day festivities. The track began its 25th season of racing the night before, providing a test run for what was to come the following day. The third largest crowd in track history, 20,770, flocked to the facility to […]
Not Everyone Was Stirring With Anticipation
BY JIM WELLS 20,770 at Canterbury Park for Derby Day…third largest crowd in track history The grandest day in North American horse racing is not always a participant activity for the men and women who make their livings in the sport. They are simply too busy training horses, cleaning stalls and galloping their stock to […]
Martin Puts The Past Behind Him On Opening Night
BY JIM WELLS Eddie Martin, Jr., knew precisely where he was headed as he hit the finish line Friday night: The winner’s circle, aboard Richie Gary, a 3-year-old gelding, who held off Sink the Bismarck by a half length. Martin’s destination was clear after his horse hung on to win the first race of the […]
Canterbury Prepares To Celebrate
BY JIM WELLS It was the year of the O.J. Simpson trial and the Oklahoma City bombing. Michael Jordan came out of retirement and rejoined the Chicago Bulls, and Major League baseball players waged a 232-day strike. The e-bay shopping website arrived and the Grateful Dead broke up. Oh…..and Dave Van Winkle won the training […]
Canterbury Park’s 25th Horse Racing Season Begins Friday
66-day meet kicks off with two days of live racing and Kentucky Derby simulcast. Canterbury Park opens its 25th season of live horse racing, celebrating a milestone many thought impossible, with a two-day weekend beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. Racing continues Saturday at 12:45 p.m. and includes a simulcast of the 145th Kentucky Derby from […]
The Oracle Provides Insight
By The Oracle The 2019 live racing season is upon us! Every year brings a unique excitement for the season to come, as horses arrive from all parts of the country. The ever-challenging handicapping puzzle brings these horses together, and it’s up to us to predict what will happen once the gates open. Here’s a […]
2018 Leading Owners: Novogratz and Garvey
Joe Novogratz of Chanhassen, racing as Novogratz Racing Stables, tied for leading owner honors with Charles Garvey at the conclusion of the 2018 Canterbury Park race meet. Both are associated with the two top trainers in Shakopee. Novogratz’s horses reside in the Mac Robertson stable while Garvey has used Robertino Diodoro for nearly a decade. […]
2018’s Top Trainers: Mac Robertson and Robertino Diodoro
It had not happened before in 24 seasons of Canterbury Park racing: a tie for the leading trainer title. When the 2018 meet concluded, trainer Mac Robertson and Robertino Diodoro had each won 57 races. Mac notched his 12th title and Robertino his third. Mac was top trainer for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013. […]