ON A WARM DAY MOJICA GETS HOT
By JIM WELLS There was a heat advisory on Saturday as the area got a taste of what typically doesn’t occur until the depths of summer in the Twin Cities, yet even what Minnesotans refer to as oven-like was mitigated significantly by a stiff breeze. It was warm, 95 degrees at 3 p.m. with a […]
Dean Butler – Defending the Riding Title at Canterbury Park
Jockey Dean Butler has won the Canterbury riding title five times, including last season. He is second in all-time earnings at Canterbury Park and/or Downs. His mounts have earned more than $12.1 million in purses. Butler is third in all-time wins with 723 and he continues to win at at rate in excess of 20 percent. […]
News and Notes after Four Race Days
By Katie Merritt Perfection is a term rarely used in this sport. But for the moment, it fits Hall of Fame trainer Bernell Rhone who has saddled five horses thus far and each has visited the winner’s circle. Drop the Gloves won opening night. Maddymax won this past Friday and then Drive Sandy Drive, Justeveryday, […]
Dean Butler continues to win at Canterbury Park
By Katie Merritt Dean Butler has been leading rider at Canterbury Park five times since 2009, most recently winning the title last year when he brought home 82 winners from 418 starters. Throughout his career as a jockey he has dominated other race meets around the country as well, including Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing), […]
Barn Notes – April 26, 2017
By Katie Merritt With 10 days remaining before the commencement of Canterbury Park’s 2017 live racing meet, there are already 430 horses stabled in the barn area. Many more van and trailer loads are anticipated over the coming week as Canterbury is expecting to be filled to capacity for the summer. Last year’s top […]
RIDING TITLE COMES DOWN TO FINAL RACE
BY JIM WELLS There were trailers backed up to certain stables on the backside at Canterbury Park Saturday morning, some of them awaiting their equine passengers, others simply being loaded with a variety of tack needed by a particular trainer for the next destination. Throughout the last several days, a horseman could be found here […]
Majestic Pride Wins $41,600 John Bullit Overnight Stakes
Majestic Pride, the 4 to 5 favorite, held off a late charge from Fear the Cowboy to win the $41,600 John Bullit Overnight Stakes Friday evening at Canterbury Park. The 4-year-old colt, owned by Hugh Robertson, Jeff Ryan, and Gary Chanen, was ridden by jockey Dean Butler and is trained by Mac Robertson, leading trainer […]
GOOD GUYS, AND HORSES, CAN FINISH FIRST
BY JIM WELLS Young horses are often a handful_ fractious in racetrack parlance. Difficult in the barn, or the paddock or the gate. Now meet the morning line favorites for the $85,000 Minnesota Oaks and the $85,000 Minnesota Derby, Dazzlingsweetheart and Smooth Chiraz, a couple of three-year-olds who not only defy such descriptions but […]
10,000 Lakes Stakes Preview
Canterbury Park begins its 69-day live racing season Friday at 6:30 p.m. with an eight-race program. Racing continues Saturday and Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Canterbury officials made an unprecedented announcement in April that takeout, the amount withdrawn from wagers before winners are paid, would be lower than any racetrack in the country, sparking widespread approval […]
Road to Kentucky Contest Week 10 Recap – CUPID
“When Baffert ships there (Oaklawn Park), he’s doing one of two things. He’s going there with live horses, and he’s also exposing the competition.” – Mike Watchmaker from Daily Racing Form after selecting Cupid to win the Rebel Stakes. The contest track for Road to Kentucky Week 10 was Oaklawn Park for the featured Rebel […]
