Renowned Racetrack Superintendent Javier Barajas Returns to Canterbury Park
Expert in the field of track maintenance has consulted on racing surfaces worldwide Canterbury Park racing officials announced today that track maintenance expert Javier Barajas, whose consulting services are in demand around the world, will return to the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack as track superintendent for the 2023 racing season. Barajas previously held the position at […]
BARAJAS KNOWS THE LAY OF THE LAND
There has been one certainty the last two summers at Canterbury Park whenever either of the two tracks has been the subject at hand. Horsemen, fans and management always knew the lay of the land, figuratively and literally, under track superintendent Javier Barajas, a man valued for his knowledge, dedication and hard work. When he […]
Video: The Track Crew
Canterbury’s Track Crew ensures both the dirt track and the turf course are in the safest and fairest conditions possible. Dirt track maintenance includes watering, blading and constant grooming. The turf course requires proper watering as well as divot repair and an entirely different maintenance program. Javier Barajas, track superintendent at Canterbury Park and Meydan […]
Lessons Learned…
The adjectives are endless for sizing up the race meet at Canterbury Park this spring/summer/fall/winter. The biggest question has been how to accurately characterize this strangest of seasons. “I can’t remember a meet with weather this crappy ever, anyplace I’ve been,” said jockey room custodian Jerry Simmons. That covers a bit of ground. Simmons has […]
An International Track Man
Occasionally, Javier Barajas would spot something, stop his pickup truck, step onto the track and retrieve an item only his well-trained eyes could see. “It’s amazing,” Barajas said. “I’m really blind as a bat.” Barajas, Canterbury Park’s new track superintendent, has the eyes of a predatory bird in situations like this, however, or maybe it’s the […]
