65-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet to run May 18 through Sept 16
Canterbury Park’s request for a 65-day 2021 thoroughbred and quarter horse racing season, May 18 through Sept. 16, was unanimously approved Thursday by the Minnesota Racing Commission. The Shakopee, Minn. track will conduct a Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday schedule with racing also on Memorial Day and Labor Day as well as Saturday, July 3. Purses are anticipated to be approximately $14 million, at approximately $220,000 per day, a projected increase of more than 35% in total and 12% per day as compared to 2020. A 2012 cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement reached with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, owners and operators of nearby Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, will supplement purses by $7.28 million. The agreement extends through 2022 with more than $80 million going toward purse supplements and joint marketing of the two properties.
Post time on Sundays and holidays will be 1:00 p.m. while weekday racing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday racing will begin at 5:00 p.m. On July 3 racing will begin at 4:00 p.m. The 2021 thoroughbred and quarter horse stakes schedules are expected to be announced in January with stall applications and the first condition book available shortly thereafter.
Canterbury Park’s 24/7 card casino and simulcast racebook remain temporarily closed due to Executive Order 20-103 issued by Gov. Tim Walz to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Press Release and Photo: Canterbury Park
