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Canterbury Park Sets 2003 Racing Dates

The 2003 schedule will be highlighted by the fifth renewal of the 6-race $550,000 Claiming Crown, racing's day for "blue collar" runners, which returns to Canterbury Park on Saturday, July 19 after a one-year hiatus. In the past, Claiming Crown days at Canterbury Park have attracted as many as 14,000 fans and generated nearly $1 million in on-track handle. Also returning after a four-year absence is the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes for fillies and mares. It will be run over the Canterbury Park Turf Course on Father's day, June 15. Another major event on the stakes calendar is the seven-race, $325,000 Minnesota Festival of Champions, scheduled for Sunday, August 17. The Festival is an annual celebration of the Minnesota horse breeding industry, with each of the seven races run exclusively for state-bred horses.

As part of Canterbury Park's ongoing effort to attract horsemen, the purchase of a 112-site RV and trailer park was completed early in 2003. "With housing at a premium in the Twin Cities metro area, we've decided to ease the crunch on our horsemen." Said Canterbury Park President Randy Sampson. "We're looking forward to continuing a pattern of growth for our business and also attracting more horsemen to our meet." Located in Shakopee, the park will offer 68 full-service sites along with a variety of living options.

As part of the aforementioned growth, Canterbury Park is currently pursuing a legislative initiative which would add slot machines to the track's gaming repertoire and also allow for the development of a hotel, convention center, and a world-class horse show facility. The proposed "Racino" would significantly affect the purse structure of Canterbury Park, and in turn the agricultural industry in Minnesota. The proposed "Racino" would also provide more than $100 million in tax revenue bi-annually to the State of Minnesota.

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