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Canterbury Park Kicks Off Live Season On Tuesday, May 18
A 65-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet will get underway May 18 and run through Sept. 16.

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Canterbury Park Kicks Off Live Season On Tuesday, May 18

SHAKOPOEE, MN—MAY 13, 2021— Canterbury Park's 65-day horse racing season will begin Tuesday, May 18, and track officials have hopes for a more traditional season of racing and promotional activities.

Following a 2020 season that started later than usual and offered fewer race days with strict spectator-capacity limits below 1,000 due to COVID-19, officials at Canterbury Park were encouraged by Gov. Tim Walz' May 6 announcement that lifts spectator capacity restrictions beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Canterbury Park will race on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as Sundays beginning May 30. In May, capacity will be limited to 2,500, but that will increase in June.

“We are thrilled to be racing and to have more fans in the stands,” Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson said.

The announcement by Gov. Walz was welcomed but more sudden than most state entertainment venues like Canterbury had expected. Many are now facing the challenge of staffing to the levels needed to be successful.

"Our priority is to provide the quality guest experience that we are known for,” Sampson said. “To do that we will start with 2,500 guests and increase capacity in a responsible and safe way as we (hire) more employees. I expect to welcome in excess of 7,500 to 10,000 guests as the summer progresses.”

Canterbury's marketing department made the decision this spring to release its promotional schedule and sell admission tickets month by month as guidance from the state regarding capacity became clear. Events such as Corgi Dog races, Extreme Day, and a fireworks display, which complement a day at the races and attracts thousands of fans, are now possible and will be added to the schedule throughout the summer.

“Many of our most popular race-day events were just not operationally and financially feasible without knowing how many guests would be allowed,” Canterbury Park vice president of marketing John Groen said. “We can now schedule those events that bring so much enjoyment to our fans.”

Groen plans to push many of the events to the later months of summer. The horse racing itself will be at full stride from the start if Tuesday's opening night entries are any indication. The nine-race program drew a total of 86 horses in the body of the races and an additional nine on the also- eligible list. Racing officials expect nearly 1,500 horses to be stabled in the barn area.

Canterbury Park's Quarter Horse stakes schedule is topped by the August 11, $175,000-est. Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity. The track will also play host to three regional Bank of America Racing Challenge stakes on July 6, topped by the 440-yard, $50,000-added Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge (G3).

More information and a complete schedule can be found at canterburypark.com. Canterbury officials are recommending that guests purchase admission tickets online for a touchless experience. A discount is offered to encourage advance purchases at tickets.canterburypark.com.

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More information about Canterbury Park is available at canterburypark.com.