SHAKOPEE, MN—NOVEMBER 17, 2017—Canterbury Park intends to race 70 days in 2018. Officials of the Shakopee, Minn. thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack this week submitted a request to the Minnesota Racing Commission seeking approval of a schedule that would begin Friday, May 4 and conclude Sept. 15. The MRC is expected to act on Canterbury’s request next month.

The recently concluded 2017 meet offered 67 days of racing.

“We are proposing a schedule that allows for added days and more opportunities for horsemen to run and fans to enjoy everything that Canterbury Park has to offer,” track president Randy Sampson said. “Opening on Kentucky Derby weekend this past season for the first time in eight years was a huge success and we will do the same in 2018.”

The 2017 race meet saw an increase in total handle, the amount of money wagered, and in average starters per race. “Horse owners find Canterbury Park an attractive place to race with a healthy purse structure and a wide variety of races,” Sampson said. “Horse bettors also are enjoying the quality of racing at Canterbury.”

Horsemen purses are estimated to exceed $14 million. 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 in 2018. The agreement extends through 2022 with more than $83 million going toward purse supplements and joint marketing of the two properties and the region known as RiverSouth-Land of Big Fun.

More information about the company is available at canterburypark.com.