The 31st season of racing at Canterbury Park concluded Saturday.

© Coady Media

By Jeff J. Maday

SHAKOPEE, MN—SEPTEMBER 21, 2025—The 31st season of racing at Canterbury Park concluded Saturday evening the same way it began May 24, with Minnesota-bred filly I C Gold and leading jockey Harry Hernandez in the winner’s circle. Hernandez won 70 races, atop the jockey standings the entire meet, and his third Canterbury riding title.

Average daily attendance increased 4 percent, and daily average on-track wagering remained consistent with the prior season. Three fewer race days and 34 fewer races were held compared to 2024. Weather challenges, including high heat indexes, rain, and lightning, caused two full cards to be cancelled and two to be shortened. An additional date was added in July, bringing the total number of race days to 50. Four races postponed Thursday were added to closing night, creating a 13-race card handling $1,746,078.

“Canterbury Park remains an important piece of Minnesota’s summer entertainment landscape,” General Manager John Groen said. “This year we attracted more than a quarter of a million spectators from across the region for food, fun, and racing, and we’re rapidly working on a number of entertainment and fan experience enhancements for next season.”

Total purses paid to horse owners, trainers, and jockeys were 23 percent less than in 2024, resulting in a smaller average field size of 6.74 horses per race, compared to 2024’s 7.36.

“We will continue to work with the state legislature during the upcoming session to address purses. Horse racing and the equine industry have an important economic impact across the entire state, touching families and farms in every community,” Groen said. “There are a number of commonsense solutions that would benefit horse racing as well as the tribes and charities, and we remain committed to working cooperatively with all interested parties to make Minnesota’s racing the premier racing circuit in the upper Midwest.”

Canterbury Park will submit an application for its 2026 season to the Minnesota Racing Commission in November.

Jose Silva, Jr. won his first Canterbury training title with 34 wins. Novogratz Racing Stables was leading thoroughbred owner with 13 wins. Frosty View, owned by Charlene Gabler and trained by Joel Berndt, was voted Horse of the Meet. Summer Winner, trained by Time Padilla, who co-owns the Minnesota-bred filly with Pete Mattson, was Two-Year-Old of the Meet. Mad House, a 3-year-old who won three times at Canterbury and yesterday captured the $400,000 Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx, was voted Sprinter of the Meet. The Florida-bred is owned by James Thares and trained by David VanWinkle.

By The Numbers

2025 average attendance: 5,105
2025 total handle: $45,752,143
2025 daily average on track handle: $154,570
2025 daily average out-of-state handle: $798,192
Unique thoroughbred starters: 676
Total races: 405

Canterbury Park’s 2025 Horse of the Meet and divisional champions:

• Horse of the Meet
   Frosty View (owner: Charlene Gabler : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Sprinter
   Mad House  (owner: James Thares : trainer: David VanWinkle)
• Older Horse
   Frosty View (owner: Charlene Gabler : trainer: Joel Berndt)
• Older Filly or Mare
   Thunders Rocknroll (owner: Bob Lindgren : trainer: Wade Rarick)
•  Grass Horse
   Frosty View (owner: Charlene Gabler : trainer: Joel Berndt)
•  Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding
   Sushi Man (owner: One Bid Stable : trainer: Coty Rosin)
•  Three-Year-Old Filly
   Carson Bay (owner: Valene Farms LLC : trainer: Gary Scherer)
•  Two-Year-Old
   Summer Winner (owner: Peter Mattson & Tim Padilla : trainer: Tim
   Padilla)
• Claimer
   Lemon Meringue (owner: Stapley, Hatch, Kelly, Cicala, Alison,
   Birmingham, Stoney and Mangum:  trainer: Esteban Martinez)
•  Quarter Horse
   Relentless Rocket (owner: Tom Maher : trainer: Jason Olmstead )

Leading Thoroughbred Jockey: Harry Hernandez,  70 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Trainer: Jose Silva, Jr., 34 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Owner: Novogratz Racing Stables,  13 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Jockey: Armando Alvidrez, 8 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Trainer: Jason Olmstead, 14 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Owner:  Tom Maher, 6 wins

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