Three Nights Remain in Canterbury Park’s 31st Racing Season; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday programs begin at 4 p.m.

Canterbury Park will conclude its 50-day meet with racing Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. First post each evening is 4 p.m. Attendance throughout the season averaged more than 5,200 while the average number of dollars wagered per race has increased over last season.

The Sept. 17 program offers eight races with 63 entries, Sept. 18 has eight races with 61 entries and the final program has nine races attracting 76 entries for a three-day average of eight horses per race, exceeding the meet average field size by 18 percent.

“We’re so thankful for all of our fans and horsepersons who helped make the 2025 racing season special,” Canterbury Park general manager John Groen said. “We saw many thrilling races, huge

payouts and unbelievable crowds over the course of the summer meet. We are already busy making plans for enhancements in 2026.”

The live racing season, the 31st since reopening in 1995 as Canterbury Park, began May 24. Racing was conducted primarily on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Six Thursdays were also on the calendar. The July 3 program that featured post-race fireworks attracted a season high 13,590 guests. Weather challenges, including heat, rain and lightning, caused two full programs to be cancelled and a portion of two race days to be shortened. A make-up day was added in July.

Jose Silva, Jr. is poised to win his first thoroughbred training title at Canterbury after finishing second and third the past two seasons. He has 32 wins while 16-time leading trainer Mac Robertson is five wins behind. Silva, Jr. also owns many of the horses he trains and is currently leading thoroughbred owner with 12 wins. Last year’s champion owner, Novogratz Racing Stables, has 11 wins with six horses entered in the final days.

 

 

 

Jockey Harry Hernandez won the first race of the meet and never relinquished his lead. Hernandez won the riding title in 2022 and 2023 but was absent last year. He enters the final three days with 67 wins, 21 more than closest challenger Alonso Quinonez. Hernandez, who has earned a meet leading $1,205,709 in purses, is named to ride in 22 of the 25 races to close out the season.

More information available here.

 

 

Things To Know

–          Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night with half-price admission, mystery scratch off ticket giveaway to the first 3,000 and live music by Sugar Buzz.

–          Wednesday is $5 admission with beer specials; Thursday is Two Buck Night with $2 admission and $2 food and beverage specials.

–          Leading jockey Harry Hernandez, currently with 67 victories, has 196 career wins at Canterbury.

–          2-year-old Minnesota-bred filly Summer Winner, the Sept. 6 Northern Lights Debutante winner, will run in race 8 on Saturday.

–         The largest Pick 5 payout of the season was $41,265.90 for a 50 cent wager and occurred June 18.

–        The largest $2 win payout of the meet occurred June 28 when Syntactic won the first race and paid $66.20.

 

The post Three Nights Remain in Canterbury Park’s 31st Racing Season; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday programs begin at 4 p.m. appeared first on Canterbury Park.