Canterbury Park’s 31st Season Crosses the Finish Line

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% 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 total race days to 50. Four races postponed from Thursday were added to closing night creating a 13-race card that handled $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 2024 which resulted in smaller average field size, 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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