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 SHAKOPEE,
MN - Another summer of horse racing breaks from the gate Friday
evening with the arrival of the live Thoroughbred and Quarter
Horse racing season at Canterbury
Park. The 63-day meet reflects the continued success of
Canterbury
Park as purse and horse numbers remain at record levels.
The 2003 season will also feature a 54-race stakes schedule
worth more than $1.8 million, which includes the return of the
five-race, $550,000 Claiming Crown and the $100,000 Lady Canterbury
Stakes.
The centerpiece
of the season is the Claiming Crown. In its fifth year, the
Claiming Crown has become a staple of the horse-racing world.
Attracting horses from around the country, the Claiming Crown
is a unique event designed to highlight the blue-collar runners
that make up the backbone of industry. Past Claiming Crown days
at Canterbury
Park have attracted more than 10,000 fans wagering nearly
$1 million.
The daily
purse figures are the continuance of a series of increases begun
in 2000 thanks to the success of the Canterbury Card Club. For
2003, the average daily purses will approximately $120,000,
a number that would grow significantly in 2004 if Canterbury
is successful in the current pursuit of additional gaming authority
at the Minnesota Legislature. The consistent purse structure
has proven attractive to horsemen as Canterbury
Park again expects to be at the stall capacity of 1,600
horses.
On the track,
defending riding champion Seth Martinez returns to defend his
title against a group that includes Canterbury Hall-of-Famer
Scott Stevens, who returns after a seven-year absence, and two-time
champion Derek Bell. Training Champion David Van Winkle returns
with 2002 Horse of the Year JP Jet along with an influx of new
faces bringing large and talented stables of runners.
Located
in Shakopee, MN, Canterbury
Park is 25 minutes from both downtown Minneapolis and St.
Paul.
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LAS
VEGAS - The Owl has landed at 