69-Day Meet for Canterbury Park in 2014
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Canterbury Park has received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission for a 69-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse in 2014, from May 16 through Sept. 13. Canterbury also conducted 69 days of racing in 2013.
As a result of a June 2012 agreement between Canterbury Park and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, owners and operators of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, total purses this year were nearly double what they were in 2011 and the meet was the longest since 2006.
Under the cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement, SMSC will add $75 million to the horsemen purse fund over the agreement's 10-year terms. The 2014 stakes schedule and purse structure will be announced in early December.
"Racing in Minnesota took a big step forward," Canterbury Park vice president of racing operations Eric Halstrom said in a release. "I expect the industry to make additional gains in 2014 as horsemen and racing fans around the country take notice."
According to a release from the track, Canterbury's 1,600 stall stable area was at capacity this year for the first time since 1991 and average daily handle on Canterbury's races was up 16%.
Also, according to the release, Thoroughbred breeding in Minnesota increased 170% this year after reaching an historical low in 2012.