Canterbury cancels final 10 races of meet due to track conditions

Canterbury Park canceled the final 10 races on its 13-race closing-night card Saturday after its riding colony felt both the main track and turf course were unsafe after the surfaces were hit with consecutive days of rain.

Canterbury’s first two races were conducted on turf as scheduled, and the surface was rated as yielding. The third race, which was scheduled for the main track, was moved to turf after the riders refused to ride on the sloppy main track and agreed to the surface switch, according to a press release from Canterbury. Following the race, the riders deemed the turf course unsafe, and officials called off the remainder of card.

There are no plans to make up the card or it’s two stakes, the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile and $50,000 Tom Metzen HBPA.

“This was the final day of the meet, so this is where it ends,” said Jeff Maday, spokesman for Canterbury. “It’s a disappointing way to end the summer.”

There was more than $200,000 in the pool for the 50-cent pick four that started in race 1. The third leg of the wager was the race moved from dirt to turf.

“It became a win-win and the last two legs were all, and it paid $10.85,” Maday said.

Maday said the all-turf pick five that started in race 1 was refunded. The $1 pick three that started in race 2 paid $7.70 on a 4 with all in the last two legs; the $1 daily double that started in race 3 paid $16.30 on a 6 with all; the pick three and pick five that started in race 3 were refunded, as were all other wagers for the remainder of the card.

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