Canterbury: Extreme racing on tap

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – On Saturday, Canterbury Park will host its annual “Extreme Day” of racing. The day will feature the ostrich and camel races found on most extreme day cards, several races with unique conditions and distances, as well as the more traditional $33,000 North Central Quarter Horse Association Futurity.

The longest and shortest races of the Canterbury season will be run on Saturday. Quarter Horses will sprint 100 yards for an $8,000 purse while $20,000 claiming Thoroughbreds will meet over a distance of 2 1/16 miles. Both races feature the defending champions from last year’s Extreme Day, Sea N Lace in the dash and Lloron Jotace in the marathon.

Thoroughbreds also will have a chance to sprint for glory in a $21,000 race at 3 1/2 furlongs. A one-mile turf allowance is open to horses that have never won a race on the grass.

Quarter Horses will take center stage in the featured event on the card, the 350-yard North Central Quarter Horse Association Futurity. Favored Paint or More, a filly, will be looking to run her winning streak to three straight but will be hard-pressed by Jack Jessee, Red Hot Zoomer, and Howdedoit.

Following the Extreme Day races, the track induct its 2011 class into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees are Thoroughbred breeders Jeff and Deb Hilger of Stillwater, Thoroughbred trainer Mac Robertson, Quarter Horse trainer Ed Ross Hardy, jockey Derek Bell, and Minnesota-bred Thoroughbred Sir Tricky. These inductees join a group of more than 40 individuals and horses already in the hall of fame.

The Canterbury Hall of Fame was founded in 1995 to recognize people and horses that have made important and lasting contributions to the racing industry within the state. The selection committee consists of representatives of local horsemen’s organizations, media, and Canterbury Park.