Canterbury Park: Track moves stakes in advance of possible state government shutdown

With a July 1 shutdown of Minnesota state government looming due to an ongoing legislative budget battle, Canterbury Park has moved two Quarter Horse stakes, the Northlands Futurity, originally scheduled for Saturday, and the Canterbury Quarter Horse Derby, which was to be run Monday, to Thursday evening’s card.

The Minnesota Racing Commission, the regulatory body that oversees gaming at Canterbury, would not be able to operate if state government shuts down, meaning racing at Canterbury would have to be called off.

Because Thursday’s 12-race card would have to be completed prior to the midnight state shutdown, first post has been moved to 6:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than usual.

Canterbury has four Thoroughbred stakes scheduled for the holiday weekend which conceivably could be effected by the shutdown, The $50,000 Blair's Cover and $35,000 Shot of Gold on Sunday and the $50,000 Dean Kutz Derby and $35,000 Minnesota HBPA Mile on Monday.