Canterbury raises funds for chapel

The appearance of Hall of Fame riders Pat Day and Sandy Hawley at Canterbury Park last weekend helped raise more than $120,000 for the construction of the Dean Kutz Memorial Chapel on the track's backstretch.

Day and Hawley signed autographs for fans on Saturday, then spoke at a fundraiser that evening in the track's Longshots Party Area. Track president Randy Sampson announced at the event that the Canterbury Park Minnesota Fund and the Sampson family would combine to match all donations dollar for dollar.

The chapel is named for Canterbury's former leading rider, Dean Kutz, who died of cancer last September at age 48. Work on the 3,000-square-foot chapel may begin as early as next spring.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $250,000. In addition to the $120,000 raised last weekend, the local chaplaincy has received 10 donated stallion seasons that it will sell this fall. Donations can be made at the web site www.deankutzchapel.com or sent to Race Track Chaplaincy of America - Canterbury Park, P.O. Box 176, Shakopee, MN 55379-0176.