Canterbury stable area to open May 8; adjusted racing dates yet to be announced

Canterbury Park will open its stable area May 8 but a time frame for running a 2020 race meets at the Minnesota track remains uncertain.

Canterbury’s backstretch was scheduled to open April 24 in advance of opening day on May 15 before Minnesota was placed on coronavirus lockdown by Gov. Tim Waltz. Thursday, Waltz issued an executive order, specifically including Canterbury’s backstretch, permitting some businesses to reopen.

Canterbury’s news release announcing the reopening said plans for the 2020 racing season, which was supposed to span 65 racing days and end Sept. 12, said a revised racing schedule would be announced “in the coming weeks” after assessment of purse funds and consultation with state and local authorities regarding protocols and requirements.

“We intend to race this summer, knowing that it will not be business as usual and that uncertainly is still high,” Canterbury Park President and CEO Randy Sampson said in the release. “We want to provide a safe place for horses to race and those that care for them to work.”

Horsemen shipping stock to Canterbury in early May must be pre-approved for entry and schedule arrival times for their horses. Canterbury said it expects the bulk of early arrivals to come from Turf Paradise in Arizona, which is closing its stabling area on May 10. Horses surely also will be arriving from Oaklawn Park, which ends its race meeting Saturday.

Other trainers that summer at Canterbury have active stables at Will Rogers Downs, Fonner Park, and Tampa Bay Downs, all of which are conducting live racing at least through the end of May.