Canterbury tellers form racing partnership

The wait is nearly over for members of the Stellar Teller Racing Partnership, a group of Canterbury Park mutuel tellers who formed a breed-to-race partnership in May 2005 after several tellers had discussed the possibility of buying a racehorse together. The 12-member partnership has been guided by Jolene Danner, who works in the Canterbury Park information booth when not caring for a number of horses at a nearby farm.

The object of the partnership's attention is its 3-year-old filly Sol Fire, a daughter of Minnesota-based stallion Shot of Gold who has been prepared by trainer Bruce Riecken. A race on Sunday has been selected for Sol Fire's debut, and rider Nik Goodwin will be aboard.

Like every racing partnership manager, Danner faces the pending debut with a feeling of cautious optimism.

"She really loves her job, but loves to work in company much more than going out alone," Danner said. "She's got the heart; hopefully she's got the talent."