November, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Canterbury Park Requests 65 Race Dates For 2022

Canterbury Park officials intend to offer 65 days of live horse racing in 2022. A request for a meet that would run Wednesday, May 18 through Saturday, Sept. 17 has been submitted for approval to the Minnesota Racing Commission. Purses are projected at $225,000 per day, similar to the 65-day 2021 season.

In 2021, all-sources wagering reached a record $90.9 million with racing conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, surpassing the $68.4 million record set in 2020 when 53 days of racing were conducted. The 2022 request would replace Tuesdays with Saturday evening racing programs while continuing Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday programs. Racing would begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Sunday afternoon out-of-state wagering in 2021 exceeded company officials' expectations with an average $894,736 in off-track handle, nearly triple the pre-pandemic 2019 figure when the Shakopee, Minn. track last conducted Sunday programs. The success in maintaining wagering levels with the shift to Sundays in 2021 leads to optimism amongst track officials about the possibilities regarding the return of Saturday racing, absent since 2019.

“Canterbury Park has been successful over the past two seasons in drawing the interest of the national horseplayer through running a race schedule focused on the less competitive days of the week and by providing a strong value proposition for the wagering dollar,” company president Randy Sampson said. “In 2022, we plan to continue to offer a strong wagering proposition at opportunistic times in the weekly calendar while making it easier for our passionate on-track fan base to return to the races by adding Saturday evening programs,” Sampson said.

Canterbury first experimented with weeknight-only racing in 2020 when pandemic restrictions caused a delay to the start of the race meet with severe limitations on attendance. National handle soared as a result. Mondays were eliminated last season in favor of Sunday afternoons.

The 2022 schedule also includes a nine-day break from July 18 through July 26 to accommodate Twin Cities Summer Jam, an annual multi-day music festival held in the racetrack infield.

The Minnesota Racing Commission, a nine-member panel appointed by the state's governor tasked with overseeing the integrity and safety of horse racing at Minnesota's two pari-mutuel racetracks, is expected to consider Canterbury's race date request at its December meeting. Minnesota Administrative Rule 7872.0100 requires Canterbury Park to submit its request for 2022 racing dates no later than November 15, 2021.
Canterbury Park's 24/7 card casino and simulcast racebook remain open daily. For more information, visit www.canterburypark.com .

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Marcelino Pedroza Wins Third Leading Rider Title At Indiana Grand; Andrea Rodriguez Leading Apprentice

Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has been on a mission the last week of racing at Indiana Grand. Already way ahead in the jockey standings, Pedroza completed the four-day work week with an additional 10 wins to earn his third Leading Thoroughbred Jockey Award in Indiana.

Pedroza was honored in the winner's circle following the sixth race on closing day with the award. He also brought home the title in 2017 and 2019.

“It's always great to win races and it's a great feeling to win the title,” said Pedroza, who was flanked by his family for the trophy presentation. “Thank you to all the owners and trainers that supported me and to my beautiful family, who have been with me when we weren't winning races.”

Pedroza scored 105 wins during the meet, more than 20 more than second place finisher DeShawn Parker. With purse earnings in excess of $3.2 million for the year, he moves into third place on the list of all-time leading riders at the track with more than 640 career wins. He also holds several riding records with most purse money in one season ($3.4 in 2019), most wins by a jockey in one day (6 in 2019), and now joins Orlando Mojica, Leandro Goncalves and Rodney Prescott for most jockey titles at the track with three.

“I've been riding Fair Grounds and Indiana Grand the past few years and that's worked out well for me,” added Pedroza. “I plan to go back to Fair Grounds (New Orleans, La.) and hopefully do well there again and hopefully be back here again next year.”

A native of Panama, Pedroza Jr. attended the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey Academy before venturing to the United States in 2010. Now a Graded Stakes winning jockey, Pedroza celebrated his 1,000th career victory last year and has more than 1,200 career wins with earnings of more than $32 million.

Andrea Rodriguez has worked many hours to become a jockey. Her hard work has paid off this year as she was the recipient of the eighth annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey at Indiana Grand for 2021. The award is named in honor of Juan Saez, who passed away following a racing incident in 2014. Saez was the Leading Apprentice at Indiana Grand that same year.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez attended her country's famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica Agustin Mercado Reveron Jockey School at Camarero Race Track outside of San Juan. After winning her first race at Camarero, she ventured to the United States in 2019 with a short stint in the saddle before stopping and working as an exercise rider. While galloping for Trainer Ian Wilkes, she decided to give a career as a jockey one more try.

“Trainer Ian Wilkes is the one that pushed me back to riding at Turfway Park,” said Rodriguez. “Then, I came to Indiana Grand prepared to gallop and Bones (Kerry Wirth, her agent) and trainers Randy Klopp and Marvin Johnson told me to try to ride, so I did. It's been so great for me to ride in my first year at Indiana Grand. It's been an amazing experience. First, I have to thank God and then the trainers who have supported me.”

Working in the mornings has brought a special bond with several horses to Rodriguez, who places special posts about them on social media after her wins. But one horse, has stolen her heart this year at Indiana Grand.

“I would have to say Polo Art is my favorite,” said Rodriguez, who won four races aboard the seven-year-old gelding this season. “He has such a big heart, and he tries so hard.”

Rodriguez was joined by her mother, Camille, who is visiting from Puerto Rico, for the trophy presentation as the track's Leading Apprentice. She adds the award to a Leading Apprentice title she won at Ellis Park earlier this year. The young jockey follows in the footsteps of several family members who have been involved in racing in her home country.

“My grandfather was the first trainer from Puerto Rico to qualify and race in the Kentucky Derby,” added Rodriguez. “Also, my 'auntie' was the first female trainer in Puerto Rico.”

Rodriguez will move her tack to Turfway Park for the winter and plans to return to Indiana Grand when racing resumes Tuesday, April 19. Until then, she will continue to work at a career she thoroughly enjoys and continue to connect with horses that are her passion.

Rodriguez completes the 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand with 28 wins and a victory in her final race of 2021 aboard Double Advantage. She earned a spot among the track's top 15 jockeys. Horses she has guided this season have earned in excess of $550,000.

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Spa City Records More Than A Title In Salute To Heroes Stakes At Indiana Grand

A win by Spa City in the inaugural running of the $75,000 Salute the Heroes Stakes was much bigger than the blanket and trophy. The win by the horse and Edgar Morales capped off a special Pick 5 Charity Challenge where 20 handicappers from across the nation placed wagers into the pool. Of those tickets, three players, Ellis Starr, Dan Tordjman and Jimmy McNerney, hit to tally a total of $2,839.65. On top of that, Trainer Tom Amoss called in and donated his trainer's percentage from the race to the cause, bringing the total donated to Homeless Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana to $7,362.65.

Assistant trainer Katy Allen took the call from Amoss as the horse was walking out of the winner's circle to deliver the charitable news during the post-race interview. All proceeds will go to HVAF to assist with their various programs, from their food bank and housing for homeless veterans to their education and job search program. The organization is located in downtown Indianapolis and serves the region, which includes the local community around Indiana Grand.

Spa City is a recent acquisition through a claim by owner Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss. His new connections saw potential right away in the four-year-old gelded son of Street Sense and thought the Salute the Heroes Stakes was a good spot to test his skills.

Starting from post six in the seven-horse lineup, Morales saw early on that using early speed was not the ticket to the finish line and sat patiently in mid pack with Spa City. Around the final turn, the gelding came to life and used the stretch to rally home for the easy win by three and three-quarter lengths. Bayou Cat and Rodney Prescott finished a comfortable second over Warrior in Chief and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. for third.

“I saw this horse came from off the pace before, so we thought that was the best way to go since there was so much early speed in this race,” said Morales. “The eight (Bybee) broke better than us so I stayed around him early. He ran a pretty good race at Churchill in his last start. He is a nice and easy horse to ride with a big stride and when I asked him for more, he gave it to me.”

Spa City earned his fifth career win in 14 career starts and boosted his career earnings tally to nearly $200,000. He is now three for three at Indiana Grand over the dirt course. He was bred by Godolphin.

“This horse is so nice to be around,” added Katy Allen, who has collectively worked for the Amoss Stable for seven years. “He is so sweet in the stall and when Tom (Amoss) claimed him, I was so happy because he won that race very handily. We were hoping for a big run tonight and we are happy with his performance.”

Amoss, a six-time leading trainer at Indiana Grand, is the track's all-time winning trainer in wins with more than 400 trips to the winner's circle. He also holds several other training records, including most wins in one season by a trainer (81) and most purse earnings by a trainer in one season ($1.5 million), both set in 2013.

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Seven Winning Rides: Tim Thornton Sets New Single-Day Record At Delta Downs

Tim Thornton set a single day track record for wins by a jockey on Saturday, Oct. 23 when he rode seven winners during a 10-race program at Delta Downs. The feat eclipsed the old mark of six wins in a day set by Steve Bourque and current rider Ashley Broussard.

Thornton's accomplishment was honored by Delta Downs during its live program on Saturday as Vice President and General Manager Steve Kuypers presented a special plaque to him in the winner's circle. The track's jockey colony joined Thornton in the festivities as Kuypers commented on the accomplishment.

“What Tim did was incredible,” said Kuypers. “It's something special when a rider wins two or three races in one day, but to visit the winner's circle seven times on a single card is just amazing. I'm sure this record will stand for a very long time.”

After his unbelievable day, Thornton was humble about what he had just happened.

“It's always awesome to win races,” Thornton commented. “I just took it one race at a time and kept trying to put horses in the right spot to win and luckily they were all fit and ready to go. I was able to get them there.”

Thornton's biggest win during his seven-win day was with the Dallas Stewart trainee Unified Report ($2.40) in the $100,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes. He also scored with Relax Town ($2.80), Blue Darter ($6), Dreaming of Neany ($8.60), Laughing Latinos ($14), Shackleford Strong ($4.20), and Interactif Moment ($9.60).

Thornton has dominated the jockey standings at Delta Downs since he moved his tack to Vinton, Louisiana in 2017. This season he ranks at the top once again as he attempts to win his fourth consecutive riding title.

Fans can watch Thornton ply his trade each week at Delta Downs this season. The track hosts live programs each Wednesday through Saturday afternoon beginning at 12:55 pm through March 5.

For more information about the current season visit the track's website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about the track through Facebook by visiting the page 'Delta Downs Racing'. The track's Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

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