The final program of Canterbury Park's 53-day season ended abruptly after the running of the third race when jockeys deemed both racing surfaces, dirt and turf, unsafe. Rain in the Shakopee, Minn., area over the preceding 24 hours soaked the main and turf tracks.
The riders originally refused to race on the main track and agreed that remaining races following the first two over the turf could be moved to the grass course. Race one and two were originally scheduled for the turf and were run over a yielding course. The third race, carded for the main track, was transferred. Following the running of the third the jockeys determined that course too was not safe and the remaining 10 races were cancelled.
Of those 10 races cancelled were the $50,000 Tom Metzen H.B.P.A. Sprint and the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile.
Harry Hernandez, with 51 wins, was the leading thoroughbred rider for the second consecutive season. Joel Berndt won the thoroughbred training title with 52 wins. Bob Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables, Inc. won 48 races and $1,223,352 in purse money. This was the fourth consecutive title for Lothenbach.
Tom Maher was leading quarter horse owner for the third consecutive season. Edwin Escobedo was leading quarter horse jockey, a title he has held since 2020. Jason Olmstead won his ninth consecutive quarter horse training title.
Doctor Oscar, owned by Pete Mattson and trained by Tim Padilla was voted Horse of the Meet. The 4-year-old Minnesota bred colt won three races from four starts including the 10,000 Lakes Stakes, the Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship and an open-company allowance.
Canterbury Park's 2023 Horse of the Year and divisional champions:
- Horse of the Year – Doctor Oscar (owner: Peter Mattson : trainer: Tim Padilla)
- Sprinter – Doctor Oscar (owner: Peter Mattson : trainer: Tim Padilla)
- Older Horse – Doctor Oscar (owner: Peter Mattson : trainer: Tim Padilla)
- Older Filly or Mare – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Grass Horse – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables, LLC : trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Jose Patio (owner: Barry and Joni Butzow : trainer: Mike Biehler)
- Three-Year-Old Filly – Cupids Crush (Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC : trainer: Mac Robertson)
- Two-Year-Old – Relentlessly Fast (owner: Tom Maher : trainer: Tyler Stein )
- Claimer – Lock It Down (owner: Esteban Martinez: trainer: Esteban Martinez)
- Quarter Horse – Relentlessly Fast (owner: Tom Maher : trainer: Tyler Stein )
Leading Thoroughbred Jockey: Harry Hernandez 51 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Trainer: Joel Berndt 52 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Owner: Lothenbach Stables, Inc. 48 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Jockey: Edwin Escobedo 12 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Trainer: Jason Olmstead 15 wins
Leading Quarter Horse Owner: Tom Maher 10 wins
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