Author: News

54-Day Canterbury Park Meet To Run From May 18-Sept. 28

Canterbury Park's request for a 54-day 2024 horse racing season, Saturday, May 18, through Saturday, Sept. 28, was unanimously approved Thursday by the Minnesota Racing Commission. Racing will be conducted at the Shakopee, Minn., track on Thursdays and Saturdays at 5 p.m. Central and Sundays at 1 p.m. Three Wednesdays will be added in July with racing at 4 p.m. July 3, and 5 p.m. July 10 and 24. Also on the calendar are Labor Day Racing, Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 5 p.m. A PDF calendar is available using this link:  https://canterburypark.egnyte.com/dl/9tARdsgqsC .

The 54-day season, which will begin one week earlier and conclude two weeks later than the 2023 season, was agreed upon by track management and the Minnesota HBPA, which represents Thoroughbred racehorse owners and trainers. Overnight Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse purses will be increased by 10 percent on average with daily purse distribution averaging $197,000.

“Spreading our 54 race days over a longer period of time will allow us to increase field sizes and offer additional racing opportunities for our horse population,” Canterbury Park CEO Randy Sampson said.   “Raising overnight purses for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses by an average of 10 percent, along with plans to work with our horsepeople to streamline race conditions, and to use the turf course as much as possible, should also result in larger fields.”

Canterbury's $15 million stable area and racing infrastructure improvement project continues. A new safety rail was installed on the main track last month. Construction of three new barns, future home to 324 racehorses, is underway and will be complete when the stable area opens May 1. Improvements in 2023 include a reconfiguring of the training track, construction of a 36-room dormitory and complete replacement of main track and paddock area lighting.

“Canterbury will continue to invest in racing infrastructure, making our racing surfaces safe and stable area convenient and efficient for those that work there,” Sampson said.

Details of a revised participation incentive plan that will provide a projected $400,000 in incentives to support recruiting of new and returning stables will be announced soon. The 2024 stakes and overnight handicap schedule along with the first condition book will be available early in the year. Stall applications will be available in March and due in mid-April. Training on the main track begins May 8.

The Minnesota Racing Commission, currently a seven-member panel, is appointed by the state's governor and tasked with overseeing the integrity and safety of horse racing at Minnesota's two pari-mutuel racetracks.

Canterbury Park's 24/7 casino and simulcast racebook remain open daily. For more information, visit www.canterburypark.com  .

The post 54-Day Canterbury Park Meet To Run From May 18-Sept. 28 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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City Of Troy And Henry Longfellow To Likely Be Kept Separate During Classic Campaigns

City Of Troy (Justify), a winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. and the Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, will likely not have to contend with stablemate and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Aidan O'Brien confirmed.

The former, all being well, would then head to the G1 Derby at Epsom, while the latter, a winner of the G1 National S., is possible for the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas before a crack at the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot in June or the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in France. Both Coolmore partners' colts received heavy praise from O'Brien during their juvenile seasons.

“I'd imagine that City Of Troy and Henry Longfellow will be kept apart for as long as the lads want to do that,” O'Brien told Sporting Life.

“We're obviously thinking that City of Troy will be trained for Newmarket and then Henry Longfellow might be trained for France.

“If everything went well with City Of Troy at Newmarket, he could go straight on to Epsom whereas the other horse could do the Curragh and Ascot or something like that. There's lots of scenarios that could happen I suppose.”

Out of Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), City Of Troy has yet to taste defeat in three starts, while also sporting a win in the G2 Superlative S. and has continued to draw attention and rave reviews from the master of Ballydoyle.

He added, “He's the first horse we've had come along to show such class and courage, without us feeling that we've got to the last gear yet.

“He always had lovely balance, a lovely shape and a lovely mind. He was a lovely size of a horse, not too big and not too small. He looked the ideal horse all the way along really.”

The post City Of Troy And Henry Longfellow To Likely Be Kept Separate During Classic Campaigns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Wagering And Purse Records Fall At Zia Park’s 2023 Meet

The 19th season of horse racing at Zia Park was a record setting one on several fronts with new standards set for average daily handle, purses and safety during the 30-day mixed Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred meet, the PENN Entertainment-owned track said in a release Thursday afternoon.

An average daily handle of $830,371 was up 72% from the 48-date meet in 2022 to set a new track record and was the highest daily handle recorded by a racetrack in the state of New Mexico since 2010. Live handle was up an equally impressive 47% from 2022. Five of the tracks ten all-time highest daily handles were recorded in 2023, all coming in the last 15 days of the meet.

Purses were a big reason in driving the average Thoroughbred field size to nearly nine horses per race (8.91) versus last year's 7.45 per race figure. Average daily overnight purses totaled $344,067, both a track and New Mexico record. Total average daily purses, including stakes, was $432,767.

Racing safety also set records with only two racing catastrophic injuries the entire meet resulting in a rate of 0.74 per 1000 starters–the lowest ever recorded for Zia Park and nearly 50% lower than the national average for dirt races as published by The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database. There was one catastrophic injury during training which began Oct. 1.

“From all metrics the meet was a great success–records set for wagering, purses and in safety as well,” said Lauren Barrows, Vice President and General Manager. “We thank all our guests, horsemen and racing participants and team members for having a part in delivering those impressive numbers.”

Todd Fincher won his third straight training title, while jockey Luis Fuentes secured his second straight leading rider title. The leading Thoroughbred owners were J. Kirk and Judy Robison.

The post Wagering And Purse Records Fall At Zia Park’s 2023 Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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