Canterbury Cards 26 Stakes for 2012 Meet

Canterbury Park has released its stakes schedule featuring 26 races worth $1.12 million for the 62-day meet that begins May 18 and concludes Sept. 3.

Highlighting the meet at the Shakopee, Minn., track is the second Fillies Race for Hope Day Aug. 4. That day will consists of nine races for fillies and mares and is a fundraiser for Hope Chest for Breast Cancer, a local organization whose mission is to help under-served or financially distressed individuals and their families touched by breast cancer.

Three stakes, including the $75,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes, the richest race on the 2012 stakes schedule, will be offered on the card.

“The outpouring of support on (the first) Fillies Race for Hope day was amazing,” track president Randy Sampson said. “The goal was to bring horsemen and our fans together for a common cause while engaging the community at large. It was a huge success and will be again this summer.”

The track will also host the 19th Minnesota Festival of Champions, a day dedicated to the Minnesota breeding industry, on Sept. 2. The six-race stakes line-up offers $310,000 in purse money.