Canterbury Approved for Longest Meet Since 1995

Canterbury Park in Minnesota will offer 69 days of live racing next year, the longest meet since the Shakopee racetrack reopened in 1995. The dates were approved by the Minnesota Racing Commission.

Racing will begin May 7--Kentucky Derby (gr. I) day--and continue through Sept. 5, Labor Day. The 2005 schedule will include the seventh Claiming Crown, which Canterbury has hosted five times so far.

"With the longest meet in our history now on the books for 2005, we are excited to begin planning in earnest for the season," Canterbury president Randy Sampson said. "The added dates will allow us to increase the number of races offered to both our Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse communities. We are also thrilled to offer live racing for the first time to the thousands of patrons who pack our facility on Kentucky Derby day. I can't think of a better way to start the season."