'Battle of Surfaces' Returns to Canterbury
Canterbury Park's July 16 program will feature the Battle of the Surfaces, which features a dirt race and a turf race run simultaneously with a common pool.
Eric Halstrom
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Canterbury to Cut Takeout Across the Board
Canterbury Park and its horsemen's group hope to make a statement this year with an across-the-board reduction in pari-mutuel takeout rates that will range from 15% to 18% for the 2016 meet.
Canterbury Park to Race 69 Days in 2016
Canterbury Park received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission Dec. 17 to conduct a 69-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet.
Canterbury Names New Racing Secretary
Robert Junk has joined Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino as the track's racing secretary, succeeding Doug Schoepf, who retired in October after two decades at the Shakopee, Minn., racetrack.
Canterbury Incentives Target American Pharoah
If the connections of American Pharoah were to start the Triple Crown winner in the Mystic Lake Derby, the Shakopee, Minn. track would move the race from the turf to the main track and offer a $2 million purse.
Canterbury Gets Approval for 70-Day Meet
Canterbury Park received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission Nov. 20 to conduct a 70-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race meet in 2015.
Canterbury Park Earns Safety Re-Accreditation
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Sept. 4 that Canterbury Park has earned re-accreditation from the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance.
TRPB Promotes Linnell, Elects New Directors
J. Curtis Linnell was appointed vice president of wagering analysis and operations for the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau at its board meeting Aug. 7 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Canterbury Releases 2014 Stakes Schedule
Canterbury Park officials announced a 2014 stakes schedule Dec. 19 that includes 24 races with purses totaling more than $1.8 million.
69-Day Meet for Canterbury Park in 2014
Canterbury Park has received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission for a 69-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse in 2014, from May 16 through Sept. 13.
Halstrom Leaves Fair Grounds for Canterbury
Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, is leaving the job to return to Canterbury Park in Minnesota.
Two Fair Grounds Turf Stakes Moved to Jan. 26
Two Fair Grounds turf stakes scheduled for Jan. 19--the Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) and the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes-- have been moved to Jan. 26 due to the likelihood there will be no turf racing Jan. 19.
Remainder of FG Quarter Horse Meet Canceled
Fair Ground Race Course & Slots has canceled the last four days of the summer Quarter Horse meet due to complications at the New Orleans, La., track caused by Hurricane Isaac.
Fair Grounds Orders Evacuation of Barn Area
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots officials have declared a mandatory evacuation of its barn area in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac, which is expected to become a hurricane as it moves into the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Fair Grounds Boosts 2012-13 Stakes Purses
Fair Grounds Race Course has boosted the purses of eight open-company races on its 2012-2013 stakes schedule released June 28, marking the third straight year the average stakes purse has increased at the New Orleans oval.
NTRA Safety Alliance Re-Approves Fair Grounds
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans has earned re-accreditation from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance, it was announced Dec. 3.
Fair Grounds Boosts Purses for 19 Open Stakes
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has boosted the purses of 19 open-company races on the 2011-2012 stakes schedule released June 29; La. Derby (gr. II) to be run Sunday, April 1.
Fair Grounds Oaks Upped to $500,000
The purse for the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 26 has been boosted to $500,000 from $400,000, making it the richest prep race for 3-year-old fillies pointing to the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 6.
Fair Grounds Hikes Purses Another 5 Percent
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots announced its second purse increase of the season Feb. 5, boosting overnight purses 5% while also increasing the prize money for three Louisiana Derby Day stakes.
Fair Grounds to Boost Purses 5%
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Credits Competitive Racing To Purse Increase.
Claiming Crown Moves to Fair Grounds for 2011
The 2011 Claiming Crown will be held Dec. 3 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana, officials announced Dec. 20.
Fair Grounds Prepares for 2010-11 Meet
The $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) set for March 27, 2011, will highlight the upcoming meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Fair Grounds Renames Race for 'Rachel'
The event will part of the Louisiana track's three-race series for 3-year-old fillies that also includes the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II).
Louisiana Derby Purse Boosted to $1 Million
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which boosted the purse of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) to $1 million for 2011, also announced that it has discontinued five stakes from its 2010-2011 schedule.
New Track Superintendent at Fair Grounds
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots announced that Pedro Zavala has been named track superintendent at the New Orleans track.
Three Fair Grounds Stakes Purses Cut
Fair Grounds Oaks, Mervin H. Muniz, and New Orleans Handicap purses each reduced to $300,000, with the hope of beginning the 2011 race meet on a positive note.
Rachel Works; Pointed Toward FG Stakes
Majority owner Jess Jackson told Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots officials Rachel Alexandra is being pointed toward the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles March 13.
Fair Grounds Announces 9% Purse Reduction
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will reduce purses for overnight races by 9%, effective Jan. 31, and trim the value of 12 stakes.
NTRA Safety Alliance Accredits Fair Grounds
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility.
Fair Grounds Cancels Dec. 13 Program
Live racing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots was cancelled Dec. 13 due to unsafe track conditions. The state and track stewards made the final decision about 10:30 a.m. CDT.
La. Champions Day Halted by Severe Storms
The Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 12 was cancelled after the eighth race due to hazardous weather, which included torrential rain and heavy winds.
FG Creates Race to Lure Rachel Alexandra
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has put together a $200,000 stakes race for older fillies and mares in hopes of luring Horse of the Year candidate Rachel Alexandra for her 2010 debut.
La. Derby and Florida Derby to Compete?
It appears the Louisiana (gr. II) and Florida (gr. I) Derbies will be run on the same day in 2010.
Purse Hike Among Louisiana Derby Changes
Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots has raised the purse of the grade II Louisiana Derby to $750,000, increased the distance to 1 1/8 miles and moved the 3-year-old fixture to March 27, five weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Fair Grounds to Open Even Earlier in 2009
The meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots got a little bit longer calendar-wise in 2008-09, and it will get even longer in 2009-10.
EHV-1 Quarantine Lifted at Fair Grounds
Officials from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana State Racing Commission have lifted the quarantine on a barn that had been in place since late December at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
New Executives Named at Fair Grounds
Austin Miller and Eric Halstrom have been appointed president and vice president of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, parent company Churchill Downs Inc. announced Oct. 27. Halstrom additionally was named general manager of racing.
Canterbury Plans 'Extreme' Race Day July 22
Canterbury Park will feature several "extreme" races during its program July 22, including "The Battle of the Surfaces," a pari-mutuel race that will feature as many as 20 horses competing against each other on the turf and the dirt simultaneously.
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