Canterbury Park Announces 2014 Stakes Schedule

Canterbury Park plans a 2014 stakes schedule made up of 24 races with purses totaling more than $1.8 million—concluding with the third running of the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby, the richest race of the season, the race track announced last week.

The Mystic Lake Derby will take place Sept. 13, the last day of the 69-day race season. It follows the 21st Minnesota Festival of Champions on Aug. 31. The festival is an event for horses bred in the state.

“The Mystic Lake Derby was re-positioned to September in hopes of attracting horses that have returned to the Midwest after competing in major race meets on both coasts during the summer,” a news release quoted Eric Halstrom, Canterbury Park’s vice president of racing operations. The previous two editions had been in late July and early August. “This is another step in making the Mystic Lake Derby a premier race on the national racing scene.”

The season kicks off May 16. Fifteen of the stakes have higher purses. The Shakopee Juvenile Stakes, which was a 7 ½ furlong turf race in 2013, will now be six furlongs on the main track in 2014.

See the attached PDF for the full schedule.