Canterbury Park is all set to kick off its highly anticipated 2025 horse racing meet on May 24. This decision comes after an agreement was approved by the Minnesota Racing Commission last Thursday. The 51-day racing season, which concludes on September 20, as proposed by Canterbury Park, is three days shorter than the 2024 season. Racing will mainly take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with starting times of 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 1 p.m. on Sundays. The final week of live racing will see post times at 4 p.m.

Thursday Racing and Its Schedule

Thursday racing will be scheduled on six dates in 2025 - July 3, 10, and 24, August 7 and 21, and September 18. Each of these Thursday races will begin at 5 p.m., adding an extra element of excitement to the racing calendar.The 2025 schedule also includes a nine-day break from racing, from July 14 to July 22. This break is likely to give the horses and the staff some much-needed rest and recovery time.

Impact of the Shorter Schedule

The shortened schedule was a result of an agreement between track management and the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association. This association represents thoroughbred racehorse owners and trainers. The expiration in December 2022 of a decade-long deal with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community led to a large drop in Canterbury’s purse fund in 2023 and a decrease in betting interest due to smaller race fields.However, the 2024 meet saw an improvement, with a 13 percent increase in betting handle and a 13 percent increase in thoroughbred field size over 2023. This shows that despite the challenges, Canterbury Park is working hard to bring back the excitement and interest in horse racing.

Benefits of the Racing Season

The 2025 horse racing season at Canterbury Park offers several benefits. It provides a platform for local and international horse racing enthusiasts to come together and enjoy the thrill of the races. The different starting times on different days ensure that there is something for everyone, whether they prefer to watch the races in the evening or during the afternoon.Moreover, the increase in betting handle in 2024 indicates that there is a growing interest in horse racing. This not only benefits the track but also the horse owners and trainers who rely on the betting revenue.In conclusion, Canterbury Park's 2025 horse racing meet is set to be an exciting event. With its well-planned schedule and efforts to address the challenges of the past, it is likely to attract a large number of spectators and bettors. The future of horse racing at Canterbury Park looks bright.