Canterbury Park 2019 Quarter Horse Stakes Schedule
Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity one of seven stakes on Fastest Day in Minnesota Sports, July 7
Canterbury Park’s quarter horse racing stakes schedule was announced today and includes 17 races during the 66-day season that begins May 3. The premier race, the Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity, with a purse estimated to reach $150,000, will be run Sunday, July 7. This will be the 32nd rendition of the Northlands Futurity, one of seven stakes that day worth a total of more than $400,000.
Other stakes races on July 7, a rare day at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack when only quarter horse races will be run, include the $75,000 estimated Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby, the $45,000 added Bank Of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge, the ARC Distaff Challenge, the Distance Challenge, the MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity, and the Northlands Juvenile for 2-year-olds that did not qualify for the Northlands Futurity. Each of the Challenge races held this day will provide the winners with automatic qualifying berths to the 2019 AQHA Challenge Championships, the industry’s signature championship event, on October 26, 2019 at Albuquerque Downs in New Mexico.
“This is the Fastest Day in Minnesota Sports,” senior director of racing Andrew Offerman said. “Minnesota quarter horse racing has produced some very solid runners in recent years and deserves a showcase like this. We will feature the best and fastest quarter horses on a single day competing for the biggest purses Canterbury Park offers.”
Quarter horses bred in Minnesota will have ample stakes opportunities beginning with the $25,000 North Star State Stakes May 27 and concluding with the Minnesota Futurity and Minnesota Derby, each worth more than $50,000, Sept. 1. The $35,000 Bob Morehouse Stakes will be conducted July 27 and the $35,000 Cash Caravan Aug. 10.
A new state-bred-only stake for 2-year-olds has been added on Aug. 10, the $20,000 Cam Casby Futurity. Casby, a Canterbury Hall of Fame member celebrated for her accomplishments as an owner and breeder of both thoroughbreds and quarter horses and for her vocal support of Minnesota racing, bred and owned multiple stakes winners including four Minnesota Futurity and one Minnesota Derby winners. Casby died in 2014.
Stall applications for the 2019 meet are due March 18 and are available, along with the first condition book, at www.canterburypark.com .