Canterbury Park racing officials have released a condition book for the first 10 days of the 2025 season that runs 51 days, May 24 through Sept. 20. Also announced are the Thoroughbred stakes schedule, several named allowance races that formerly were stakes and a shipping loan program. An estimated $9 million in purses will be awarded in 2025, with an average of about $175,000 per day.

Legislation under consideration by the Minnesota legislature would authorize in-person and online sports betting through the state’s tribal casinos, using a portion of the new tax revenues for purse enhancements at Minnesota’s two racetracks and reducing the tax on local charitable gambling. Passage of this legislation prior to or during the racing season would allow for an increase in daily purses and return some of those allowance races to stakes status, with more significant changes in 2026 when sports betting is fully operational.

“Over the past year, we have worked with legislators to reach agreement on a sports-betting bill that has the support of Minnesota’s tracks, tribes and charities, as well as members of all four caucuses at the capitol,” Canterbury Park CEO and chairman Randy Sampson said. “The bill would demonstrate that Minnesota’s commitment to racing and the horse industry matches the steps taken in other states, and increased purses will attract more horses and investment in local breeding and training. We are hopeful lawmakers will pass this historic compromise legislation in time to make a difference in Minnesota racing this year.”

After several years of construction in the stable area, horse owners and trainers arriving at Canterbury Park in 2025 will be greeted by the completion of a $15 million racing infrastructure improvement project, including a 30-pad permanent RV park and new circulation roads, fencing and landscaping. The project began in 2023 with the addition of a 36-unit dormitory, replacement of the main-track lighting system and reconfiguration of the training track. Completed in 2024 were three new barns holding more than 300 horses, a new safety rail on the main track, relocation of the stable entrance gate and construction of a main track chute that accommodates races at seven furlongs.

The stable area, which holds 1,100 horses, will open May 5 with the main track scheduled to open May 12 for training.