Minnesota Scene: Canterbury Park's opening date of May 15 likely to be delayed

Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson said Thursday that the Shakopee track is "highly unlikely'' to start its live racing season as scheduled May 15 because of uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Sampson and Andrew Offerman, Canterbury's vice president of racing operations, said at a Minnesota Racing Commission meeting that they have been discussing the upcoming season with horsemen.

The track planned to open its stable area April 24, but Offerman said the barns will not open until May 1 at the earliest.

Canterbury's 65-day racing season is scheduled from May 15 to Sept. 12.

On Monday, the track closed its card club and on-track simulcast wagering area. Sampson said the loss of revenue during the indefinite shutdown will have some impact on the purse fund, which could cause Canterbury to cut two or three racing days.

"We haven't made any decision on our scheduled start date, but it would appear that [May 15 is] highly unlikely, and that we will be delaying the start of racing,'' Sampson said. "That will depend on what we hear between now and then.''

Racing is continuing at several tracks around the country, though none are allowing spectators.

Canterbury will reevaluate its situation in late March, Offerman said, and hopes to have an update for horsemen by April 1.

RACHEL BLOUNT

Minnesota State Mankato senior center Marc Michaelis signed a free-agent contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Michaelis had 71 goals and 91 assists for 162 points in 148 games for the Mavericks.

His point total ties for second all-time on the school's career scoring list and his goal total ranks first.

• North Dakota senior forward Cole Smith, 24, signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Nashville Predators for the 2020-21 season. Smith, a native of Brainerd, Minn., had 11 goals and 18 points this past season.

St. Cloud State men's assistant hockey coach Mike Gibbons announced his retirement. He joined the Huskies staff in the 2007-08 season as an assistant to Bob Motzko.

Gibbons previously coached Eastview High School and was interim head coach at Bemidji State.

• Stillwater's Josiah Fick, a two-time Class 2A state champion in diving, signed with the Gophers swimming and diving team. He won his second title despite missing over a month because of a back injury.