Jockey Jareth Loveberry gave Canterbury Park a try last year for the first time. His first win came on the second day of the 2017 meet on his ninth mount. He rode Lookin Ata Runaway to a maiden win and a mutuel payout of $112.20. Immediately race fans were asking themselves ‘Who is this Loveberry?’
Jareth remained a consistent and reliable rider throughout the meet, winning 77 times and capturing the riding title while earning his connections purses of $1.59 million.
He will be back at Canterbury Park when the meet opens May 4. There was some concern about that last week however when news spread that he had been injured during training hours.
“I got lucky,” Loveberry said. “The filly stumbled leaving the gate and fell. She rolled over and kicked me in the arm.” He suffered a crack in his left forearm. Loveberry has already received doctor’s clearance to begin work this week and plans to begin getting on horses for Mac Robertson before shipping to Shakopee for the 70-day race meet.
“I will be back and ready to race,” he said. Loveberry, whose career began in 2005, will once again be represented by agent Richard Grunder.
Grunder will also handle the book of Hugo Sanchez. Orlando Mojica, last season’s second leading rider, will return and be represented by former jockey Chad Anderson. Ry Eikleberry, who led the Canterbury standings in 2014, will be back after a two-year absence. Dean Butler, who was sidelined mid-meet, has been riding at Tampa this winter and will also be a mainstay in the 2018 colony. Eikleberry and Butler will share agent Pete Antonucci.
