Canterbury Park’s most popular handicapping contest returns for 2025!
Follow the top 3-year-olds on the Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby.
Prize money awarded in each of 16 contests held Saturdays, January 18 through Derby Day, May 3.
Overall prize money awarded for the best cumulative scores.
Each week the entire card from a feature track will be used for the contest. Bonus races will be Derby Prep races. Players select one horse in each contest race and earn points based on a mythical $20 WPS wager. Bonus races are double points and the Kentucky Derby is triple points.
Weekly Prizes
1st= $200 + grand prize entry
2nd= $150 + grand prize entry
3rd= $100 + grand prize entry
4th=$50
5th= $25
Results are official at noon on the Friday following each contest. Any scoring disputes can be emailed to tpoppler@canterburypark.com .
SCHEDULE CHANGE: APRIL 26 CONTEST WILL NOW BE GULFSTREAM PARK
DATE | FEATURE TRACK | BONUS RACES | WINNERS |
January 18 | FAIR GROUNDS | Lecomte - FG | Duane Povlitzki 1341 pts $200 + Contest Entry |
January 25 | OAKLAWN | Southwest - OP | Kari Frangos 1997 pts $200 + Contest Entry |
February 1 | GULFSTREAM PARK | Holy Bull - GP | Steve Laurent 1896 pts $200 + Contest Entry Chris Larsen 1801 pts $150 + Contest Entry Jerry Paquin 1721 pts $100 + Contest Entry |
February 8 | TAMPA BAY DOWNS | Sam F. Davis - TAM | Greg Dunning 1644 pts $200 + Contest Entry Adam Meyer 1328 pts $15 + Contest Entry Halleck Peterson 1326 pts $100 + Contest Entry |
February 15 | FAIR GROUNDS | Risen Star - FG | Tom Burns 2964 pts $200 + Contest Entry Steve Capistrant 2762 pts $150 + Contest Entry Bruce Meyer 2586 pts $100 + Contest Entry |
February 23 | OAKLAWN | Rebel Stakes - OP | Walt Krueger 1712 pts $200 + Contest Entry Peter Milinkovich 1642 pts $150 + Contest Entry Mark Genosky 1566 pts $100 + Contest Entry Ray Hassan 1526 pts $37.50 Dave Zamora 1526 pts $3.75 |
March 1 | GULFSTREAM | Fountain of Youth – GP | Al Rivers 2499 pts $200 + Contest Entry Lawrence Lindberg 1943 pts $150 + Contest Entry Cliff Oldre 1933 pts $100 + Contest Entry David Zitzmann 1861 pts $50 Steven P Johnson 1849 pts $25 |
March 8 | TAMPA BAY DOWNS | Tampa Bay Derby-TAM 1 | Kevin Farrell 1605 pts $200 + Contest Entry Steven P Johnson 1551 pts $150 + Contest Entry Gary Alvig 1479 pts $100 + Contest Entry Chris Humbert 1445 pts $50 Jeff Nelson 1401 pts $25 |
March 15 | COLONIAL DOWNS | Virginia Derby - COL | Marietta Carpenter 1319 pts $200 + Contest Entry Fred Williams 1283 pts $150 + Contest Entry Traci Scott pts $100 + Contest Entry Terry Severson 1145 pts $50 Kevin Johnson 1132 pts $25 |
March 22 | FAIR GROUNDS | Louisiana Derby – FG | Doug Plehal 2656.4 pts $200 + Contest Entry Rita Molnar 2344.6 pts $150 + Contest Entry Saundra Larson 2050.4 pts $100 + Contest Entry Doug Herman 1907.4 pts $50 Tim Neis 1879.4 pts $25 |
March 29 | GULFSTREAM | Florida Derby – GP | Mike Gaulrapp 2039 pts $200 + Contest Entry Tim Truwe 1888 pts $150 + Contest Entry Heather Grevelis 1882 pts $100 + Contest Entry Tim B Johnson 1878 pts $50 Jim Butler 1758 pts $25 |
April 5 | SANTA ANITA | Santa Anita Derby – SA | |
April 12 | KEENELAND | Lexington - KEE | |
April 19 | OAKLAWN | No Bonus Race | |
April 26 | GULFSTREAM | No Bonus Race | |
May 3 | CHURCHILL DOWNS | Kentucky Derby - CD |
This contest is free to enter however minimum tracked pari-mutuel play using MVP Rewards card is required for full prize payout: $30 in pari-mutuel wagers each contest day for weekly prizes and $480 in pari-mutuel wagers for all contest days combined for overall prizes. Minimum play must be made using MVP Rewards card. Cancelled wagers are not considered valid for minimum wager determination. Should a weekly or overall winner not meet minimum wagering requirements, 10 percent of the cash prize will be awarded.
Overall Prize Schedule | Award |
1st | $1,000 + Grand Prize Entry |
2nd | $600 + Grand Prize Entry |
3rd | $500 + Grand Prize Entry |
4th | $400 + Grand Prize Entry |
5th | $350 + Grand Prize Entry |
6th | $250 + Grand Prize Entry |
7th | $200 + Grand Prize Entry |
8th | $100 + Grand Prize Entry |
9th | $75 |
10th-20th | $50 |
21st-30th | $25 |
Each player’s three lowest daily scores will be subtracted from their accumulated score to determine the final grand total that will be used to determine final standings.
Friday entry allowed:
Available during Club Level Mutuels hours.
Grand Prize Contest: Top two players will receive a Dog Days of Summer contest entry valued at $550. Winners determined by contest held May 31.
Entry to Grand prize Contest will be awarded ONLY to: top three players of each 16 weekly contests and the top eight players in accumulated point totals.
Grand Prize Contest rules.
