The second annual Extreme Race Day is set to take place at Canterbury Park, 1100 Canterbury Road in Shakopee on Sunday, July 20.

The highlight of the day is the “Battle of the Surfaces” race, which is a pari-mutuel race for as many as 20 thoroughbreds competing against one another at 1 and 1/16 miles on the turf and dirt simultaneously. Last year was the first time in North America that a race of this type was run.

This year the “Battle of the Surfaces” will add a new twist that is intended to heighten the competition. Last year, the race was open to all $7,500 claiming horses and the horses racing on the turf dominated. The new twist will limit the racing on the turf to maiden fillies and mares, while maiden colts and geldings will race on the dirt.

“The turf course is simply faster than the dirt,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president of racing operations. “Fillies are generally slower than colts, so this additional battle of the sexes should make it a much more competitive race.”

To make the “Battle of the Surfaces” work, two starting gates are staggered so the race distance is the same for both the grass and the dirt. The starting gates open in unison with horses racing around the main track and turf course at the same time and finishing in front of the grandstand.

Each horse will be an individual betting interest with win, place, show, exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering offered. The order of the finish will be determined by the best finish position regardless of the surface the horse is racing on, so it is possible to have an exacta payoff comprised of a horse on the turf and a horse racing on the dirt.

But the new twist to the “Battle of the Surfaces” race isn’t the only addition to this year’s Extreme Race Day.

A new pari-mutuel event will feature quarter horses racing individually against the clock. Final times of each of the eight horses participating will be ranked to determine the order of finish and mutual payoffs.

The day will also feature horse races at unique distances, a pair of $50,000 stake races and exhibition camel and ostrich racing.

The other races that day will include: 6 furlongs for horses that have not finished in the top three during the meet; a 100-yard dash for quarter horses; a 2 and 1/16 mile race; 4 ½ furlongs for horses that have raced twice at one mile or more at the meet; a 3 and ½ furlong race for thoroughbreds; and a 1-mile race for horses that have never won on the turf.   

-- Shawn Hogendorf