Extra turf races added for Canterbury Park's final, jam-packed weekend

Three overstuffed race cards and a lively competition for the jockey title will highlight the conclusion of Canterbury Park's live racing season this weekend.

The Shakopee track will run nine races Thursday and 11 on Friday, with post time at 6 p.m. both nights. The 69-day season ends Saturday with an 11-race card starting at 12:45 p.m. After many turf races were canceled this season because of rain, extra races on the grass were added this weekend, and 361 horses — an unusually large number — are entered for the final three days.

The jockey title is still up for grabs, as four-time riding champion Dean Butler holds a five-victory lead over Shakopee native Alex Canchari.

Mac Robertson, whose nine-season hold on the training title ended in 2013, has 16 more victories than Robertino Diodoro and has locked up the crown. Robertson's horses have won a Canterbury-record $1.43 million in purses this season.

RACHEL BLOUNT

Olivia Herrick of Roseville lost to Shannon Johnson of Norton, Mass., 1-up on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Women's Mid-Amateur Championship in Eerie, Pa.

Herrick had defeated Amanda Jacobs of Portland 3 and 1 earlier in the day in the quarterfinals.

Other quarterfinal winners were Steve Whillock of Oak Marsh, Dale Jones of Mendakota and Larry Norland of Greenhaven. Norland edged Brad Schmierer of Dakota Pines with a chip-in birdie on the 18th hole.

The Gophers women's hockey team, which has won back-to-back national titles, was picked to finish second in the WCHA in a preseason coaches' poll behind Wisconsin.

Minnesota returns 19 players from last season's 35-4-1 team.

• Former player Bethany Brausen was named one of the Gophers' assistant coaches. She replaces Nadine Muzerall, who was recently named women's hockey head coach at Ohio State.