SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) — Canterbury Park will have a longer racing season next year.

The Minnesota Racing Commission Thursday approved a 69-day thoroughbred and quarter horse race meet for the Shakopee track in 2013.

The meet will begin May 17 and run through Sept. 14. Thursday and Friday racing will begin at 7 p.m. with weekend and holiday racing starting at 1:30 p.m.

The 2013 season will be Canterbury’s longest since 2006, which also had 69 days. The track had 62 race days this year.

In June, Canterbury and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community entered into a cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement. Projected purses for the 2013 season will show a 25 percent increase over 2012.

The 2013 stakes schedule and purse structure will be announced next month.

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