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Triple Crown winner has Canterbury connection

Mike Smith, the jockey who just won the Triple Crown, marked an important milestone at Canterbury Park.
Credit: Michael Reaves
Jockey Mike Smith celebrates atop of Justify #1 the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 9, 2018 in Elmont, New York. Justify is the 13th Triple Crown winner and the first since American Pharoah in 2015. (Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - On Saturday, Mike Smith did what only 13 other jockeys have done: He won the Triple Crown.

Smith's name may be seem like it's just now hitting headlines to those unfamiliar with racing. But his star was on the rise decades ago in Minnesota, when he was invited to Canterbury Park by a trainer in 1985.

"He rode here for the entire '85 meet and '86, and then he was off and on the next two years," said Jeff Maday, Canterbury's media relations manager.

RELATED: Justify wins Belmont Stakes to become 13th Triple Crown winner

Smith made Canterbury Park's Hall of Fame, and he also accomplished a very important milestone at that Shakopee, Minnesota track.

"He’s got more than 5,000 wins in his career and he won his 1,000th career race here," said Maday. "That was in 1988."

Maday said the Triple Crown win is special for people who remember watching Smith on their home turf.

"Even if you weren’t here in the '80s, you know who Mike Smith was," he said. "But for the people who were here back then and some of the people who knew him when he was here, it is cool."

The Triple Crown, after all, doesn't come around often.

"It's nearly impossible to do," said Maday. "You look at the Triple Crown, only 13 riders have done it, so that accomplishment is something. I mean, just to win the Kentucky Derby is something. But to win the Triple Crown is pretty amazing."

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