Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023
Alexander Luis Canchari was born Jan. 5, 1994, in Ramsey, Minnesota, son of Luis Alberto Canchari Nuñez (1956-2020) and Ann Marie Nordgren Canchari (1969-2003). Alex’s grandparents were Esteban Canchari-Yauri and Felícita Nuñez Gamboa de Canchari from Peru, and Ronald Joseph Nordgren (1932-2002) and Patricia Bernadette Hantseh Norgren (1935-2003).
Canchari is a popular name around Canterbury Park. That’s because brothers, Alex and Patrick, as well as their dad, Luis, all rode or are currently riding here, according to Mari Ballinger in an article, “It’s a Family Thing at Canterbury Park.”
According to Ballinger, Alex made his professional riding debut on Dec. 26, 2011, at Hawthorne Racecourse, just days before his 18th birthday. But life at the track started way before his teenage years. His grandpa trained horses and Luis rode from 1984 to 1991, when he started to own and train horses. Luis immigrated to the United States in the early 1980s, coming from a family that frequented Hipódromo de Monterrico, a thoroughbred horse racing facility opened in Lima, Peru.
With this much time spent at the racetrack, it’s hard for any of the Cancharis to imagine life without it.
Alex’s first career victory came on Jan. 13, 2012, at Oaklawn Park on opening day. He was aboard mare Run Mama Bear Run. Later that day, he won again. This time he was aboard gelding Simply Gone. In fall 2012, the hard work paid off, and Alex earned the title of leading rider at the Hawthorne Racecourse.
Since then, Alex only improved. He traveled back to Canterbury, riding Schnitzel and Runaway Wind. “The Shakopee Kid” raced again and many were excited for his return to Minnesota. The victory was the 999th for the jockey who grew up in Shakopee as part of a racing family.
Canchari tallied career win 1,000 when he rode Tonka Warrior to victory in the final race. “I grew up here. I got my first job here in the concession stand when I was a kid,” Canchari said. “I just love it here. I love all the fans and all the people because without them, I’d be nothing.”
In an article, “Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘I Think Dad Would Be Proud’” by Chelsea Hackbarth on March 29, 2021, an emotional Alexander saluted his father after winning the Temperence Hill Stakes. Alex raised his gaze to the clouds and allowed himself a moment to experience the rolling waves of emotion. He raised his right hand in a salute, acknowledging the man from whom he’d inherited his love of the horses.
It wasn’t just his father’s passing that was affecting Alex on the way to the winner’s circle; it had been a long, arduous 12 months for the entire Canchari family.
In March 2020, Alex’s older brother, jockey Patrick Canchari, was gravely injured in a car wreck on the way to the racetrack in Arizona. Patrick overcame all odds and enjoyed his 30th birthday at home in Minnesota. He lives with sister Ashley Canchari, who renovated her house for wheelchair access, cares for Patrick, and takes him to daily therapy sessions.
“He’s in good spirits,” Alex said. “He was really well-liked in our town. There are people there that come every day and help him; he needs help doing everything. But he’s doing really well now.”
Looking back on his childhood, Alex couldn’t remember a time when both the racetrack and his family weren’t a major part of his life. He spent endless hours at the track with his father and his brother, learning horses from the ground up.
“I remember when I was 10 years old, I was cleaning stalls for a quarter horse trainer in Minnesota,” Alex said. “Part of my pay was that she would let me ride the pony. One day, my pony freaked out for some reason and took off full speed across the blacktop. I couldn’t slow him down. There is a chain link fence surrounding the track up there, and he was heading straight for it. Well, he hit the brakes, and I flew right over the top of his neck into the fence.”
“I thought, ‘I don’t want to get back on him.’ My dad, he was wearing a dress shirt, slacks, and dress shoes, and he came over and got on the pony and started galloping him around in figure eights with one finger on the reins. That was the only time I can remember being scared around horses, but seeing my dad do that, it took away all the fear. He said, ‘It’s easy Alex, you just gotta enjoy it.’”
When Alex committed to a career as a jockey in his early teens, his father was right alongside him. “I used to run around all of Shakopee,” Alex said. “Dad would follow me in the car, while I was running with the sauna suit and carrying a whip, practicing switching hands and stuff.”
Things were definitely looking up, and Alex was excited to spend the summer at home in Minnesota where he could ride at Canterbury and help take care of his brother, as well as spend time “being a dad” to his own two kids.
“Everybody has tough times,” Alex summarized. “I pray a lot, and work every day, and try to look for the good side of things, like my brother walking again someday. I think Dad would be proud.”
“I grew up here. I got my first job here in the concession stand (at Canterbury) when I was a kid,” Alex said. “I just love it here. I love all the fans and all the people because without them, I’d be nothing.”