Promotional calendar includes dogs, camels, fireworks and food
Live horse racing returns to Canterbury Park Saturday, May 27, kicking off a 54-day season and a full schedule of promotional days. The Shakopee, Minn. racetrack’s meet runs through Sept. 16 with horse racing on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning at 5 p.m. central and Sundays at 1 p.m. as well as Monday Memorial Day, July 3 and Labor Day. Six consecutive 5 p.m. Thursday cards will be conducted beginning July 13.
“Canterbury Park is a staple of Minnesotans’ summer entertainment calendar. We are looking forward to another season of competitive racing on the track complemented by fun events
throughout the Park,” General Manager John Groen said. “Our schedule includes many of the family-friendly promotions that have proven popular year after year including corgi racing, our Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular, and Extreme Race Day with camels and ostriches, along with a full slate of food and drink-centric options for our adult crowd. Our goal is to provide a great entertainment value for a wide array of fans to keep our regular visitors coming back as well as introduce new casual audiences to the excitement of live horse racing.” Among those options are a Father’s Day Food Truck Festival, a new Coffee, Chocolate & Cupcake Festival, wine, beer and seltzer events plus four Taste of Canterbury evenings that highlight the racetrack and casino’s culinary team.
General admission for racing is $10 for adults, $7 for youth six to 17 years of age, and free for those under six. Some events, such as Taste of Canterbury, require additional admission fees. Wednesday racing will feature $5 admission and beer specials. Sunday is Pepsi Family Day with pony rides and face painting. Reserved seating options are also available. All tickets can be purchased in advance at a discount at tickets.canterburypark.com. Parking is free.
Featured race days include the June 21 Northern Stars Turf Festival with four turf stakes plus the centerpiece $100,000 Canterbury Derby. Minnesota Festival of Champions, an evening of racing restricted to horses bred in the state, will offer more than $600,000 in purse money and will be contested on Saturday, Sept. 9. The 36th running of the Northlands Futurity, the richest quarter horse race of the season with an estimated $86,000 purse, is August 16.
Canterbury Park will again offer a 10 percent takeout $.50 Pick 4 wager that will begin with the first race each day as well as a 10 percent takeout $.50 Pick 5 on the final five thoroughbred races daily. The takeout rate on both wagers is an industry low, resulting in a larger portion of the wagering pool being returned to winning bettors.
Promotions Schedule and Signature Stakes Races
May 27 – Opening Night with 5 p.m. racing
June 3 – Taste of Canterbury – BBQ and Bourbon*
June 10 – Seltzer Fest*
June 11 – English Bulldog Races
June 18 – Father’s Day Food Truck Festival
June 21 – Northern Stars Turf Festival featuring $100,000 Canterbury Derby
June 25 – Basset Hound Races
July 1 – Taste of Canterbury – Tacos and Tequila*
July 3 – Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular with racing beginning at 4 p.m.
July 8 – Canterbury Uncorked wine event
July 16 – Extreme Race Day with camels, ostriches and zebras
July 30 – Corgi Races
August 5 – Taste of Canterbury – Whiskey and Wings *
August 6 – Coffee, Chocolate and Cupcakes Festival
August 12 – Minnesota Derby and Oaks and Beer Festival*
August 13 – Wiener Dog Races
September 2 – Taste of Canterbury – Craft Cocktails and Charcuterie*
September 9 – Minnesota Festival of Champions with more than $600,000 in stakes purses
September 17 – Final Day of 2023 Racing Season and Oktoberfest
*separate admission fee
