Canterbury Park unveiled its live racing promotional calendar which includes 51 days of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing along with various events for race fans of all ages. General
admission and reserved seating tickets for the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack’s 32nd season are on sale now at tickets.canterburypark.com. Live racing runs May 23 through Sept. 19. General admission to live racing is $10 plus tax for adults. Kids five and younger are admitted free. Parking is free.
Many race days often include promotional events along with the horse races. The quirky and popular dog races are back with a new breed, beagles, joining corgis, bassets, dachshunds and bull dogs. The July 3 Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular, following an evening of racing, is expected to attract one of the largest crowds of the season. There will be two versions of Taste of Canterbury, where the in-house culinary team features its fares. Tacos & Tequila is June 27 and BBQ, Bourbon and Bluegrass is July 25.
“Pairing dynamic events with live racing continues to be a fan-favorite formula, driving some of our biggest and most exciting days of the season,” said Vice President of Marketing and Entertainment Jennifer Lauerman. “It’s also a powerful way to welcome first-time race fans and expand the reach of horse racing.”
Live racing will be conducted primarily on Thursday and Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Thursdays will feature $2 admission and several food and beverage specials. Racing will be complemented by a house DJ and a games area. On Saturdays the first 1,000 guests receive a scratch off ticket with a guaranteed prize. Sunday is Pepsi Family Day with pony rides and face painters. New on Sundays this year is Junior Jockey Club, free to kids 5 to 12 years old. Junior Jockey Club members receive materials to guide them through activities and teach them more about the sport of horseracing. They also will have a chance to meet Canterbury’s jockeys.
“With every season, we look for opportunities to build on our successes while introducing new features for our guests,” Lauerman said. “As the only venue in the market offering live thoroughbred horse racing, Canterbury Park has spent more than 30 years innovating and enhancing the race day experience.”
Highlights of the Summer Schedule
Saturday, May 23 – Opening Night of Racing
Sunday, May 24 – Bulldog races
Saturday, June 6 – Beer and Seltzer Fest
Sunday, July 14 – Basset Hound races
Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day Celebration
Saturday, June 27 – Taste of Canterbury Tacos & Tequila plus Northern Stars Turf Festival
Friday, July 3 – Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular
Saturday, July 4 – Canterbury celebrates America’s 250th anniversary plus wiener dog races
Sunday, July 12 – Extreme Race Day with ostriches, camels, zebras and extreme foods
Saturday, July 25 – Taste of Canterbury BBQ, Bourbon and Bluegrass
Sunday, July 26 – Unicorn and Llama races
Sunday, August 2 – Beagle races
Sunday, August 9 – Corgi Dog races
Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23 – Canterbury On A Stick Food Festival
Saturday, September 5 – Minnesota Festival of Champions racing
Sunday, September 6 – Best in Show dog races
Saturday, September 19 – Final program of racing plus Fan Appreciation Day
The full live racing and promotional calendar can be found here.
Minnesota’s biggest Kentucky Derby Party is unofficial start to summer in Shakopee
Summer begins at Canterbury May 2 with Minnesota’s biggest Kentucky Derby Party which will draw more than 10,000 revelers enjoying a day of simulcast racing from Churchill Downs along with music, food and drink, best dressed and hat contests and more. The 152nd Kentucky Derby, known as the greatest two minutes in sports, will be run at 5:57 p.m. CDT and is shown on more than 500 televisions, including the infield big screen, throughout the grandstand and casino.