Canterbury Park begins its thoroughbred race meet with the first of 51 dates Saturday, May 23 at 5 p.m. The track’s backstretch, summer home to more than 800 racehorses and several hundred workers, sprang to life earlier this month. In addition to the races, the schedule offers many of the popular promotions that complement racing at the Shakopee, Minn. track such as wiener dog
races, Taste of Canterbury food events and the Fireworks Spectacular on July 3, the only Friday program this summer.
The three-day opening weekend also includes Sunday and Memorial Day Monday programs at 1 p.m. with Sunday featuring bulldog races. Active-Duty Military and veterans receive free admission on Memorial Day. Racing throughout the summer will be conducted primarily on Thursdays and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Wednesdays, July 22 and Sept. 16 are also on the calendar. The 32nd season of horse racing concludes Sept. 19.
“We are excited to get another season of live racing underway and welcome tens of thousands of guests to Canterbury Park,” Vice President of Marketing and Entertainment Jennifer Lauerman said. “We are continuing the tradition of offering something for everyone at an outstanding value.”
Daily attendance last season averaged 5,105 with several race days exceeding 10,000 and the July 3 races followed by fireworks drawing more than 13,000 guests.
Canterbury will continue its successful formula of clustering stakes races on single race days. Saturday, June 27 is Northern Stars Turf Festival with four turf stakes headlined by the $50,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes. The traditional preps for the Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Oaks, the Victor S. Myers Stakes and Frances Genter Stakes, will be Sunday, July 26 with the Derby and Oaks on Saturday, Aug. 15. The 33rd Minnesota Festival of Champions, restricted to the best state-bred horses, is Saturday, Sept. 5.
“We have a core group of horse owners and trainers that return each year to race at Canterbury,” General Manager John Groen said. “That support allows us to provide exciting and competitive racing for our on-track fans and those wagering from out of state. We have a strong and talented jockey colony with old and new faces who will have the opportunity to use their skills on the dirt track and the turf course.”
The wagering menu will again include a 50-cent Pick 5 with a 10 percent takeout, the lowest in North American racing. Last season’s highest paying Pick 5 was $41,265.90 on a 50-cent wager.
Racehorses began arriving May 1 with the first trailer load originating in Tampa, FL. Canterbury also draws horses and trainers that have wintered in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois and Nebraska.
Originally named Canterbury Downs, the suburban-Minneapolis racetrack opened in 1985 and closed following the 1992 season. Current CEO Randy Sampson along with his father Curtis Sampson
and Dale Schenian purchased the facility in 1994 and returned live racing to the state in 1995. Canterbury Park is Minnesota’s only publicly traded gaming destination (NASDAQ: CPHC) and has conducted a race meet each year since re-opening. In 2025, Canterbury celebrated the 25th anniversary of its casino which hosts card games 24 hours a day, seven days a week, dealing both poker and table games. Simulcast wagering is also offered daily in the racebook year-round.
Promotional Schedule Highlights
Complete schedule and racing calendar here.
Thursdays are $2 Buck Nights with $2 admission, $2 beer and multiple food specials plus a DJ in the winner’s circle spinning hot tracks.
Dog Races, held between horse races, attract some of the largest crowds each year. This season features bulldogs (May 24), basset hounds (June 14), wiener dogs (July 4), beagles, new this summer, (Aug. 2) and corgis (Aug. 9). The fastest of each breed return Sept. 6 for Best In Show.
Taste of Canterbury – two individual events featuring Canterbury’s culinary team pairing food and drink: Tacos and Tequila June 27 and BBQ and Bourbon July 25.
Fireworks Spectacular Friday, July 3 – annually attracts the largest crowd of the season for an evening of horse racing followed by fireworks.
Extreme Day July 12 – camel, ostrich and zebra racing along with extreme foods and experiences.
Canterbury on a Stick Aug. 22-23 – a head start on the Fair with a celebration of stick-worthy foods.
General admission for adults is $10 plus tax. Youth ages 6 to 17 is $7 plus tax and those 5 and younger are admitted free. Upgrades for reserved seating are also available. Discounts for advance online purchases are offered at tickets.canterburypark.com. Parking is always free.