Canterbury Park begins its 31st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Saturday, May 24 with a 5 p.m. first post. The 51-day season will include many of the popular promotions that have become synonymous with racing at the Shakopee, Minn. track such as corgi races, food events and the Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular on July 3. Opening weekend racing also includes Sunday and Memorial Day Monday programs at 1 p.m. The 2025 meet will feature racing primarily on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Six Thursday programs will be offered later in the season along with a Friday, July 4 card. The meet concludes Sept. 20.
“Live racing at Canterbury Park is back for another season and promises to offer fun at every turn,” general manager John Groen said. “I am confident our racing will be exciting and our promotional calendar will draw crowds of long-time fans as well as first-time guests. We’re focused on providing an amazing guest experience that can’t be replicated in the Twin Cities.”
In 2024, daily attendance averaged 4,802 with several race days attracting 12,000 and the July 3 races followed by fireworks drawing more than 15,000 guests.
“Our long-term commitment to the Minnesota horse racing industry is evident in the infrastructure investments we’ve made over the past few years,” Groen said. “Our goal is to position Canterbury Park to be the top summer racetrack in the Midwest in the coming years.”
Finishing touches to a $15 million investment in racing infrastructure that began two years ago have been completed and include an RV park and recreational area as well as new roads and landscaping in the stable area. Prior improvements saw the construction of dormitories and horse barns, the installation of a new LED track lighting system and an enhanced safety rail. The backstretch, where more than 500 employees work and live, is home to 1,100 horses each summer.
The wagering menu will again include a 50-cent Pick 5 with a 10 percent takeout beginning in the second race each day. The 10 percent takeout rate is the lowest in North American racing. Last season’s highest paying Pick 5 was $35,735.40 on a 50-cent wager.
Canterbury’s premiere races will again be clustered on four Saturdays throughout the summer beginning with the Northern Stars Turf Festival on June 21, Hall of Fame Night July 12, Made in Minnesota Night featuring the Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Oaks Aug. 9, and the 32nd rendition of the Minnesota Festival of Champions Sept. 6.
“We expect to have nearly all of the 1,100 stalls filled with racehorses ready to run,” senior manager of racing operations Amber Carlisle said. “Horses have been arriving from all over the country so I anticipate competitive races that will attract large wagering pools.”
Canterbury draws horses and trainers that have wintered in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska and Florida.
“We plan to use our turf course extensively again this meet,” Carlisle said. “Turf racing is popular with trainers and those betting on the races and is a huge asset for Canterbury. Our turf crew does a great job maintaining the course allowing us to offer racing at all class levels and several distances.”
Last season Canterbury ran an average of three turf races on a typical program.
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. Canterbury recently 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.
Promotional Schedule Highlights
Complete schedule and racing calendar here: https://www.canterburypark.com/racing/
Dog Races, held between horse races, attract some of the largest crowds each year. This season features bulldogs (May 25), basset hounds (June 22), wiener dogs (July 4), miniature doodles (Aug. 3) and corgis (Aug. 17). The fastest of each breed return Aug. 31 for Best In Show.
Taste of Canterbury – three individual events featuring Canterbury’s culinary team pairing food and drink: BBQ and Bourbon June 14, Wings and Whiskey July 12 and Tacos and Tequila Aug. 16.
Kwik Trip Fireworks Spectacular July 3 – annually attracts the largest crowd of the season for an evening of horse racing followed by fireworks.
Extreme Race Day July 13 – camel, ostrich and zebra racing.
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.
For more information visit www.canterburypark.com
