Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, is both a horse racing track and a card club. When the excitement of the day's racing comes to an end many opt to continue the adventure with a game of poker or blackjack. Canterbury Park Racetrack offers a unique race day experience with all the trimmings, and is set to impress avid racegoers.
Shakopee's Canterbury Park was established in 1985 as Canterbury Downs. It was purchased by Ladbroke Racing Corporation in 1992, the December of which it stopped operating. Irwin Jacobs bought it in 1993 and soon sold it again to Randy and Curtis Sampson. The Sampson's put a lot of effort into reviving Canterbury, and introduced simulcast racing. In 1994 live horse racing returned to Canterbury Park and the race track began to flourish.
Between the months of May and September, Canterbury Park hosts some 69 race days on Thursdays to Sundays.
The main track is a dirt oval of one mile. The inner turf course measures 7 furlongs. More than 350,000 eager horse racing fans enter the grounds of Canterbury Park every season to enjoy the electric excitement of the thoroughbred and quarter horse races. Amongst Canterbury Park's horse racing events are the Canterbury QH Express, NCQHRA Derby, HBPA Mile, HBPA Sprint, Northbound Pride Stakes, Lady Canterbury BC, Frances Genter Stakes, Dean Kutz Memorial, Northern Lights Futurity, Shakopee Stakes, Minneapolis Stakes, MN Classic and Great Lakes Stakes. There is plenty of comfortable and convenient seating both indoors and outdoors.
Simulcast facilities provide the best in thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness racing from around the country throughout the year at Canterbury Park Race Book. Simulcasting starts at 11 am with between 6 and 16 racetracks. There is a multi screen view and each table has its own television. Visitors to the race track have several dining options to choose from including the Park Restaurant and a few concession outlets.
Shakopee's Canterbury Park truly offers an all-round horse racing experience. From midday until the early hours of the morning Canterbury provides an abundance of entertainment.
