Canterbury Park
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Canterbury Park 1100 Canterbury Rd Shakopee, MN 55379
Year Opened: 1985
Carnival at Canterbury, with Horses
Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota offers a carnival-like atmosphere on a typical horse racing day, complete with patrons’ pet dogs racing against each other, food trucks galore, multiple gift shops, and plenty of wagering. The typical card at Canterbury might only include seven or eight horse races, but you are guaranteed a full day of fun with all the other activities that go on.
Food & Beverage 5
You can pretty much find any kind of food you might want at Canterbury Park, including food trucks next to the parade ring and on the apron, multiple bars, and food stands galore on every level. Food trucks include everything from burgers to home cooking, while other vendors offer pizza, sandwiches, ice cream, and other items, including sweet treats such as glazed and chocolate-covered almonds sold by the pound or half pound. There are a couple of sit-down restaurants at the track as well, but those require reservations, so you may want to plan ahead – reservations include your choice of dining outside next to the track itself (Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar) or dining inside the Clubhouse on the upper level of the grandstand.
Atmosphere 4
The atmosphere at Canterbury Park is excellent, although there is so much going on that it can feel a bit overwhelming. Besides the horse racing itself, the staff sometimes hosts pet dog races (no betting allowed), where patrons bring their own pooches. The dogs line up in front of the starting gate while their owners wave a favorite toy a couple hundred yards down the track, trying to coax their pet across the line first. The dog races are run in heats by breed, ending with a final race where the overall winner is crowned. It is a lot of fun, and pretty hilarious to see, especially when one dog steals another dog’s favorite toy!
Like most horse tracks, Canterbury also has plenty of betting machines and cashiers, along with lots of TVs so visitors can wager on races at other tracks. There is also plenty of seating both inside and out, so you can get a view of the whole track safe from the elements, or get up close to feel the pounding of the hooves.
Neighborhood 5
Shakopee is a bustling town about 25 minutes southwest of Minneapolis, with all sorts of attractions within a few miles of the racetrack. First up is Valleyfair, a two-in-one destination including amusement park rides such as roller coasters, as well as a full water park for the same admission price. Also near Canterbury Park is a living history museum, a casino, and a fall festival complete with corn maze if you go see the races at the right time of year. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival also runs from August through October less than 10 miles away, so there is plenty to do if you want to make a weekend or longer trip out to southwestern Minnesota.
Shakopee is also home to plenty of hotels and restaurants, including scratch-made barbecue, Mexican, burgers, and more.
Fans 3
The fans at Canterbury Park are pretty typical of what you might find at most horse tracks. On days with pet dog races you will see plenty of families with kids, while other days bring a mix of veteran horseplayers (with their eyes glued to the TV screens) and first-timers just out to enjoy a day at the races.
This racetrack is much more crowded than any of the other horse tracks I’ve been to, which means long lines at the betting machines, but there are enough concessions that lines for food and drinks are never too long. And as usual for horse racing, most of the cheering (or swearing) happens at the end of each race, and although you may not be able to sit exactly where you want, you will definitely be able to find a good spot to watch from somewhere on the property.
Access 3
Getting to Canterbury Park is easy, as it is right off some major freeways and not too far from the Twin Cities. However, it is pretty crowded on a typical race day, so parking may be hard to find if you don’t get there early, and you will need to book a reservation several days in advance if you want to sit in the Clubhouse or at one of the tables outside.
Return on Investment 3
Canterbury Park is a lot of fun, but very crowded with lots going on. If you are there to see the horse racing specifically, you might find all the other hullabaloo distracting, especially if you prefer to watch the races in (relative) peace and quiet. Canterbury Park also has a short card compared to other horse tracks, with only seven or eight races scheduled on a typical live race day.
On the other hand, if you are just looking for an entertaining outing, you will probably enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere here, with all the food options to choose from and all the activities going on.
Extras 3
There is a decorative horse statue near the main entrance, which is fun to take a selfie with. There are also many more cashiers here taking wagers than at other horse tracks I have been to; most tracks have dozens of betting machines and only a handful of cashiers. Canterbury also has both a dirt track and a turf course, instead of only one track. The race announcers are also very engaging and a lot of fun to listen to.
