Canterbury Park facts for kids
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| Location | Shakopee, Minnesota |
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| Coordinates | 44°47′22.67″N 93°28′48.36″W / 44.7896306°N 93.4801000°W |
| Owned by | Canterbury Park Holding Corporation |
| Date opened | June 26, 1985 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Notable races | Claiming Crown |
| Public | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: CPHC |
Canterbury Park is a fun place in Shakopee, Minnesota, United States. It is a special track where horse racing happens. People come to watch and bet on fast Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races.
Besides horse racing, Canterbury Park has a Card Casino. Here, people can play card games like blackjack and poker. The park also makes money from selling food, drinks, and tickets. They host other fun events too. Canterbury Park is also working on building new things around the racetrack. This project is called Canterbury Commons.
Canterbury Park has hosted many important races. It was home to the Claiming Crown horse race for many years. In 2012, it held the first Mystic Lake Derby. This race offered a very large prize. The three-year-old horse, Hammers Terror, won that exciting race.
Every fall, Canterbury Park hosts a big poker event. It is called the Fall Poker Classic.
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The Story of Canterbury Park
Canterbury Park has a long and interesting history. It started as Canterbury Downs.
How Canterbury Park Began
Canterbury Downs was created by Walter Brooks Fields Jr. and his partners. In 1982, people in Minnesota voted to allow betting on horse races. This led to the building of the racetrack. The very first race at Canterbury Downs was on June 26, 1985. In 1986, the track even tried out harness racing.
Changes and Challenges
Over time, the racetrack faced some challenges. New lotteries and casinos opened in the area. This meant fewer people came to Canterbury Downs. In 1990, the track was sold to Ladbroke Racing PLC. They renamed it New Canterbury Downs.
However, the track closed its doors in December 1992. It had a tough year with fewer visitors.
A New Beginning
In 1993, Curtis and Randy Sampson bought the track. They worked hard to bring it back to life. Soon, Canterbury reopened for simulcasting. This meant people could watch and bet on races happening at other tracks. By late 1994, live horse racing returned to Minnesota. In January 1995, the track officially changed its name to Canterbury Park.
Adding Card Games
In 1999, the state allowed Canterbury Park to open a card room. This meant people could play poker and other card games there.
Recent Events and Fun Races
In 2011, Canterbury Park had to close for a short time. This was due to a state government shutdown. But it reopened on July 20, 2011, when the shutdown ended.
From 2012 to 2022, Canterbury Park worked with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. They own Mystic Lake Casino. This partnership added a lot of money to the horse racing prizes.
Canterbury Park is also famous for its unique and funny races. They host corgi dog races, wiener dog races, and the annual Running of the Bulldogs! In 2019, the park was also the location for the Twin Cities Summer Jam music festival.
