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Kentucky Derby! I figured that I will never make it to Churchhill Downs for my bucket list, so Canterbury Park on Derby Day will have to suffice.The atmosphere and party vibe was pretty darn good, there were many activities to experince. People were having fun, and the Derby attire did not disappoint! The big screen tv over the track was ok, but I expected it to be larger, I had a good viewpoint to watch that fantastic race! (2026 Golden Tempo) Now, it has been several years since I made a trip to this racetrack. I remember it being in much better shape! I was disappointed especially in the rest rooms. Rather Gross. Needs sprucing up I think. Strangely, all the food & Beverage staff seemed to be Volunteers! Every interaction I had with the bartenders and counter staff was delightful. They all seemed to be very happy to be there, despite the tips only income. Very accomodating and service oriented, especially the bartenders who had the Mint Julips ready to go! The selection of food at the different counters was better than average, but everything I wanted was sold out. Nada, no more, too bad so sad. What were the bosses thinking? No one was going to show up for the Derby? HORSES ARE ALWAYS EXCITING
Canterbury Park is a fun place to spend a day...especially a Thursday! They have an awesome Thursday special with $2 admission, $2 beers, and $2 hot dogs, which makes for a great, affordable outing. If you're into table games, be sure to check out the card room too...it's a good time if you win! They offer free pop while you're playing! Whether you're there for the races, the card room, or just a fun night out, Canterbury Park is definitely worth a visit.
One of our summertime family traditions is to spend a day at Canterbury Park watching horse races. We went on a special day where we got to watch the horses and a few hound dog races. It was a fun day like always! If you haven't been, check it out. It's fun for all.
This park is so fun and clean. There is tons of free parking right out front and then you're able to either purchase tickets or go to a booth to present your ticket to be scanned. You can buy online or on site, but it is cheaper to purchase tickets online. Once you get inside, you walk into the main building where you're able to place bets, use the bathroom, get drinks or food, and even take part in some other gambling. Then you can walk outside where there are also other bars and food vendors and the racetrack is right in front of you and there's lots of seating available sort of slanted. It was in the shade by 5 PM on Saturday which was lovely and you can also reserve dining space or indoor tables for the races, but we did not do either of those. We enjoyed all of the races and it was a really fun atmosphere and the crowd was getting rowdy as we were cheering on the horses. You can get right up next to the track, which was also very fun. It is a great night out for a date night, family night or out with your friends. Would highly recommend.
I raced here for years and loved it it's very welcoming and family friendly and outstanding and races are amazing! Staff is breathtaking!!! Jeff, Angela, Paul, Kevin, Tammy, Shawn, Luke, food is absolutely delicious try pizza and pasta for sure!!!! Garlic cheese bread! Pepperoni sausage pizza it's delicious!!! Tell Luke Hi and Pcan recommend you!
I had never gone to the horse races, and my first experience was Canterbury Park with my family. We were in the area for a wedding, and man oh man, I wish I knew about the Sunday fun racing beforehand! We had a pleasant experience. Food options felt a bit limited, and I'm not much of a gambler, so the sheer amount of gambling options felt overwhelming to me. We made it through about 4 races before wanting to go. We had a fine time, and I'm glad I now know what horse racing is like.
A great spot for some solid entertainment! Watching the horse races is such a fun way to spend an afternoon. However, if you aren't much of a gambler, it can get pretty boring after just a few races. There are a few restaurants on site as well as many bar options but the drinks are relatively pricey! It's also a great spot to host a work or team building event!
We did the Date Night package on Thursday and food was inspired and staff amazing. They accommodated vegan diet and Chef even came out to check on us. Wonderful charcuterie board, stuffed gnocchi with cremini mushroom and Asiago cream with arugula and hubby had triple crown rib eye. Races were fun but service and food quality were really impressive.
Canterbury is the perfect night with friends at the races. Cheap bets and decent food! The staff is always friendly, and not many lines to wait in. Fun time for sure!
A group of friends and I came to Canterbury for a bachelorette & had a blast! The place is huge, with a ton of different entertainment options (we didn't hit the casino, but it looked nice). They have a ton of races in their program, with silly little between-race events (a few of my friends even got to participate)! The track & building seem really well-maintained & clean, the bathrooms were busy but also clean, & there wasn't anything that stood out as being annoying or messy. The bartenders were all fast & efficient, & super helpful. They have a few food options as well; I got a slice of pizza & a breadstick, which were pretty tasty. I've been here a few times now, & I'll definitely be back!
Had a great time. We took our kids and grands here for a race recently. We had lunch, then found seating outside. It was hot and sunny that day so we soon found some inside seating. The grands liked seeing the horses. We know little about betting on the ponies. The grands fared better with their picks than we did! Thanks Canterbury Park for a fun afternoon.
I've come to Canterbury Park a handful of times over the years and always have a great time with friends or family. Most recently we came in with my parents and they had the Budweiser Clydesdales there for a meet and greet. Those horses are beautiful! Even more so up close! I'm not much of a gambler or even understand basic betting so you have to come with the right crowd if you're gonna win! My partner grew up around horse racing so he had all of the tips and even helped my mom and some other folks win money based on bets placed, just knowing how to read the stats and based on his personal knowledge of the trainers. This makes all the difference! When you're betting and winning it's such a thrill, and the atmosphere of people winning at the same time is so electric! They have concessions and even a buffet on the top floor. They even have a full casino next to where you place the bets on the first floor. The drinks are affordable, can get a large beer for $9 which is a steal in my book. 10/10 would recommend!
Nice poker and table game room with poker tournaments as well. I did not like the fact that they did not have any no-limit games but this seemed to be a state law. The action was good and the drinks were decently priced.
I had not been to Canterbury in 10 years. We won tickets and were able to rent a clubhouse table on the glass. It was so fun to have a higher level view of the whole track, with a mini TV to see up close. We were able to order food and drinks to the table, which was good. I had never bet on horses before but the teller was very kind and helpful when I told her it was my first time. We also played blackjack in the casino which was so fun, the dealers made it a great experience for it being my first time as well. When we went to watch down by the track, we randomly got selected to participate in a wheelbarrow race and ended up winning concert tickets for Canterbury park. That was a major plus!! I love that you can watch the horses walk the circle before they race. read more
We came to Canterbury Park for cowgirls barrel racing and had a blast. They also had freestyle motocross after with live music. The food is your typical low quality food you would find at a sporting event. The Mexican place looked like cafeteria food. I would eat before you come if you want something filling and tasty. They did have $5 Busch before the event started. We did not go into the casino. We had a good time and would come back to more rodeo events here in the future! read more
4 months ago
Kentucky Derby! I figured that I will never make it to Churchhill Downs for my bucket list, so Canterbury Park on Derby Day will have to suffice.The atmosphere and party vibe was pretty darn good, there were many activities to experince. People were having fun, and the Derby attire did not disappoint! The big screen tv over the track was ok, but I expected it to be larger, I had a good viewpoint to watch that fantastic race! (2026 Golden Tempo) Now, it has been several years since I made a trip to this racetrack. I remember it being in much better shape! I was disappointed especially in the rest rooms. Rather Gross. Needs sprucing up I think. Strangely, all the food & Beverage staff seemed to be Volunteers! Every interaction I had with the bartenders and counter staff was delightful. They all seemed to be very happy to be there, despite the tips only income. Very accomodating and service oriented, especially the bartenders who had the Mint Julips ready to go! The selection of food at the different counters was better than average, but everything I wanted was sold out. Nada, no more, too bad so sad. What were the bosses thinking? No one was going to show up for the Derby? HORSES ARE ALWAYS EXCITING read more
Canterbury Park is a fun place to spend a day...especially a Thursday! They have an awesome Thursday special with $2 admission, $2 beers, and $2 hot dogs, which makes for a great, affordable outing. If you're into table games, be sure to check out the card room too...it's a good time if you win! They offer free pop while you're playing! Whether you're there for the races, the card room, or just a fun night out, Canterbury Park is definitely worth a visit. read more
One of our summertime family traditions is to spend a day at Canterbury Park watching horse races. We went on a special day where we got to watch the horses and a few hound dog races. It was a fun day like always! If you haven't been, check it out. It's fun for all. read more
This park is so fun and clean. There is tons of free parking right out front and then you're able to either purchase tickets or go to a booth to present your ticket to be scanned. You can buy online or on site, but it is cheaper to purchase tickets online. Once you get inside, you walk into the main building where you're able to place bets, use the bathroom, get drinks or food, and even take part in some other gambling. Then you can walk outside where there are also other bars and food vendors and the racetrack is right in front of you and there's lots of seating available sort of slanted. It was in the shade by 5 PM on Saturday which was lovely and you can also reserve dining space or indoor tables for the races, but we did not do either of those. We enjoyed all of the races and it was a really fun atmosphere and the crowd was getting rowdy as we were cheering on the horses. You can get right up next to the track, which was also very fun. It is a great night out for a date night, family night or out with your friends. Would highly recommend. read more
3 months ago
I raced here for years and loved it it's very welcoming and family friendly and outstanding and races are amazing! Staff is breathtaking!!! Jeff, Angela, Paul, Kevin, Tammy, Shawn, Luke, food is absolutely delicious try pizza and pasta for sure!!!! Garlic cheese bread! Pepperoni sausage pizza it's delicious!!! Tell Luke Hi and Pcan recommend you! read more
11 months ago
I had never gone to the horse races, and my first experience was Canterbury Park with my family. We were in the area for a wedding, and man oh man, I wish I knew about the Sunday fun racing beforehand! We had a pleasant experience. Food options felt a bit limited, and I'm not much of a gambler, so the sheer amount of gambling options felt overwhelming to me. We made it through about 4 races before wanting to go. We had a fine time, and I'm glad I now know what horse racing is like. read more
A great spot for some solid entertainment! Watching the horse races is such a fun way to spend an afternoon. However, if you aren't much of a gambler, it can get pretty boring after just a few races. There are a few restaurants on site as well as many bar options but the drinks are relatively pricey! It's also a great spot to host a work or team building event! read more
1 month ago
We did the Date Night package on Thursday and food was inspired and staff amazing. They accommodated vegan diet and Chef even came out to check on us. Wonderful charcuterie board, stuffed gnocchi with cremini mushroom and Asiago cream with arugula and hubby had triple crown rib eye. Races were fun but service and food quality were really impressive. read more
1 year ago
Canterbury is the perfect night with friends at the races. Cheap bets and decent food! The staff is always friendly, and not many lines to wait in. Fun time for sure! read more
A group of friends and I came to Canterbury for a bachelorette & had a blast! The place is huge, with a ton of different entertainment options (we didn't hit the casino, but it looked nice). They have a ton of races in their program, with silly little between-race events (a few of my friends even got to participate)! The track & building seem really well-maintained & clean, the bathrooms were busy but also clean, & there wasn't anything that stood out as being annoying or messy. The bartenders were all fast & efficient, & super helpful. They have a few food options as well; I got a slice of pizza & a breadstick, which were pretty tasty. I've been here a few times now, & I'll definitely be back! read more
3 months ago
Had a great time. We took our kids and grands here for a race recently. We had lunch, then found seating outside. It was hot and sunny that day so we soon found some inside seating. The grands liked seeing the horses. We know little about betting on the ponies. The grands fared better with their picks than we did! Thanks Canterbury Park for a fun afternoon. read more
3 years ago
I've come to Canterbury Park a handful of times over the years and always have a great time with friends or family. Most recently we came in with my parents and they had the Budweiser Clydesdales there for a meet and greet. Those horses are beautiful! Even more so up close! I'm not much of a gambler or even understand basic betting so you have to come with the right crowd if you're gonna win! My partner grew up around horse racing so he had all of the tips and even helped my mom and some other folks win money based on bets placed, just knowing how to read the stats and based on his personal knowledge of the trainers. This makes all the difference! When you're betting and winning it's such a thrill, and the atmosphere of people winning at the same time is so electric! They have concessions and even a buffet on the top floor. They even have a full casino next to where you place the bets on the first floor. The drinks are affordable, can get a large beer for $9 which is a steal in my book. 10/10 would recommend! read more
Nice poker and table game room with poker tournaments as well. I did not like the fact that they did not have any no-limit games but this seemed to be a state law. The action was good and the drinks were decently priced. read more
Canterbury is a gem in the southern Metro. Purely on the horse racing side (not a casino fan myself), it can really only be compared to other horse tracks. Here, it's above average, as the others in this strata (Prairie Meadows, Remington, Laurel) that I have visited are decidedly less fan-friendly and less concerned about maintaining the property. (Don't even get me started on my visit to Pimlico.) Canterbury has steadily improved, with new furnishings, better food and more promotions year on year. It is never going to be Del Mar or Gulfstream, simply because Canterbury will not have the handle or the annual stakes races that attract big-time horse owners to venture to Shakopee. But Canterbury knows what it is and stays the course - family Sundays, Corgi races, a place to bring the family. Watching live racing is tremendous. I would love to see them step up the races, with more cards with more horses, bigger stakes, and a longer legislatively-approved live racing schedule would be great. If sports wagering ever becomes legal in MN, this place would be well-situated to take advantage. Meanwhile, it's always a fun day out. Go with someone experienced who can read a racing form, do not spend anything you would miss, and you might get lucky. I do wish they served better coffee, the bourbon offerings are woeful, and I miss the days when valet parking was offered. Regardless, it's always a good time. Finally, let me add, track announcer, Paul Allen, is among the best in the country. Calling live horse races is a singular skill and PA is truly a master. read more
8 years ago
I've been here a few times now for some of the non-traditional races (i.e. ostrich, zebra, corgis) and it's been so fun! The tickets are inexpensive and there are opportunities to do a little gambling on the horses as well as in the casino. They have concessions in case you need a snack and vending machines if you don't like waiting in lines. The seating is nice as there is outdoor seating on benches and indoor seating upstairs in the air conditioned space. There are usually vendors on-site that sell things - leashes and bandanas on corgi race day! There are lots of parking spots in the large lot and workers/security that direct you to where you need to go. read more
9 years ago
We went here to watch this year's Corgi races and had a blast! I know I'm a little dog obsessed so that skews my opinion slightly, but this was probably one of the more fun things I've done this summer. Parking was a little bit of a zoo, but it was nice out so we were ok with walking and just found a spot at the back of the lot. We got our tickets online in advance - I recommend this going forward. It was super slick getting in, and there was no wait in line to purchase. Once we got in, it was a little bit chaotic and we totally should have grabbed cash for betting before we got there. We found a grand total of TWO ATMs in the place - yikes. So we waited in line, got some cash and all was well. At this particular event, they had fun dessert vendors stationed throughout the upstairs area - I'd go back if they had more things like this. Seating indoors was hard to come by, and we really didn't want to bake in the sun. We ended up camping out in front of the betting booths, which was ok if you don't mind standing. Still a good time and we had a great view. Best part of the day? I left almost $20 up from what I started with. I know they can't control that but I just wanted to brag. read more
Decently cheap entertainment and normally not too busy. The horse races are fun to watch and the drive down to Shakopee from the cities isn't bad either! We'll be back this summer, if not for a horse race, definitely for the corgi race in August. Last note: What isn't cheap is the food and drinks. The food is also mediocre at best. I would recommend eating before getting to the park and nursing one drink to get as much bang for your buck. read more
4 years ago
I have come to Canterbury Park a few times now to go to the horse races. They have a large area for parking, which they need because some days it can get very very busy! The workers have always been pleasant and very friendly. They have a few different ways you can bet on the horses which is nice. You can go to the teller, use the machines, or deposit money in your account and bet off of your phone (my personal favorite). It is very nice. I have had a few issues with the machines before so I don't like that, but the workers are always helpful. In order to bet however, you need to have a account. It is very easy to set one up at guest service and when you do, they will usually give you one free admission ticket for next time! They have a few different food options here. They have a famous daves, a normal food concessions, and a more fancy and expensive food concessions. They have a free other places like a Mexican place and a ice cream place. You will usually find whatever you are craving somewhere! The actual track and seats are very nice. They did a very nice job with this place. Fun place to come and bet on the horses! Keep in mind, this is a fun day event! And your money can last a very long time! read more
8 years ago
This is my favorite horse racing track because it is vibrant and there are lots of people enjoying the sport. Many of the track I've been to have very low attendance and it's not nearly as much fun. Canterbury Park has events beyond horse racing to help draw more people and it works. Don't know how to bet? There is a free class in the off season to help you understand handicapping and make you more comfortable with the process. Don't want to bet? No problem, you can have fun watching the horses. There are plenty of food options available and some additional food truck events during live racing. There is a card club on site if that is more your style. Give it a try, you'll like it! read more
7 years ago
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Have been going to Canterbury for about 12 years now. Over that time there have been some positive changes and some not so positive changes. The purses have increased significantly due to their partnership with Mystic Lake so the quality of horses has gone up over the years. Of course that makes your handicapping more difficult as there are a higher number of good horses in any particular race. The bad part is that in order to compete for the entertainment dollar they have to kowtow to a younger demographic and people with small children. So unlike other tracks that I've been to you have live music, a petting zoo, and other inducements to keep the attendance high. It works great for their bottom line as they are able to use all these avenues to bring in more revenue. Thats not so great for those of use that have developed a lifelong enjoyment of the horseracing experience. Admission is $7 usually (goes up to $9 on a premium day, such as 4th of July). That gets reduced if you have taken the time to acquire a VIP card that gets you some discounts and the random free admission pass from time to time. Kids 17 and under are free. There are beer stands sprinkled thru the property offering old standards like Budweiser but also local brews like Summit. You can expect to find something foodwise to satisfy you as well be it pizza, Famous Daves, or whatever food truck may be on that days schedule. There is also a card room if that is the way that you want to go. I honestly like the older days better when the crowd as smaller, but I understand why they had to make the changes they made. I will gladly accept having to deal with the families with small children and the chaos that radiates from that in order to keep my local track open. Its gets excessively noisy and crowded some days but if you love racing its the best option that relatively close so party on. Like I said before kids are free so its a low cost entertainment option for the whole family as long as you don't go crazy with your wagering. Its a fun place and I'd go more often if the boss would let me. So go throw some cash down on my behalf. I'll agree to a 50/50 split. read more
4 years ago
Great place to hang out on a race day. Don't like gambling much, so couldn't relate much to the place. Did end up playing black jack in the casino anyways. Luckily for me I won $20, and that was that. The casino area is not as grand as other casinos I have been to, but the service is good. Liquor is not free, not even if you are playing on a table. But drinks are not that expensive specially if you can make the happy hour timings which is 7-9 pm. The horse racing experience was fun. I had never seen one before and so didn't understand the bets. Thanks to a friend who does this often, I could understand and learn a bit. Ended up losing $10 bucks but that wasn't bad to learn something new. They do serve liquor at the stands near racing tracks as well, so that you don't have to keep going in towards the bar always. Food options are awesome but it's only certain days, like today, when they had their Truck Festival. Rusty Tacos was the best amongst all. Great place for a good weekend fun. Try out if you like betting. read more
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