Signature Race Days

Don't miss some of our most exciting Stakes Races all season long!

June 21: Northern Stars Turf Festival
July 12: Hall of Fame Day
August 9: Made in Minnesota Day
September 6: Festival of Champions

Saturday, June 21
Our Signature Race Days kicks off with a special night of Live Racing on the turf!

Five turf stakes including the Lady Canterbury Stakes, the first race ever run on the Canterbury turf course in 1986. Also on the program are the Curtis Sampson Oaks, Canterbury Derby, Brooks Fields Mile and Dark Star Turf Sprint.

For the past three seasons, this night of racing has offered big fields and the largest single-day betting handle.

Saturday, August 9

The Oaks and Derby have been won by some of the best horses in Canterbury history starting with Blair’s Cove in the 1986 Derby, Hot Shot Kid in 2017 and Mr. Jagermeister in 2018. The Oaks winners include Princess Elaine in 1988, Chick Fight in 2009 and Ready to Runaway in 2019. Also on the card are two stakes for older Minnesota breds, both named for past Oaks and Derby winners – The Princess Elaine and The Wally’s Choice.

Saturday, September 6
Closing out our Signature Race Days - State Championship of Racing with over $400,000 in purses up for grabs.

The Minnesota Festival of Champions began in 1992 at what was then Canterbury Downs, organized by owners and breeders to showcase Minnesota- breds and racing in Minnesota as Ladbroke, the owners at that time, had neglected racing and were preparing to close the track. The inaugural Festival was indeed the final day of racing until 1995 when Canterbury Park, under the direction of Dale Schenian, Curt Sampson and son Randy Sampson, opened for a live race meet. A race meet has been conducted each summer since and Minnesota Festival of Champions remains a centerpiece.