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As is the case across the United States, horse racing has a huge following in the state of Minnesota. A passionate fan base attends events at the track throughout the season, while die-hard fans also travel far and wide to see the best equine stars in action in races such as the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

However, for fans that just want to get up close and personal to equine stars on track, the state is fortunate to have two leading courses in operation throughout the year.

The most popular comes in the form of Canterbury Park, while the Running Aces Casino and Racetrack also offers high-stakes contests throughout the year. So, can you enjoy 2025 horse betting promotions in Minnesota?

Minnesota Horse Racing History

Horse racing has a rich history in the state of Minnesota, and its early beginnings can be dated back to 1857 when the first race was held.

However, the formation of rules and regulations within the state weren’t established until the birth of the Minnesota Racing Commission in 1933.

Since then, many high-quality stakes races have been held in the state, and it ranks among the most spectated sports in the region.

Both Canterbury Park and Running Aces have huge purses on offer throughout the season, and huge capacity crowds typically pass through the gates for the major meetings on the schedule.

 

Canterbury Park

The most famous horse racing venue in Minnesota is Canterbury Park, which is most famous for hosting the Claiming Crown in ten of its first 12 years in operation. Aside from horse racing, it is also home to one of the most famous two-week poker tournaments on the schedule in the form of the Fall Poker Classic.

Canterbury Downs was originally founded by Walter Brooks Fields Jr, and it became one of the first locations in the region to accept pari-mutuel betting in 1982. Soon after, it was named as the state’s first racetrack, and the facility held its first official race in 1985.

Throughout its history, the track has seen its name change on a number of occasions, including in 1990 when it was re-opened as New Canterbury Downs. However, the popularity of the sport in this period would drop significantly, leading to its closure in 1992. However, it was re-opened in 1994 under new ownership, and a further new name would follow in 1995 when it would be re-born with its current title.

 

Modern History at the Track

Canterbury’s success has been taken out of its hand in recent years, with many external factors seeing it close its doors. The first of these occasions came in 2011 due to the Minnesota State government shutdown.

However, thing began to look brighter following an agreement of a ten-year cooperative marketing and purse enhancement deal in 2012, which would see a further $75 million added to the racing purses throughout the season.

The course continues to play an important role at the heart of the community, with further non-racing events also held at the track, including corgi dog races and the Twin Cities Summer Jam.

 

Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

It could be argued that Running Aces Casino & Racetrack has lived in the shadow of the more esteemed Canterbury Park throughout its history, but it has thrived as a gambling location for those located in the Columbus region.

The fully-fitted casino has a card room, and also hosts major tournaments throughout the season. Despite being in the shadow of Canterbury, it only opened its doors for the first time in 2008.

Racing at the track has been mixed, as owners were forced to pay back $200,000 in 2013 due to a purse shortfall. Since then, the course has become an entertainment center, with a trout finishing pond opened in 2016 and a fresh hotel established in 2020 in the hope of attracting tourism.

Still, it is a major location for horse racing, and it is one of the few locations in the state where bettors can wager on historical horse racing. One of the biggest horse racing nights of the year at the track comes in the form of the Minnesota Night of Champions, which typically attracts capacity crowds.

 

Most Famous Event

The most famous racing event on the calendar was previously the Claiming Crown, but this has moved away from Canterbury since 2010 after being hosted at tracks such as Gulfstream Park and Churchill Downs.

The Claiming Crown is the ‘blue collar’ Breeders’ Cup series for claiming horses, with eight events staged during the event. On the night of action, the most lucrative race is The Jewel, which is worth a purse of $175,000.

Other major races staged in the Claiming Crown include the Glass Slipper, The Tiara, and The Emerald. However, its departure to other tracks across the U.S. has left a hole in the Canterbury calendar.