Thursday, August 19, 2021

Minnesota Getaway: August 2021

 August 17-19, 2021
Canterbury Adventure

With no travel together since a year ago August (other than to see family) when we went to Gatlinburg for an extended weekend I had my sites set on getting away in August.  The original plan was to go to Saratoga, and hopefully get a Bed & Breakfast.  But that fell through.  Thought of how I've wanted to return to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto for their August Wednesday stakes card, but this year it's being run on a Sunday afternoon.  Then it occurred to me that I could return to Canterbury Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I found the Mystic Lake Casino Resort Hotel which has, obviously, a casino.  And then proposed it to Kim for a getway in mid-August thinking chances were slim she'd go, but she surprised me and was all in!  So we booked it.  We left Tuesday August 17th in the morning for Fort Lauderdale International and had a two-plus-hour layover in Nashville.  Landed on time in Minneapolis at about 5:30 Central Time.  The Uber ride was there within minutes (though expensive!) and took us right to the casino.  Found the main hotel entrance on the other side of the casino and checked into our room on the 16th floor.

Masked up, but checked in at FLL
C'ya later Fort Lauderdale!  (Note the cruise ship - back in business!)
Minnesota - the Land O'Lakes
The Mystic Lake Casino Hotel Resort
View out our window
Checked into Room 1661

After checking in we walked around, had a light dinner and headed upstairs to watch "America's Got Talent" before crashing.  Wednesday we went downstairs and got coffee, and sat around the giant fireplace before heading over to the casino where we were both big winners!  Had lunch in the food court and then went upstairs to relax for just a big before heading out to the track for the big evening of racing.

The lobby fireplace
Up close to the fire
Goooooood Morning Minnesota!  
As a sidelight....today just happened to be the first day of school at home and we were enjoying a vacation!
The casino from the lobby
Just one part of the main casino
Our two favorite (and most profitable) slots!
The B-I-G winners :)

We had Clubhouse reserved seats and were seated right up against the glass at about the 16th pole.  We stayed here through the first half of the card until the major stakes events started.  Then we moved downstairs to sit out in the fresh air as the sun was setting.  As far as the racing......all the "experts" seemed to see the same thing I did, tonight's races should be dominated by the favorites who not only looked to have the edge but truly looked very hard to beat.  But we got a sneak peak into the night when in the opener the 2/5 favorite was run right by in the stretch and finished second.  But on the night I still managed to win three races, including two stakes....one of which was the premier event of the evening, The Minnesota Derby!

"Made In Minnesota Day" - all races tonight restricted to Minnesota-breds!
Welcome to Canterbury Downs!
From the air
Settled in at our table high above the track
The Canterbury Paddock
The Paddock Pose!
Complimentary Program - Not NEARLY as good as my own analysis!
And THEY'RE OFF!
Walking around the second level
Thealligatorhunter WINS The Minnesota Derby
Who had the winner?  Oh that's right....ME!
So enjoying being outside to watch the races
"Prime Time" play on the winner of the final stakes event!
Bid a fond farewell to Canterbury Park....good times!

Sunday we were up and back downstairs to have coffee in front of the fire and them played some slots where Kim piled on more winnings, you go girl!  Had a light lunch and headed out to the airport to fly home mid-afternoon.  Got home twenty minutes early and were home in bed before the 11 o'clock news started.  It was a great getaway!

Tribute to the Shakopee Souix inside the hotel
The Tribal Traditions
SOOOO Happy My Sweetie Came Along For The Getaway!

Canterbury Park Getaway:  Minnesota Derby Night Highlights





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