Obituary: Brooks Fields, founder of Canterbury Park

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: June 25, 2008 - 2:26 PM

Nearly 23 years to the day that his thoroughbred horse racing track opened, Canterbury Park founder Brooks Fields has died. He was 89.

Fields, a lifelong Minneapolis resident, died Monday after a long battle with emphysema.

Fields, who trained while in the military during World War II at the U.S. Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kan., founded Canterbury Downs (now Canterbury Park) in Shakopee and became its first president and chief executive officer.

The track opened on June 26, 1985. Five years later and deep in debt, ownership of Canterbury was sold for a little more than $1 million. The new owners also paid an estimated $12 million to buy the track's $43 million mortgage.

Fields' wife, Martha, died at an Edina hospice in 1999 at age 79.

Services are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday at Mount Olivet Church, 5025 Knox Av. S., Minneapolis. Visitation is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday at: Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel West 50th St. and Hwy. 100.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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