Continued: Star Tribune's Secret Fan: Soaking it up, track-side

Editor's note: We sent various Star Tribune staff members out to different summer sporting events and asked them to write about the experience from the perspective of a fan. This is what the "Secret Fan" found:

You arrive at Canterbury Park excited about racing, horses and their beautiful speed and, of course, betting. You spend your first hour or so of your Saturday afternoon cheering for the ponies you picked and trying to pay for your next beer with a $2 bet here and a $4 bet there. By the fourth race, you've won a few, lost a few, chatted up the folks next to you, washed down a hot dog and your shoulders have dropped about an inch and a half since you flip-flopped your way to that warm seat in the sun. You yell your heart out for your horse on the homestretch each race, waving your ticket wildly around in the air as any proper bettor does, and maybe you even saunter back to the paddock once or twice to eye up the next powerful beauty who's going to pay for your next cold one.

Suddenly, in the summery haze of laughter and cheering and hot sun and cold beers, you overhear track announcer Paul Allen saying something about the day's last race -- How could that be? It's already 5 o'clock? Really? -- and in your pocket are a couple tickets from a few races ago. You can't remember if Kon Krete Kid placed or showed or took last in Race 7, but ahhh, who cares because you just made that $2 bet on the way back from the ice cream stand so you could have something to yell about. There are two -- Or is it three? -- empty plastic Leinie's cups under your seat, and you're really glad your date drove because your buzz isn't quite as warm as your sun-kissed skin, but close. You leave with a few less -- Or is it a few more? I've lost track -- dollars in your pocket and your weekend is off to a nice, toasty start.

That's how I see Canterbury Park, as one of the sweetest summer cocktails in town. Here's the mix: Take the crowd of a Twins game (the young and pretty, the old-timers and the wide-eyed kids, the families, the regulars and the once-a-summer folks), the sudsy, boisterous atmosphere of a Saints game (yes, it's a sporting event, but not really) and the concessions of the State Fair (if you can eat it or drink it, it's there) -- that's the Canterbury experience. You can stir it up with more bets (and more yelling and cheering of course) if you crave more excitement. Or you twist the dial to Even More Relaxing by walking right past the betting windows and make it a just-for-fun day of cheering for the best horse names (Sendabiguyfothemoney won Saturday's name contest, narrowly edging Golden Brew).

The word "fan" doesn't really apply to this story, or Canterbury. I'd bet on any given sunny Saturday, fans of flip-flops and summer dresses and cold beers greatly outnumber true fans of horse racing. The regulars, the guys with thick handfuls of programs and tip sheets, are there in large numbers for sure. But if the weather is halfway decent, Canterbury attracts a horde of sun- and fun-seekers that cooks up a summer party scene around Canterbury's plentiful outdoor benches and tables.

Our group was there for a birthday party for our 1-year-old daughter, and a few times prior to Saturday we heard, "You're having your daughter's birthday party at the horse track?" That's a dead giveaway for someone who has never soaked up the scene, the crowd and the fun at one of the best summer outdoor venues in the cities. And while not an obvious choice of venue for a kid party, there was plenty of laughter in our group coming from the munchkins, who were invited to pet the horses, stood a few feet from the racing action and cheered mightily along with the moms and dads.

Quick, name a place in the Twin Cities where you and a few thousand other Minnesotans of all ages can gather for an outdoor summer party every weekend? ... Exactly. That's why a summer day at Canterbury always is a winning bet in my book.