Delaware Park Racetrack facts for kids
| Horse Race Track | |
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Quick facts for kids Delaware Park Racetrack |
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| Location | Stanton, Delaware, United States |
| Owned by | Delaware Park LLC |
| Year opened | 1937 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – flat racing |
| Website | www.delawarepark.com |
| Principal races | |
| Delaware Handicap (G2) | |
| Delaware Oaks (G3) | |
| Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (G3) | |
Delaware Park, also known as DelPark, is a cool place in Stanton, Delaware. It has a Thoroughbred horse racing track, a casino, and a golf course. You can find it just outside Wilmington, and it's about 30 miles from Philadelphia.
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Exciting Horse Racing
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Delaware Park Racetrack was designed by William duPont, Jr.. He was famous for designing many racing courses. He built it with Donald P. Ross, and it opened on June 26, 1937.
Today, it's the only thoroughbred horse racing track in Delaware. Races happen from May to October each year.
Big Prizes and Famous Horses
The money prizes for races, called purses, have grown a lot. This is because the casino at Delaware Park makes more money. In 2005, the average prize money for a race at DelPark was $30,650. This was much higher than the national average of $20,762.
Bigger prizes help attract more talented horses and new competitors. Delaware Park was ranked fifth in the U.S. for average race purses in 2005. New York was first, with an average of $41,229 per race.
Many famous horses have started their careers here. Near-Triple Crown winner Afleet Alex and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro both won their first races at Delaware Park. Barbaro even won on the grass! The fast mare Xtra Heat, a sprint champion, also trained here.
Today, many horses based at Delaware Park travel to big races. They often win at major tracks in New York, Florida, and Kentucky.
Trainers and Olympic Stars
Delaware Park has been home to many top trainers. Michael Matz, who trained Barbaro, won a silver medal in equestrian events at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Other well-known trainers include Barclay Tagg and Tim Ritchey. J. Larry Jones, who trained Hard Spun (second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby), is also based here. Jones also trained Eight Belles, who finished second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.
Watching Races and Betting
Sometimes, races at Delaware Park have fewer horses. This can happen because other tracks like Parx Racing and Laurel Park Racecourse run races at the same time.
Delaware Park is a standalone track, not part of a larger racing circuit. When it's not racing season, some horses move to other tracks. Others, especially those from Florida, come to Delaware Park for the summer.
You can also watch races from other tracks at Delaware Park. This is called simulcasting. You can bet on both live and simulcast races at the Sports Book.
Top Races at Delaware Park
Delaware Park hosts several important races each year. These are called Graded events.
- Grade II:
* Delaware Handicap
- Grade III:
* Delaware Oaks * Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes
Fun at the Casino
The Casino at Delaware Park has almost 2,500 slot machines. In 2011, about 8,000 people visited the casino every day.
Sports Betting and Table Games
In 2009, Delaware made it legal to bet on National Football League games. At first, you could only bet on "Parlay Cards," which meant picking multiple teams.
In 2018, sports betting expanded. Now you can bet on single games and parlays for many professional and college sports. This includes auto racing, baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, and soccer. You can place bets at the Sports Book, where football games are shown all week.
Since 2010, the casino also offers live table games. These include popular games like blackjack, craps, roulette, and different poker games. You can also play keno in various spots around the casino.
Golf Course Fun
Delaware Park has a beautiful 18-hole, par 72 golf course. It's called White Clay Creek Country Club. You can choose from different membership options to play golf here.
Places to Eat
Delaware Park has many places to grab a bite or a full meal:
- Legends Restaurant
- Picciotti's Pizza and Craft Beer
- Del Cap Room
- At The Rail Wine Bar and Grille
- On A Roll Deli
- Rooney's
- Kelso's Coffee Shop
- New Castle Room
- Sports Book
- The Grove at Delaware Park
- The Terrace
They also have spaces for special events like banquets.
Cool Bars
If you're looking for a drink, Delaware Park has several bars:
- Paddock Pub
- Hops
- Oval Bar
- Wheel Bar
See Also
- Racino
- List of casinos in Delaware
