Dover Downs facts for kids
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Aerial view of Dover Downs in 2017. The horse track is located within Dover International Speedway and the hotel and casino is the large building to the left of the track.
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| Location | 1131 North Dupont Highway Dover, Delaware |
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| Coordinates | 39°11′21″N 75°31′58″W / 39.189201°N 75.532675°W |
| Owned by | Bally's Corporation |
| Date opened | 1969 (racetrack) 1995 (casino) |
| Race type | Harness racing |
Dover Downs is a large complex in Dover, Delaware. It includes a hotel, a fun place with games called a casino, and a racetrack. It has a track that is about 1 kilometer long for harness horse racing. This track is actually inside the Dover International Speedway, which is a bigger track used for exciting NASCAR car races. The company Bally's Corporation owns and runs Dover Downs.
The Dover Downs Hotel & Casino has many cool features. There are 500 hotel rooms and lots of places to eat. You can find over 2,700 slot machines and 40 table games. There's also the Rollins Center, a huge ballroom. This space is used for concerts, shows, business meetings, and big parties.
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A Look at Dover Downs' History
The horse track and the car racing track both opened in 1969. Later, in 1995, the casino part of Dover Downs also opened its doors.
In 2002, the company that owned Dover Downs made a big change. They created a new, separate company just for the horse track and casino. This new company was called Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment.
In 2007, the hotel got much bigger! They added 268 more rooms, making it a total of 500 rooms. This made Dover Downs the biggest hotel in Delaware. A fancy spa and salon also opened in the hotel that year.
In 2019, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment joined with another company called Twin River Worldwide Holdings. This company later became Bally's Corporation.
The Hotel Experience
The hotel at Dover Downs offers nice rooms. Some rooms look out over the racetrack, while others face the city. The hotel has many things to enjoy. You can relax at a full-service spa or work out in the fitness room. There is also an indoor swimming pool. Guests can order room service or get help from the concierge.
Dover Downs is also a great place for events. It has over 40,000 square feet of space for meetings, parties, and conferences. The Rollins Center ballroom is 18,000 square feet. There are also smaller meeting rooms and special suites with views of the racetrack.
Games and Fun at the Casino
The casino at Dover Downs has many games to play. You can find over 2,300 slot machines. There are also 41 gaming tables and a special room with 18 tables for poker.
Some of the table games you can play include craps and roulette. There are also many card games like blackjack, Spanish 21, and baccarat. Other card games include three card poker, pai gow poker, and Mississippi stud.
Exciting Races and Sports
Dover Downs is a top spot for live harness racing. These races happen from November until mid-April. Even when there are no live races, you can still watch races from other places all year long. This is called simulcasting. You can watch both harness and thoroughbred racing.
The Race & Sports Book area lets you bet on horse races. You can also bet on many professional and college sports. These include auto racing, baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, and soccer.
Food, Shows, and Shopping
Dover Downs offers many ways to have fun. You can see entertainers, comedians, and musical acts. Famous performers like Boyz II Men and the Glenn Miller Orchestra have played here.
There are many places to eat, from fancy restaurants to casual spots. You can also grab coffee or enjoy a buffet. Dover Downs has different bars and nightclubs too. If you like to shop, you can visit The Colonnade for upscale stores.
