Harrah's Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harrah's Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack |
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Front entrance of Harrah's Philadelphia
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Harrah's Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Address | 777 Harrah's Blvd |
| Opening date | January 22, 2007 |
| Theme | Racetrack River Carnival |
| Total gaming space | 106,100 sq ft (9,860 m2) |
| Casino type | Racino |
| Owner | Vici Properties |
| Operating license holder | Caesars Entertainment |
| Architect | SOSH Architects |
| Previous names | Chester Downs (while in planning) Harrah's Chester (2007-2012) |
| Coordinates | 39°51′00″N 75°20′51″W / 39.849873°N 75.347618°W |
| Website | HarrahsPhilly.com |
Harrah's Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack is a special place that combines a harness racing track with a casino. This type of place is sometimes called a "racino." It is located right on the Chester, Pennsylvania waterfront. The company Vici Properties owns the buildings and land. Another company, Caesars Entertainment, runs the daily operations.
Contents
Discovering Harrah's Philadelphia: A Brief History
Harrah's Philadelphia was built where the old Sun Shipbuilding factory used to be. The very first harness racing season started on September 10, 2006. This was an exciting time for horse racing fans.
Opening the Casino Doors
On September 27, 2006, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave Harrah's Chester permission to have slot machines. This was a big step! Then, on December 20, 2006, they got the final approval. The casino officially opened its doors on January 22, 2007. This was even a day earlier than they had planned.
Adding Table Games and a New Name
In 2010, the casino added live table games. This meant people could play games like blackjack and poker with real dealers. In May 2012, Harrah's Chester changed its name. It became Harrah's Philadelphia. This new name helped it attract more visitors from the bigger Philadelphia area.
Changes in Ownership and Sports Betting
In 2018, the land and buildings of Harrah's Philadelphia were sold. Vici Properties, a real estate company, bought them from Caesars for $242 million. Caesars then rented the property back for $21 million each year. This allowed Caesars to keep running the casino.
On January 22, 2019, sports betting started at Harrah's Philadelphia. This means people can bet on the results of sports games. A special area called the William Hill Sportsbook was created. It has a big screen showing odds, teller windows, and self-betting machines. There are also many TVs to watch different sports. You can bet on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and college sports.
Exploring Harrah's Philadelphia: What's Inside?
Harrah's Philadelphia has a lot to offer visitors. It has over 2,000 slot machines. There is also a large area for other games. The building includes a big event center, which is about 14,000-square-foot (1,300 m2). You can also find many places to eat, drink, and shop. There are also rooms for meetings.
Places to Grab a Drink
- C-Bar
- Copper Mug
Meeting Spaces Available
- Caesars
- Harrah's
- Horseshoe
Restaurants to Enjoy
- Guy Fieri's Philly Kitchen + Bar
- Krispy Kreme
- Mien
- Philly Steak Shack
- Cove Steakhouse and Raw Bar
- The Market
Shopping Opportunities
- Gift Shop
Harness Racing: The Excitement of the Track
Harrah's Philadelphia hosts live harness racing for about 150 days each year. The racing season usually runs from early April to mid-December. Races often happen on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Sometimes, there are races on holidays that fall on Saturdays or Mondays. Races usually start at 12:25 PM.
The Racing Track and Its Features
The track itself is 5⁄8 mile (1.0 km) long. It has a special surface made of limestone. A unique part of the track is a bridge that goes over the Delaware River. During a 1-mile race, horses cross this bridge. From the bridge, you can see large freight ships passing by on the river. Even though the track has lights, it has not had regular night races since 2011.
Horse Paddock and Announcers
The racing paddock at Harrah's can hold up to 131 horses. Because there isn't much space, horses are brought to the paddock just for race day. They do not live at the track.
Harrah's Philadelphia used to be the home of a TV show called PA Harness Week. This show was on Philadelphia's local Comcast SportsNet channel. The last episode aired on August 29, 2015.
Track Announcers Through the Years
- Multiple (2006)
- James Witherite (2007–2013)
- Michael Bozich (2014–present)
