Lone Star Park facts for kids
Horses starting out of the gate at Lone Star Park
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| Location | Grand Prairie, Texas |
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| Owned by | Global Gaming Solutions, LLC |
| Date opened | 1997 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse |
Lone Star Park is an exciting place for horse racing and fun events. It's located in Grand Prairie, Texas. This park hosts two main racing seasons each year. The spring season for Thoroughbred horses usually runs from early April to mid-July. Then, the Fall Meeting of Champions, which features Quarter Horses, takes place from early September to mid-November. It's a great spot to see amazing horses compete!
Contents
The History of Lone Star Park
How Lone Star Park Started
In 1992, people living in Grand Prairie voted for a special sales tax. This tax helped raise money to build a new racetrack. Soon after, the city created a group called the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corp. This group would own the track and let a company operate it. Lone Star Park officially opened its doors in 1997.
Exploring Lone Star Park's Features
What Makes Lone Star Park Special?
Lone Star Park is a large area, covering about 315 acres (which is about 1.27 square kilometers). It has a special area called Bar & Book where you can watch horse races happening all over the world. The park features two main tracks for racing. There's a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt track and a seven-furlong (about 1.4 km) grass track. The park also has space for 1,600 horses in 32 barns. The main grandstand, where people watch the races, can hold about 8,000 visitors comfortably. It even has air conditioning!
Meet the Lone Star Park Team
Who Works at Lone Star Park?
Many people help make Lone Star Park a great place. Here are some of the familiar faces you might see:
- Dave Appleton: He has been the paddock host since 1997. He helps introduce the horses before races.
- Rick Lee: He is the track's handicapper, helping people understand the races since 1998.
- Jim Byers: He has been the track announcer since 2016, calling out the races as they happen.
- "Railbird" Rodney Nelson: He is also a handicapper and paddock host, joining in 2018.
Behind the Scenes: Production Staff
- John Marsh: He is the video production manager, making sure all the exciting race footage is captured.
Exciting Races at Lone Star Park
Different Types of Horse Races
Texas loves many kinds of horses, so Lone Star Park hosts races for more than just Thoroughbreds. About half of the races are set up for different horse breeds.
Top Thoroughbred Races
- Steve Sexton Mile Stakes: This is a Grade III race for horses aged three years and older. They race one mile for a prize of $400,000.
Top Quarter Horse Races
Quarter Horses are known for their speed over short distances.
- Texas Classic Futurity: A Grade I race for two-year-old horses, racing 400 yards for an estimated $1,000,000 prize.
- Texas Classic Derby: Another Grade I race for three-year-old horses, racing 440 yards for an estimated $400,000.
- Refrigerator Handicap: A Grade I race for horses three years and older, racing 440 yards for $75,000.
- Dash For Cash Futurity: A Grade II race for two-year-old horses, racing 400 yards for an estimated $450,000.
- Dash For Cash Derby: A Grade III race for three-year-old horses, racing 440 yards for an estimated $175,000.
Paint and Appaloosa Horse Races
These races feature horses with unique coat patterns.
- Speedhorse Lone Star Paint and Appaloosa Futurity: A Grade I race for two-year-old horses, racing 400 yards for an estimated $100,000.
Other Important Races
Lone Star Park also hosts many other exciting races throughout the year, including:
- Texas Derby: A race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, covering 1 1/16 miles for a $300,000 prize.
- Ouja Board Distaff: For female Thoroughbreds three years and older, racing one mile on the turf for $200,000.
- Chamberlain Bridge Stakes: For Thoroughbreds three years and older, racing five furlongs on the turf for $100,000.
- Memorial Day Sprint: For female Thoroughbreds three years and older, racing six furlongs for $100,000.
- Speightstown Sprint: For Thoroughbreds three years and older, racing six furlongs for $100,000.
- Texas Turf Classic: For Thoroughbreds three years and older, racing one mile and one-eighth on the turf for $300,000.
- Grand Prairie Turf Sprint: For Thoroughbreds three years and older, racing five furlongs on the turf for $150,000.
Arabian Horse Races
Arabian horses are known for their endurance and beauty.
- Dubai International Arabian Races Texas Open Stakes: For Arabian horses three years and older, racing 1 1/16 miles for $30,000.
- Shadwell Arabian Stallions Texas Distaff Stakes: For female Arabian horses three years and older, racing eight furlongs for $30,000.
Images for kids
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Exterior of Lone Star Park
See also
In Spanish: Parque Lone Star para niños
