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Monday, December 16, 2013

American Harness Tracks Long Gone

In the DRF's coverage of the final days of Hollywood Park, they list the names of thoroughbred tracks which have ceased to race a thoroughbred meet anymore.  Some tracks are gone, still standing, or have switched over to another breed of racing.

So it got me wondering, what American harness tracks have ceased operating?  Of course, this would be a long list so I will restrict this list to tracks which raced since I was interested in the sport.  I apologize ahead of time if I miss some tracks which should be on the list.  If you are aware of some tracks which have closed since 1974, please let me know and I will add them to the list.  Of course, a similar list could be done in Canada.



U.S. Standardized  Tracks which no Longer Exist/No Longer Feature Harness Racing (Since 1974)
Atlantic City Racecourse, NJ (thoroughbreds only)
Auburn Downs, WA (never completed; later became Emerald Downs racing thoroughbreds)
Fox Fields, IL (formerly known as Aurora Downs)
Bay Meadows, CA (later just thoroughbreds before closing)

Brandywine Raceway, DE
Canterbury Downs, MN (thoroughbreds only)
Cahokia Downs, IL (refused license by IRB in 1980)
Centennial Race Track, CO (believed to be late 1970s)
Delmar (currently racing thoroughbreds)
Fairmount Park, IL (thoroughbreds only)
Fairplex Park, CA (Pomona; mixed breed racing)
Foxboro Park, MA
Freestate Raceway, MD  (aka Laurel Raceway)
Garden State Park, NJ
Georgetown Raceway, DE
Green Mountain Racetrack, VT
Hawthorne Racetrack, IL (refused dates by IRB, thoroughbreds only)
Hinsdale Raceway, NH
Historic Track, NY (currently races non-wagering events)
Hollywood Park, CA (thoroughbreds only; closing 2013)
Indiana Downs, IN (all standardbred dates moved to Hoosier Park)
Jackson Raceway, MI
Lake Shore Meadows, PA
Latonia Raceway, KY (now racing thoroughbreds as Turfway Park)
Lebanon Raceway, OH (license transferred to Miami Valley Gaming & Racing)
Lewiston Raceway, ME
Liberty Bell Park, PA
Los Alamitos, CA (quarter horse only; plus thoroughbreds starting in 2014)
Louisville Downs, KY
Muskegon Racecourse, MI
Northcoast Raceway, MI
Prairie Meadows, IA (thoroughbreds and quarter horses only)
Saginaw Harness Raceway, MI (aka Saginaw Valley Downs)
Seminole Harness Track, FL (switched to greyhounds before closing)
Suffolk Downs, MA (thoroughbreds only)
Quad City Downs, IL
Raceway Park, OH (license transferred to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway)
Riverside Downs, KY (aka Audubon Raceway)
Rockingham Park, NH (thoroughbreds only)
Roosevelt Raceway, NY
Sportsman Park, IL
Syracuse Mile, NY
Washington Park, IL
Wheeling Downs, WV (now greyhounds)
Wolverine Raceway, MI (aka Detroit Race Course; last raced standardbreds in 1980, closed in 1985)

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