Parx Casino and Racing host thoroughbred horse racing and it is home to the largest casino in Pennsylvania. The track was previously called the Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino. You will find the course in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, which is north of the city of Philadelphia.
Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment is the owner and operator of the facility. The track itself has been playing host to horse races since November 1974, while the casino opened in December 2009.
Ticket Prices at Parx Casino and Racing
Ticket prices for racing taking place at the Parx Casino and Racing is generally very reasonable. Certain race days during the year will see you get free entry, while usually, it will only cost about $5 for a standard ticket. Some of the bigger race days will lead to higher prices due to the increased demand for tickets.
Course Details
At the Parx Casino and Racing track, there is a dirt oval that is a mile in length and there are chutes in place on both of the stretches to allow for races of different distances. There is also a turf track that lies inside of the dirt track and this is seven furlongs in length.
The facility at the Parx Casino and Racing track has undergone numerous changes over the years. A major main grandstand renovation took place in 2010 to help modernize it and take it to another level.
The casino at the track has been operating since 2009 and is home to thousands of slot machines, as well as popular table games.
There has been a new poker room since 2018 and since October 2018, the casino has a sports betting license. It invested $10 million building its retail sportsbook. In July 2019, the Parx Casino and Racing facility launched its online gambling offering, consisting of online poker and an online casino.
Tactics to Consider
As there are many races taking place at the Parx Casino and Racing every month, some trends pop up again and again with successful horses. Generally, for the longer races, the steady oval shape of the track that eliminates sharp turns means that those horses with a long stride and plenty of stamina will tend to do well.
Track History
When the Parx Casino and Racing first opened back in November 1974, it was called the Keystone Racetrack. Previously, the Liberty Bell Racetrack in Philadelphia was the main track in the region. In 1984, the facility was renamed as Philadelphia Park when it was bought by ITB. At the same time, a new turf course was built and telephone betting was introduced.
Greenwood Racing bought the track in December 199. This is when full card simulcasting was introduced in addition to six betting facilities off-track. It was in 2010 that the track was renamed as the Parx Racing and Casino. Many top-quality horses have run at the track over the years, such as Broad Brush, Summer Squall and My Juliet. It was also the home for the horse that nearly won the Triple Crown, in 2004, Smarty Jones.
There was controversy in November 2014 when the track started making jockeys sign a waiver if they wanted to ride at the course. The Jockeys Guild was not in favour of this approach and was advising its members not to sign it. Unfortunately, during a race on March 19, 2019, there was a major incident during the day’s 9th race. It saw the hall of fame jockey Jose Flores dying from injuries sustained during a fall.
Biggest Horse Races
The two leading thoroughbred horse races that take place in Pennsylvania each year are held at the Parx Casino and Racing track. The Pennsylvania Derby (Grade I) takes place on the last Saturday of every September and it has a prize purse of $1,000,000. This takes place over nine furlongs and is reserved for three-year-olds.
Another decent race that takes place on Labor Day is the Smarty Jones, attracting a decent field and a purse of $300,000. The other major race that takes place at the Parx Casino and Racing track is the Fitz Eugene Dixon Cotillion Handicap (Grade I) that also has a purse of $1,000,000. This has been held since 1969 in the state and takes place over eight and a half furlongs. It takes place on the first Saturday every October.
Some other notable races include the:
Place your bets with Roger.com
If you want to place bets on the regular action taking place at the Parx Casino and Racing track, you can do so through a host of different online betting sites. Roger.com has chosen the best of the best in this regard, allowing you to quickly find the best option for your needs.
