Delaware Park Race Track stands out from the rest

The Delaware Park Race Track has a vast and long history putting Delaware on the map in the world of horse racing being best known for hosting Kentucky Derby winners and having one of the most attractive facilities in the area.

The Race Track draws spectators from neighboring states as the geographic middleman in the area to see successful racing horses and the spectacular view.

The Track is blowing out 73 candles this year and is still one of the finest tracks in the mid-Atlantic region. William duPont built the Delaware Park Race Track and opened it in 1937 during the depression as a form of revenue and income for the State of Delaware to stimulate the local economy.

“Throughout history we’ve hosted some of the greatest horses of all time,” said Racing Information Coordinator for Delaware Park Chris Sobocinski.

Most recently the near-Triple Crown winner Afleet Alex and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who both started their careers and won their debuts at Delaware Park, made the First State proud.
Barbaro is possibly the most famous horse in the United States starting when he won the Kentucky Derby in 2006, then when he was plagued with injury until his death in 2007. Barbaro’s first race was at Delaware Park in October 2005, which he won, going on to win five consecutive races. Delaware Park renamed the Leonard Richards Stakes, a Grade III race for three-year olds, the Barbaro Stakes.
“We’re also well-known for the Philly Mare races,” Sobocinski said. “Delaware Park found a unique niche if they would specialize in Philly Mare division.”

He said a lot of race tracks specialize in the male horse racing, so Delaware Park did raised the bar to beat the competition.

When duPont purchased the land for the facility he selected the area because was in the middle of New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania, Sobocinski said. Delaware Park located in Stanton, at 777 Delaware Park Blvd., just minutes south of Wilmington and the Delaware Memorial Bridge and just north of Maryland.

The original facility consisted of an open-air, 7,500 seat grandstand with an innovative tiered Clubhouse/Turf Club on the upper level. The backstretch contained stables for 1,226 horses. Delaware Park was the only race track in the area for more than 10 years.

According to Sobocinski, in the1940s, New Jersey opened race tracks causing Delaware Park to open their track year round to keep up with the competition. When other parks in the tri-state area implemented the same year-round schedule, Delaware Park took the next step introducing Sunday racing in the late 1960s. Over the years other race tracks followed in their footsteps to open on Sundays.

“One of the things that distinguishes Delaware Park, in my opinion, is that it’s known for its beauty,” Sobocinski said. “William wanted to blend the track into the beauty. That’s what makes it unique.”

Racing improvements have been made over the past seven decades with the most recent being resurfaced dirt and turf, a giant infield video monitor, a complete renovation of all clubhouse levels, the replacement of grandstand seating, the enclosure of the outdoor grandstand ceiling amongst other renovations and additions.

One change came in 1944 when the park reopened after closing in 1943 during World War II, bringing in more than $23 million up from the previous 288,000 customers.

“When people come here they say it looks nice,” Sobocinski said. “The stable area is spread out, there are grassy pastures. People say the walking ring and the paddock where the horses get saddled in are nicely kept. People come from all around because they like the view.”

For more information on Delaware Park Race Track and Slots, call 302-994-2521 or visit delawarepark.com.