Delaware Delaware Thoroughbred Race Track

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Horse racing in Delaware began during the Colonial period, with the first formal racing facility being built in the town of Newark in 1760. County fairs perpetuated the sport until the Depression Era of World War I. Although betting was not allowed, private wagers among gentlemen were made.

Delaware Park did not make the first attempt to create an organized thoroughbred meeting. The Elsmere Exhibitor’s & Breeders Association scheduled a 15-day meet at the Elsmere Fair Grounds in June of 1928, but the effort was discontinued after the second day when the Attorney General’s office ruled the donation system being used was against existing state law.

Although conservatives had battled horse racing in Delaware for many years, the state’s need for money during the Depression outweighed the supposed "ill effects" of gambling. In 1933, legislation was passed to create the Delaware Racing Commission and in 1935 it was given the power to grant licenses for the selling of pools by pari-mutuel machines and to receive wagers "within the enclosure of any horse race meeting licensed and conducted under this act."

In 1936, the Delaware Racing Commission met with the Delaware Steeplechase and Race Association, Inc., a group of five area businessmen including William DuPont, Jr. The Association submitted a proposal to the Commission that was intended to "promote the breeding of thoroughbred horses and the establishment of a race track." The group of businessmen had purchased a large amount of land in Stanton and was beginning to build a racing facility. A bill was introduced to the House that increased the number of race days from 20 to 30 and added a tax of 20 cents on every free ticket issued for admission to any race meeting held in the state. The bill passed the House and Senate and was signed into law.

Crowds of more than 20,000 were commonplace ©Delaware Park

William DuPont, Jr., the designer of 23 racing courses, including Fair Hill, a steeplechase course in Cecil County, Maryland, designed Delaware Park, which opened June 26, 1937 with a 30-day meet. The original Delaware Park facilities consisted of an open-air, 7,500 seat grandstand with an innovative tiered Clubhouse/Turf Club on the upper level. The track itself was a one-mile dirt oval with a pair of steeplechase turf courses. The backstretch contained stables for 1,226 horses. The outstanding features of Delaware Park were the exquisite architecture and the saddling and picnic grove areas.

The racing business was welcomed by the community and the sport flourished, although the track was forced to close briefly in 1943 during World War II. After reopening in 1944, Delaware Park became profitable, with a handle of more than $23 million from 288,000 customers

In 1958, a $2.8 million expansion was completed, including the building of a new clubhouse and the enlargement of the grandstand, resulting in the doubling of the seating capacity. Televisions were added and the winner’s circle was built.

Racing Legends our expert Arcaro and Bill Hartack ©Delaware Park
Delaware Park, with its prime location, became a haven for summer racing fans throughout the Middle Atlantic region. Trainloads of racegoers came via the B & O and Pennsylvania Railroads to the trackside terminals. Scores of buses rolled in daily from Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New
York. Crowds of more than 20,000 were commonplace on Saturdays.

As the 1970s approached, Delaware Park’s prime location began to work as a disadvantage. The expansion of racing dates at nearby Garden State Park, Atlantic City Racecourse and at the New York and Maryland tracks caused an overlapping of schedules. The east coast racing circuit was ending and each state was forming its own. As a result, the many fans and horsemen who travelled to Delaware Park from adjoining states were staying in their own backyards.

The commencement of thoroughbred racing at Liberty Bell Park and later at Keystone Race Track brought the competition 50 miles closer. At various times, Keystone (now Philadelphia Park) and Garden State Park raced in conflict with Delaware Park. In 1976, the last out-of-state market disappeared when Maryland added summer racing at Bowie, creating head-to-head competition during the Delaware Park meet.

Delaware Park’s marketing area was reduced to one-fifth of any nearby racetrack. Surrounding tracks all had at least one major city and three major counties, each with a greater population than the entire state of Delaware. A significant decline in profits caused by the erosion of its fan base forced the track to officially close its doors on September 6, 1982. In late 1983, William Rickman, Sr., a Rockville, Maryland developer of office buildings, acquired Delaware Park in partnership with Maryland based horseman William Christmas. The track reopened in the spring of 1984 with a weekend-only meet ending Memorial Day. A second meet with a three-day-per-week format was attempted in the fall, but it ended prematurely due to heavy financial losses.

Kelso Five Times Horse of the year (nearest) with trainer Carl Hanford on the pony©Delaware Park
In the winter of 1985, William Rickman, Sr. took full control of Delaware Park determined to turn the ailing track around. The 1985 season brought moderate success to Delaware Park. The opening of the new, $180 million Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey had a positive impact, as the track’s media blitz caused a new awareness of racing in the Delaware Valley. Also, with Garden State Park engaging in night racing, Delaware Park attracted many Philadelphia area fans who preferred day racing. Garden State's owners, International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., purchased nearby Keystone Race Track and renamed it Philadelphia Park. The track, which normally opened in the summer opposite Delaware Park, remained closed until Labor Day for renovations, giving Delaware Park sole access to Philadelphia fans in the pivotal year of 1985.

The season ended with a $522,134 daily average handle. A new high mark was set for the new Delaware Park when over $1 million was wagered on Kentucky Derby day. Under the direction of William Rickman, Sr., Delaware Park was successful in meeting an onslaught of competition from neighboring states over the next several years. This competition came from many directions. Philadelphia Park began a network of off-track betting parlors bringing racing action to sites only 30-miles from Delaware Park. The Pennsylvania track also initiated telephone wagering via cable TV. Fans residing just seven miles from Delaware Park could watch and wager on the races from their homes in Pennsylvania.

Garden State Park also made changes in its schedule that conflicted with Delaware Park. They included the start of Sunday racing and for several years, moving weekend racing to daytime, resulting in three tracks within a 60-mile radius operating at once (and if Maryland is included, four tracks within 75 miles).

Delaware Park's signature "Grove" area
©Delaware Park
Delaware Park responded with force to counter this "war" on racing markets. Track general manager John E. Mooney adopted the successful Twin Trifecta wager from Suffolk Downs, becoming the first area facility to offer the exciting wager. A then record payoff of nearly $700,000 generated massive publicity and let fans know that Delaware Park was still on the map. Delaware Park took advantage of its trackside picnic grove by developing a series of family-oriented promotions that was successful in attracting a new breed of fan. The track took a page out of amusement parks and minor league baseball by opening its doors for local area entertainment.

The historic Stanton track continued its aggressive approach by encouraging Arabian racing to come to Delaware, which not only helped fill the racing cards, but again attracted a new interest in racing as a whole. In 1986, former track chairman Baird Brittingham was instrumental in bringing back the prestigious Delaware Handicap, which had been moved to Saratoga after the 1982 closing of Delaware Park.

Although the track's bottom line was marginal, it surprised most skeptics by out drawing its competition on most days when all were in operation. In the summer of 1993, William Rickman, Jr., took the day-to-day reins of the racetrack from his father.

Delaware Park concentrated on offering local fans a schedule of multiple racing choices and created a comfortable atmosphere to watch simulcasting year-round. By mid-season, Delaware Park began sending its simulcast signal to other tracks and OTBs throughout the country.

1995 A new "era" in entertainment
©Delaware Park
In 1995, Delaware Park began a major promotional campaign to increase the number of tracks receiving its signal during the live meet. Total handle for the 1995 live racing season soared to an all-time record of $91 million. Purses for live racing, which a year earlier had been $48,000 per day, were increased several times and reached an impressive $92,000 daily at the end of the live meet. That figure was similar to Philadelphia Park and ahead of Garden State. While the track's simulcast operation continued to grow, William Rickman, Jr. personally took charge of efforts to seek video lottery legislation. In June 1994, the Delaware General Assembly passed H.B. 628, The Horse Racing Redevelopment Act, legalizing slot machine gambling at Delaware racetracks. Under the direction of the Delaware State Lottery, legislation was enacted to introduce slots at Delaware Park Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway. Fueled with new optimism, William Rickman, Jr. began the plans to make Delaware Park a major league entertainment complex.