It is not uncommon to see four- or even three-horse fields at Delaware in bad weather. Jones also trained the ill-fated Eight Belles, who also broke her maiden at Delaware before going on to finish second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby prior to her untimely death post-race.ĭelaware Park entries are drawn well in advance which often results in short fields after several late scratches. Larry Jones, trainer of 2007 Kentucky Derby runnerup Hard Spun, who is also based at Delaware Park. Matz is one of several mid-Atlantic trainers to perform on the national stage, along with Barclay Tagg, perennial leading trainer Tim Ritchey and J. Michael Matz, Barbaro's trainer, won the silver medal in the equestrian events at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. The area has a strong Arabian and equestrian population. The track is now home to many horses who routinely ship to and win at the major circuits in New York, Florida and Kentucky.ĭelaware Park is also the only mid-Atlantic track to regularly card Arabian races. In recent years, near-Triple Crown winner Afleet Alex and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, both won their career debuts at Delaware (Barbaro did it on the grass at 7–1), and the sprint champion mare Xtra Heat was based there. The 2005 average purse for DelPark placed Delaware fifth among states of the United States the first rank for average purse was held by New York at $41,229 per race. With the United States national average horse racing purse of $20,762 in 2005, the average 2005 purse for DelPark of $30,650 has helped to attract more talented contenders and more first-time competitors to the venue for the 20 racing seasons. Race purses have increased in recent years owing to increasing casino revenues. The facility opened on June 26, 1937, and today is the only thoroughbred horse racing track in the state of Delaware. Harris of Media, PA., was hired as the architectural engineer. a designer of twenty-three racing courses, designed and built Delaware Park Racetrack in partnership with Donald P. Thoroughbred racing Aerial view of Delaware Park Racetrack A race begins on a rainy fall day at Delaware Park. It is located just outside the city of Wilmington, and about 30 miles from Philadelphia. Delaware Park (also known as DelPark) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track, casino, and golf course in Stanton, Delaware.

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