Okay, so today I wanted to dive into something I’ve been messing around with lately – horse race tracks across the US. It’s been a bit of a rabbit hole, but a fun one!
I started out just curious, you know? Like, how many horse racing tracks are there in the US, and where are they all hiding? So, I hit up Google, just typing in “horse race tracks by state.”
First, I found out that Equibase is the official source. I quickly created a virtual stable, because it’s free, and followed the horses, trainers, and tracks.
Then I stumbled upon some interesting stuff about the history of horse racing. Apparently, it goes way back, like thousands of years! And it’s still a big deal all over the world. The US alone has over 300 tracks, which is just wild.
There’s this list of the top 10 tracks, voted by readers. Number one is Saratoga. They say it’s got it all – an awesome turf course, great racing, and super knowledgeable fans. Sounds like a dream for any racing fan.
Next, I started digging into specific states. I found a couple of sites that listed tracks by state. For example, Arizona has Turf Paradise and Rillito Park. Turf Paradise is at 1501 W Bell Rd in Phoenix. I even found some sites that compare tracks based on their surface types, lengths, and facilities. Pretty handy if you’re into that kind of detail.
- Arizona
- Turf Paradise
- Rillito Park
I kept going, state by state. I won’t bore you with every single one, but I did make a note of some of the tracks I want to visit someday. Like, there’s this place called Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. They have 42 days of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, which sounds like a blast.
To find out how many entries are declared for a race, I select “Fixtures and Races” at the top of the Equibase page and then click “Declarations Tracking.” Tracking information also appears when appropriate.
So yeah, that’s what I’ve been up to. It started as a simple search and turned into this whole adventure of exploring horse racing tracks. I’ve got a whole list of places I want to check out now. Who knows, maybe I’ll even become a regular at one of these tracks!
A Quick Summary
- Equibase is the official database for US horse racing.
- There are over 300 horse racing tracks in the US.
- Saratoga is considered the top track by many.
- You can find lists of tracks by state online.
- Some websites offer detailed comparisons of tracks.
If you’re into horse racing, I definitely recommend doing a little digging yourself. You might be surprised at what you find. And hey, if you’ve got any favorite tracks, let me know! I’m always looking for recommendations.
