Lone Star Park
Lone Star Park is a horse racing track and entertainment destination located 1⁄2 mile north of Interstate 30 on Belt Line Road in Grand Prairie, Texas. Lone Star Park has two live racing seasons every year; the spring Thoroughbred season generally runs from early April through mid-July, and the Fall Meeting of Champions generally runs from early September through mid-November.
Horses starting out of the gate at Lone Star Park | |
Location | Grand Prairie, Texas |
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Owned by | Global Gaming Solutions, LLC |
Date opened | 1997 |
Race type | Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse |
Official website |
History
In 1992 Grand Prairie voters approved a half-cent sales tax to assist in financial bonds to build a racetrack. Shortly thereafter, the city created a sports authority (the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corp.), which would own the track and lease it to a track operator.
Physical attributes
Lone Star Park covers 315 acres (1.27 km2), and includes Bar & Book for simulcasting of racing worldwide. The track has a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval and a seven-furlong turf track, and has accommodations for 1,600 horses across 32 barns. The climate-controlled grandstand has a seating capacity of roughly 8,000 people.[1]
Personalities
- Dave Appleton, paddock host (1997–present)
- Rick Lee, track Handicapper (1998–present)
- Jim Byers, track announcer (2016–present)
Production staff
- John Marsh, video production manager
Racing
Due to the popularity of many different horse breeds in the state of Texas, half of the races are set up for more than just thoroughbreds.[2][3][4]
Graded events
Thoroughbred races: Grade 1 Texas derby Grade III
- Steve Sexton Mile Stakes – $300,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up | 1 mile
Quarter horse:
Grade I
- Texas Classic Futurity – $1,000,000 estimated – 2 yo | 400 yards
- Texas Classic Derby – $400,000 estimated – 3 yo | 440 yards
- Refrigerator Handicap – $75,000-Guaranteed – 3 yo & up | 440 yards
Grade II
- Dash For Cash Futurity – $450,000 estimated – 2 yo | 400 yards
Grade III
- Dash For Cash Derby – $175,000 estimated – 3 yo | 440 yards
- B. F. Phillips Jr. Stakes Restricted Texas-Bred – $25,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up | 400 yards
Paint and Appaloosa:
Grade I
- Speedhorse Lone Star Paint and Appaloosa Futurity – $100,000 estimated – 2 yo | 400 yards
- Other events
- Assault Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $50,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up | 1 mile
- Bluebonnet Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $50,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up | 6 1⁄2 furlongs
- Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $50,000 guaranteed – fillies & mares, 3 yo & up | 6 1⁄2 furlongs
- Texas Stallion Stakes (Got Koko Division) – $65,000 guaranteed – fillies, 3 yo | 1 mile
- Texas Stallion Stakes (Stymie Division) – $65,000 guaranteed – colts & geldings, 3 yo | 1 mile
- Nevill Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $20,000 estimated – 3 yo & up | 350 yards
- Masterpiece Challenge Paint and Appaloosa Stakes – Listed – $20,000 estimated – 3 yo | 400 yards
Arabians:
- Dubai International Arabian Races Texas Open Stakes – $30,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up | 1 & 1/16 mile
- Shadwell Arabian Stallions Texas Distaff Stakes – $30,000 guaranteed – fillies & mares, 3 yo & up | 8 furlongs
- www.shadwellarabian.co.uk Texas Lone Star Futurity – $20,000 guaranteed – fillies, 3 yo | 6 furlongs
- DIAR Texas Lone Star Futurity – $20,000 guaranteed – colts & geldings, 3 yo | 6 furlongs
References
- "Lone Star Park". Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- "www.lonestarpark.com TB". Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- "www.lonestarpark.com QH". Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- "www.diaraces.com". Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- "Lone Star Park". MEC Tracks. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
- Map: 32°46′25″N 96°59′11″W