Delaware Park

1933 – Legislation was passed to develop the Delaware Racing Commission.

1935 – The Delaware Racing Commission was authorized to grant licenses.

1936 – A group of businessmen (including William DuPont, Jr.) met the Delaware Racing Commission to discuss the promotion of the breeding of thoroughbred horses and the development of the race track. They acquired a large tract of land in Stanton and started building the racing facility.

1937 – The Delaware Park was opened on June 26, 1937, in Stanton, Delaware, United States. It is owned by Delaware Park LLC and known as DelPark, an American Thoroughbred and only thoroughbred horse racing track in the state of Delaware, with a casino and golf course. Moreover, it is also the only mid-Atlantic track to regularly card Arabian races, as the area has a strong Arabian and equestrian population.

1943 – Delaware Park racetrack was forced to close briefly in 1943 during World War II. 

1944 – Delaware Park resumed in 1944 and became profitable, with a handle of more than $23 million from 288,000 customers.

1958 – The new Clubhouse’s expansion and the grandstand’s enlargement, which doubled the seating capacity, worth $2.8 million, was completed. Televisions were also added, and the winner’s circle was built. During Saturdays, crowds of more than 20,000 were commonplace.

1960’s – Delaware Park became a place for summer racing fans in the Mid-Atlantic region from Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.

1982 – Delaware Park officially closed on September 6, 1982, because of the fierce competition among nearby racetracks and disinterest in horse racing.

1983 – The Delaware Park was purchased by William Rickman, a Rockville, Maryland developer of office buildings, in partnership with Maryland-based horseman William Christmas.

1984 – The track reopened in the spring of 198.

1985 – Elder William Rickman took full control of Delaware Park.

1993 – William Rickman took the day-to-day reins of the racetrack from his father in the summer. Delaware Park offered a schedule with multiple racing choices to the local fans and developed a started simulcasting year-round. By midseason, Delaware Park commenced sending its simulcast signal to other tracks and OTBs throughout the country. 

1994 – The Delaware General Assembly passed H.B. 628 on June 1994. The Horse Racing Redevelopment Act authorized slot machine gambling at Delaware racetracks.

1995 – Delaware Park started a promotional campaign to increase the number of tracks receiving its signal during the live meet.

2009 – The General Assembly authorized Delaware Park to accept sports wagers and opened its Sports Book in September, offering 3-game parlays for pro football. 

2010 – The live table games were legalized for Delaware’s three racing and slots venues. The first day of Delaware Park’s full-fledged casino operated on June 18, 2010.

2018 – Sports betting was expanded to single-game and parlay betting on all professional and college sports (excluding Delaware college teams), including auto racing, baseball, basketball, boxing/MMA, football, golf, hockey, and soccer.