Delaware Park (racetrack/casino)

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Delaware Park is a thoroughbred horse racing track and casino located in Wilmington, Delaware. One of the oldest continuously operating racetracks in the eastern United States, it opened on June 26, 1937, and has since grown to include a full casino floor, dining facilities, and an adjacent golf course. Situated in New Castle County along the Interstate 95 corridor, it draws visitors from across the Mid-Atlantic — Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey among them. The track is operated by 1/ST (formerly The Stronach Group), one of North America's largest thoroughbred racing companies.

History

Delaware Park was founded in 1937, when a group of investors led by members of the DuPont family established the track on what was then open farmland south of Wilmington. The track opened on June 26 of that year to considerable public interest, and thoroughbred racing quickly became the central draw. The one-mile oval was designed to accommodate a full racing season, and within its first decade the track had established itself as one of the more prominent mid-Atlantic venues for the sport.

Horse racing remained the park's sole offering for decades. That changed in the mid-1990s when Delaware moved to expand legalized gambling. Under the Delaware Lottery Law, the state authorized video lottery terminals — effectively slot machines — at licensed racetracks, and Delaware Park installed its first machines in 1995. The move was part of a broader state strategy to shore up revenue for horse racing purses and the state general fund. It worked. Slot machine revenues grew rapidly through the late 1990s and into the 2000s, funding purse supplements that kept the racing program competitive.

Table games came later. Delaware voters and the legislature authorized them in 2010, and Delaware Park added blackjack, roulette, poker, and other table games to its casino floor that year, bringing its gaming operation closer in line with full commercial casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The most recent major regulatory change came in 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association struck down the federal ban on sports betting under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Delaware had actually operated limited sports parlay betting under a pre-PASPA exemption for years, but the ruling opened the door to full single-game wagering. Delaware Park launched full-scale sports betting in the summer of 2018, among the first venues in the country to do so after the ruling.

The park has not been without its difficulties. Competition from the rapid expansion of casino gaming in Pennsylvania — particularly venues like Parx Casino and Hollywood Casino at Penn National — drew off a significant share of the Philadelphia-area market that Delaware Park had historically served. Maryland's entry into table games and slots added further competitive pressure from the south. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the facility in March 2020, suspending both racing and casino operations for several months before a phased reopening began later that year.

Geography

Delaware Park is located at 777 Delaware Park Boulevard in Wilmington, Delaware 19804, within New Castle County. The property sits just off Interstate 95 at Exit 4B (formerly Exit 3), roughly four miles south of downtown Wilmington. Route 4 and Route 7 also provide access from the surrounding suburban areas. The location puts the park within roughly 30 miles of Philadelphia, about 60 miles from Baltimore, and within easy range of the densely populated suburban corridors of northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania.

The facility occupies a substantial tract in what is now a mixed suburban and light-industrial zone. The racetrack itself is a one-mile oval with a turf course set inside the main dirt and synthetic track. Grandstands, barns, paddock areas, and the casino building occupy the interior and perimeter of the property. An 18-hole golf course adjacent to the main complex — operated separately as White Clay Creek Country Club — was listed for sale in early 2026 at approximately $3 million, at 879 Delaware Park Boulevard. The course's future development could affect the overall character of the park's immediate surroundings.

The broader neighborhood is a blend of older residential streets, commercial strips along Route 4, and industrial parcels closer to the Christina River. Claymont lies a few miles to the north along I-95, while the city of Newark — home to the University of Delaware — is about ten miles to the southwest. Wilmington International Airport is approximately five miles north of the track, a manageable distance for visitors arriving by air.

Horse Racing

Thoroughbred racing has been Delaware Park's defining activity since its founding. The track runs a spring and summer meet that typically spans from late April or early May through October, with live racing scheduled several days per week during the season. The racing surface is a one-mile main track, with a turf course for grass races. The barn area on the grounds houses horses stabled at the meet, and the paddock is open to the public before each race.

The Delaware Oaks and the Delaware Handicap are the track's most prominent stakes races. The Delaware Handicap, a Grade II event for fillies and mares at a mile and a quarter, has a history dating to the mid-20th century and has attracted some of the top horses in the country over the years. The Delaware Oaks is a Grade III race for three-year-old fillies and is part of the prep schedule for late-season championship races.

Beyond live racing, Delaware Park offers simulcasting year-round. Bettors can wager on races from tracks across the country and internationally, making the simulcast hall an active operation even when the live meet isn't running. The simulcast signal also goes out to other tracks and off-track betting locations, providing a source of handle and revenue outside the live racing calendar.

The racing program has faced challenges common to the industry nationally — declining on-track attendance, competition for bettors from online advance-deposit wagering platforms, and the difficulty of attracting younger audiences. Slot machine revenue supplements, distributed through the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, have helped maintain purse levels and keep the racing program viable in a competitive environment.

Gaming

The casino at Delaware Park operates under the authority of the Delaware Lottery, which regulates all commercial gaming in the state. The facility's gaming floor includes several thousand slot machines and video lottery terminals, along with table games — blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and poker among them — that were added following the 2010 table games authorization. A dedicated poker room offers both cash games and tournaments throughout the year.

Sports betting is available on-site and through the Delaware Lottery's online and mobile platform. Delaware Park was one of the first venues in the United States to offer single-game sports wagering after the Supreme Court's 2018 PASPA ruling, accepting bets on professional and college sports across major leagues. Wagering is available at kiosks and staffed betting windows inside the facility.

Revenue from gaming is shared among the park's operator, the state's general fund, and a purse supplement pool that supports horse racing at Delaware's three licensed racetracks. The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement oversees compliance and licensing. Annual revenue figures are reported by the Delaware Lottery; in recent years the state's three racinos — Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway — have collectively generated hundreds of millions of dollars in gaming revenue, though competition from expanded gaming in Pennsylvania and Maryland has put downward pressure on those numbers.

Facilities

The casino building is the largest structure on the property, housing the gaming floor, multiple dining options, and entertainment spaces. Restaurants range from casual food-court-style options to more substantial sit-down dining. A hotel is connected to or adjacent to the complex, offering accommodations for overnight visitors — a feature that positions the park as a destination rather than just a day venue.

The racetrack grandstand provides seating along the homestretch, with views of the full oval. Terrace areas and indoor clubhouse spaces are available for groups and private events. The paddock, where horses are saddled before each race, is a public area and draws steady foot traffic from racing fans who want a close look at the horses before placing their bets.

Barn and stable facilities on the backstretch house horses for the duration of the racing meet. The backstretch operation involves a substantial workforce — grooms, exercise riders, trainers, veterinarians, and other support staff — who work daily throughout the meet season.

The adjacent White Clay Creek Country Club golf course, an 18-hole layout on the grounds at 879 Delaware Park Boulevard, has served as an amenity for the broader complex, though as of early 2026 it was listed for sale at approximately $3 million. The outcome of that sale may affect the long-term footprint of the park's recreational offerings.

Economy

Delaware Park is among the larger private employers in New Castle County. Jobs at the facility span gaming, hospitality, food service, horse care, security, and administration. The backstretch alone supports a workforce of trainers, grooms, and related personnel during the racing season, many of whom are seasonal migrants who follow the racing circuit up and down the East Coast.

Tax revenues from gaming at Delaware Park flow to the state general fund and to dedicated funds for education and public services, consistent with the framework established under the Delaware Lottery Law. Purse supplements funded by slot revenue have been central to sustaining the state's horse racing industry since 1995. Without that subsidy mechanism, the economics of live racing at Delaware Park — as at most American tracks — would be difficult to sustain on handle revenue alone.

Tourism is a secondary but real economic contribution. The park draws visitors from outside Delaware, particularly from southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, who spend money at the facility and at nearby hotels, restaurants, and businesses. The combination of live racing, casino gaming, and sports betting gives the park a broader draw than either racing or gaming alone would provide.

Culture

Delaware Park occupies a specific place in the culture of northern Delaware. Horse racing has deep roots in the state going back to the track's 1937 opening, and for generations of families in the Wilmington area, attending a summer race day at Delaware Park has been a seasonal ritual. The spring and summer racing meet draws regulars who follow the sport closely, as well as casual visitors who come for the atmosphere.

The casino's arrival in the 1990s added a different kind of energy to the property — one oriented more toward evening entertainment than the afternoon rhythms of race day. Charity events, poker tournaments, and entertainment programming have all been hosted at the facility over the years, giving it a broader community presence than a track-only operation would have.

The park has also served as a backdrop for coverage of Delaware's broader debates about gambling policy. Decisions made at the state level about gaming expansion, sports betting legalization, and slot revenue distribution have directly affected the facility's operations, making it a recurring subject in state political and business reporting.

Notable Figures

Delaware Park's early development was closely tied to the DuPont family, which wielded enormous influence over Delaware's economic and civic life through much of the 20th century. William P. du Pont Jr. was instrumental in the track's establishment, providing the land and capital that made the project possible. The du Pont family's involvement reflected their broader interest in thoroughbred racing — an interest shared by several members of the family across multiple generations.

Later figures central to the park's development include state officials and lottery administrators who shaped the legal framework for gaming expansion in the 1990s and 2000s. The decisions made during that period — particularly the 1994–1995 video lottery authorization — defined the modern character of Delaware Park as a combined racing and gaming facility.

Demographics

New Castle County, where Delaware Park is located, had a population of approximately 570,719 as of the 2020 U.S. Census, making it the most populous county in Delaware. The median household income in the county was approximately $72,000, and the median age was around 38. The population is diverse, with significant African American, Hispanic, and immigrant communities, particularly in and around Wilmington.

The neighborhoods immediately surrounding Delaware Park are a mix of working- and middle-class residential areas, with some commercial and light-industrial development. The park's workforce draws from a wide geographic area, and its visitor base spans income levels — casino patrons and racing fans don't break down neatly along demographic lines.

Parks and Recreation

The area around Delaware Park includes several public parks and natural areas that complement the park's private entertainment offerings. Brandywine Park, a large public green space along the Brandywine Creek in Wilmington, is a few miles north and offers hiking, picnic areas, and access to the Brandywine Zoo. Wilmington Riverfront Park, along the Christina River, provides walking paths, open lawn, and access to cultural venues including the Delaware Children's Museum and the Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park.

Alapocas Run State Park, just north of the city, offers trails through wooded terrain along the Brandywine. For those who prefer outdoor recreation after a day at the track or casino, the concentration of parks within a short drive of Delaware Park means options are close at hand.

Getting There

Delaware Park is accessible from Interstate 95 via Exit 4B (Delaware Route 4 East) in Wilmington. The drive from central Philadelphia takes roughly 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions; Baltimore is about 75 minutes to the southwest. Route 1 and Route 13 also provide north-south access through central Delaware for visitors coming from Dover or the southern part of the state.

Public transit options exist but are limited. DART First State, Delaware's statewide bus system, operates routes in the Wilmington area that can connect riders to points near the park, though direct service to the facility itself isn't always convenient depending on the route and time of day. Wilmington's Amtrak station — a stop on the Northeast Corridor — is a few miles north of the park; ride-sharing services are the practical option for arriving rail passengers. Wilmington International Airport is approximately five miles north, with car rental and ride-share services available.

Parking at Delaware Park is free and extensive, with surface lots surrounding the main complex capable of accommodating the crowds that attend large racing and gaming events.

Neighborhoods

Claymont is the closest distinct community to Delaware Park, located a few miles north along the I-95 corridor. Once a heavy industrial area anchored by steel mills, Claymont has undergone substantial reinvestment since the early 2000s, with residential development and small business growth reshaping parts of the community. The Claymont Renaissance project, a long-running redevelopment effort, has brought new housing and commercial activity to the area.

Wilmington's southwest neighborhoods are nearby, including areas that have seen ongoing investment tied to the city's broader economic development efforts. Downtown Wilmington, with its concentration of financial services firms, restaurants, and cultural institutions, is about four miles to the north. The Brandywine Hundred area to the northwest is one of the more affluent suburban zones in the county, and many Delaware Park employees and regular patrons live there.

Newark, home to the University of Delaware, sits about ten miles to the southwest. The student and faculty population there provides a secondary draw for the gaming and entertainment offerings at the park, particularly for events and poker programming.

Education

Delaware Technical Community College operates campuses in Wilmington and Newark and offers programs in hospitality, business, and technology that connect directly to employment opportunities in the gaming and tourism sectors. The college has worked with hospitality employers in the region — including gaming venues — on workforce development