USA Horse Racing Tracks Directory

Complete List of Thoroughbred, Harness, and Quarter Horse Racing Venues

100+

Major Racing Venues

32

States with Tracks

3

Track Surface Types

1838

Oldest Track (Fair Grounds)

About US Horse Racing Tracks

This comprehensive directory features over 100 major horse racing tracks across the United States, spanning thoroughbred racing, harness racing, and quarter horse venues. From historic facilities like Fair Grounds Race Course (established 1838) and Saratoga Race Course (1863) to modern gaming and entertainment destinations, American racetracks offer diverse racing experiences year-round.

Tracks operate on three primary surface types: traditional dirt (most common for major races including the Triple Crown), turf/grass courses (popular for European-style racing), and synthetic all-weather surfaces (designed for safety and consistent conditions). Browse tracks by state below, or explore detailed racing information for each state in our Horse Racing by State directory.

Track Surface Types

Dirt Tracks

Most common in the United States, dirt tracks consist of sand, silt, and clay. All three Triple Crown races run on dirt surfaces. Conditions vary from "fast" when dry to sloppy or muddy depending on weather. Most major thoroughbred venues feature dirt main tracks.

Famous Dirt Tracks: Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Pimlico Race Course, Santa Anita Park

Turf (Grass) Tracks

Grass courses, most popular in Europe, are installed inside dirt tracks at many US facilities. Turf racing emphasizes late-closing speed over the final quarter-mile. Track conditions range from firm (fastest) to yielding or soft after rain. Turf races feature prominently in summer meets.

Notable Turf Courses: Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, Del Mar, Keeneland

Synthetic All-Weather

Manufactured surfaces using sand, rubber, synthetic fibers, and wax. Considered safer than dirt (1.18 fatalities per 1,000 starts vs 1.78 on dirt). Weather-independent with consistent conditions year-round. Surfaces include Tapeta, Polytrack, and Cushion Track.

Synthetic Tracks: Golden Gate Fields (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Tapeta), Woodbine (Tapeta)

Complete Track Directory by State

Browse individual racetracks organized alphabetically by state. Click state names below for detailed state racing guides including track reviews, major races, and betting information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana, established in 1838, is the oldest continuously operating horse racing track in America. Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York (1863) is the oldest major thoroughbred track still hosting elite racing meets. Monmouth Park (1870) and Pimlico Race Course (1870) are also among the oldest active venues.

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, hosts the Kentucky Derby annually on the first Saturday in May. The track opened in 1875 and has hosted the Derby every year since, making it one of the longest-running sporting events in America. The iconic twin spires and 150,000+ attendance make the Derby a bucket-list experience for racing fans.

Thoroughbred tracks feature jockeys riding horses at a gallop on oval tracks (typically 1 mile circumference). Harness racing tracks use standardbred horses pulling drivers in two-wheeled sulkies at either a trotting or pacing gait. Harness tracks are often 5/8 or 1/2 mile ovals. Many facilities host both racing types on different schedules. Examples: Meadowlands (both), Hoosier Park (both), Yonkers Raceway (harness only).

California leads with 10+ active tracks including Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, and numerous county fair circuits. New York has 8 major facilities (Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct, Finger Lakes, plus harness venues). Ohio operates 7 tracks (mostly harness). Pennsylvania has 6 tracks. Other states with multiple tracks include Florida (5), Kentucky (5), New Mexico (5), Louisiana (4), and Maryland (4).

A racino is a racetrack facility that also operates a casino with slot machines, video lottery terminals, or table games. Examples include Gulfstream Park (Florida), Turfway Park (Kentucky), Parx Casino (Pennsylvania), and MGM Northfield Park (Ohio). Racinos generate additional revenue to support racing operations and higher purses. Many states authorized racinos to help revitalize their racing industries.

Yes, through simulcast wagering at OTB (Off-Track Betting) facilities or online via ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) platforms like TwinSpires, TVG, and NYRA Bets. Most racetracks offer simulcast betting on races from tracks nationwide and internationally. Online ADW is legal in 28+ states, allowing bettors to wager from home on races across America. You must be physically located in a state where ADW is authorized.

The Triple Crown consists of three races at three historic tracks: Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs (Louisville, KY - first Saturday in May), Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course (Baltimore, MD - third Saturday in May), and Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park (Elmont, NY - five weeks after the Derby). Only 13 horses have won all three races in history. The Belmont is currently being reconstructed with temporary racing at Saratoga and Aqueduct.

Quarter horse racing features American Quarter Horses competing in short-distance sprints (220-870 yards), emphasizing explosive speed over shorter distances than thoroughbred races. Quarter horses are the fastest breed in the world for sprints. Major quarter horse tracks include Los Alamitos Race Course (California), Ruidoso Downs (New Mexico - hosts $3M All American Futurity), Remington Park (Oklahoma), and tracks in Arizona and Texas.

Related Resources

Last updated on November 27, 2025