Progress…

With Arlington’s closing, the updated list…

The following racetracks have closed since 2000. In this same period, only two new tracks have opened: Pinnacle in Michigan – which, as you’ll see, closed after only two years – and Presque Isle in Pennsylvania. It must be noted, however, that Presque Isle is a racino, meaning it never could have opened without subsidization from taxpayers. Clearly, the demand for the racing product itself is going in one direction. Progress.

(Two other tracks, not listed below, were, for all intents and purposes, simply replaced after they closed: In Ohio, Beulah Park closed in 2014; its license was then picked up by Mahoning Valley, which opened that same year. In Kentucky, Thunder Ridge closed in 2017; its license was eventually transferred to Oak Grove, which opened in 2019. Of course, both Mahoning and Oak Grove are racinos.)

The shuttered tracks (40, and counting):

Arlington Park, Illinois, closed 2021 after 94 years of abusing horses

Calder Race Course, Florida, closed 2020 after 49 years of abusing horses

Scarborough Downs, Maine, closed 2020 after 70 years of abusing horses

Bluegrass Downs, Kentucky, closed 2019 after 35 years of abusing horses

Suffolk Downs, Massachusetts, closed 2019 after 84 years of abusing horses

Portland Meadows, Oregon, closed 2019 after 73 years of abusing horses

Hazel Park, Michigan, closed 2018 after 69 years of abusing horses

Les Bois Park, Idaho, closed 2016 after 46 years of abusing horses

Atlantic City Race Course, New Jersey, closed 2015 after 69 years of abusing horses

Balmoral Park, Illinois, closed 2015 after 89 years of abusing horses

Maywood Park, Illinois, closed 2015 after 69 years of abusing horses

Sports Creek Raceway, Michigan, closed 2015 after 28 years of abusing horses

Hollywood Park, California, closed 2013 after 75 years of abusing horses

Mount Pleasant Meadows, Michigan, closed 2013 after 28 years of abusing horses

Eureka Downs, Kansas, closed 2011 after 108 years of abusing horses

Atokad Downs, Nebraska, closed 2011 after 55 years of abusing horses

Northwest Montana Fair, closed 2011 after unknown number of years abusing horses

Yellowstone Downs, Montana, closed 2011 after 65 years of abusing horses

Blue Ribbon Downs, Oklahoma, closed 2010 after 47 years of abusing horses

Dayton Days, Washington, closed 2010 after 122 years of abusing horses

Manor Downs, Texas, closed 2010 after 20 years of abusing horses

Pinnacle Race Course, Michigan, closed 2010 after 2 years of abusing horses

Waitsburg, Washington, closed 2010 after 99 years of abusing horses

Walla Walla Fair, Washington, closed 2010 after 144 years of abusing horses

Western Montana Fair, closed 2010 after 96 years of abusing horses

Anthony Downs, Kansas, closed 2009 after 105 years of abusing horses

Rockingham Park, New Hampshire, closed 2009 after 103 years of abusing horses

Solano Fair, California, closed 2009 after 58 years of abusing horses

Bay Meadows, California, closed 2008 after 74 years of abusing horses

Jackson Harness Raceway, Michigan, closed 2008 after 60 years of abusing horses

Great Lakes Downs, Michigan, closed 2007 after 18 years of abusing horses

Rochester Fair, New Hampshire, closed 2007 after 73 years of abusing horses

Woodlands Racecourse, Kansas, closed 2007 after 17 years of abusing horses

Northampton Fair, Massachusetts, closed 2005 after 62 years of abusing horses

Saginaw Valley Downs, Michigan, closed 2005 after 25 years of abusing horses

Sportsman’s Park, Illinois, closed 2002 after 70 years of abusing horses

Brockton Fair, Massachusetts, closed 2001 after 60 years of abusing horses

Garden State Park Racetrack, New Jersey, closed 2001 after 59 years of abusing horses

Playfair Race Course, Washington, closed 2001 after 100 years of abusing horses

Lone Oak Park, Oregon, closed 2000 after 67 years of abusing horses