Dover Downs
🇺🇸 DELAWARE
1131 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901, USA
Racing at Dover Downs
About Dover Downs
Dover Downs is a unique race track in that it sits within the infield of the Dover International Speedway, itself a one-mile concrete oval used for NASCAR racing and nicknamed “The Monster Mile” by motor racing fanatics.Although Dover, Delaware is not a huge community in itself, the track can be reached from Baltimore (105 miles away) or from Washington, DC (95 miles) meaning support is garnered from out of town race fans as well as locals.
Ever since its foundation back in 1969, Dover Downs has put on harness racing and these days also simulcasts races to off-track betting facilities right across the country. As well as the Monster Mile above it, the track also sits in the same grounds as a casino, hotel and conference center.
The grandstand for the race track can seat 4,200 people with a further 400 hosted in the Clubhouse, though because of the NASCAR circuit and the conference centre, there is actually room for 12,000 vehicles on site.
Dover Downs History
Dover Downs race track opened up in 1969 and has been hosting good quality harness racing ever since. Like many other tracks around the country there was a slowdown in revenue towards the 1990’s but in ’95 slot machines were introduced at the facility which greatly helped purse sizes on course.
In 2002 there was somewhat of a split in the camp as the motor racing section of the business broke away to become Dover Motorsports Inc, however the name Dover Downs was retained for the popular race track and it continues to draw good crowds to this day.