Palace on the Prairie!
Looking more like a
palace than a race track Lone Star Park started off with a bang when the
first horse to cross the finish line returned $101.00 to win. Then again
when your neighbors are the Joneses (Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys)
you have to think big. Arlington Downs might have been quite the place
in 1934, but I don't think it could top this place.
Lone Star Texas leading track with a purse value of 23 somehow won a bid and hosted the 2004 Breeders Cup. Lone Star is the newest facility in Texas was built in 1997 after beating out Trinity Meadows for a Class I license in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Lone Star was briefly part of the Magna empire and holds the attendance and handle records in Texas. Like the other class I tracks it holds separate thoroughbred and quarter horse meets.
In 2011 Lone Star ran it's usual split thoroughbred and quarter horse meets. Not a good sign that both meets have been shortened about half of what they were in 2008. M.C. Berry won the riding title for the thoroughbred meet. In 2012 racing will return with a $3 million renovation to the simulcast and sports bar area. Eat your heart out Mr. Jones.
I finally made it to Lone Star at the end of 2013, and it was grand. The racing season was over, but the facility was open for what seemed to be a Christmas party, so I was able to walk around a bit. I later found the Sports Bar and Simulcast area (actually it's in it's own building) and it sure looked like they put three million into it. The place was pretty full, but then again there's no online wagering in Texas. When you have to pay for a place like this, I guess you want to keep your bettors close.