Lone Star Park is a

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

track and entertainment destination located mile north of Interstate 30 on Belt Line Road in

Grand Prairie Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties of Texas, in the United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It had a population of 175,396 according to the 2010 census, making it ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. Lone Star Park has two live racing seasons every year; the spring Thoroughbred season generally runs from early April through mid-July, and the Fall Meeting of Champions generally runs from early September through mid-November.

History

In 1992 Grand Prairie voters approved a half-cent sales tax to assist in financial bonds to build a racetrack. Shortly thereafter, the city created a sports authority (the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corp.), which would own the track and lease it to a track operator.

Physical attributes

Lone Star Park covers , and includes Bar & Book for simulcasting of racing worldwide. The track has a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval and a seven- furlong turf track, and has accommodations for 1,600 horses across 32 barns. The climate-controlled grandstand has a seating capacity of roughly 8,000 people.

Personalities

*Dave Appleton, paddock host (1997–present) *Rick Lee, track Handicapper (1998–present) *Jim Byers, track announcer (2016–present)

Production staff

*John Marsh, video production manager

Racing

Due to the popularity of many different horse breeds in the state of Texas, half of the races are set up for more than just thoroughbreds.

Graded events

Thoroughbred races: Grade III *

Steve Sexton Mile Stakes The Steve Sexton Mile Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older over the distance of one mile (8 furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in late May at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Hi ...

– $300,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up , 1 mile Quarter horse: Grade I *Texas Classic Futurity – $1,000,000 estimated – 2 yo , 400 yards *Texas Classic Derby – $400,000 estimated – 3 yo , 440 yards *Refrigerator Handicap – $75,000-Guaranteed – 3 yo & up , 440 yards Grade II *Dash For Cash Futurity – $450,000 estimated – 2 yo , 400 yards Grade III *Dash For Cash Derby – $175,000 estimated – 3 yo , 440 yards *B. F. Phillips Jr. Stakes Restricted Texas-Bred – $25,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up , 400 yards Paint and Appaloosa: Grade I *Speedhorse Lone Star Paint and Appaloosa Futurity – $100,000 estimated – 2 yo , 400 yards ;Other events *Assault Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $50,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up , 1 mile *Bluebonnet Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $50,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up , furlongs *Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $50,000 guaranteed – fillies & mares, 3 yo & up , furlongs *Texas Stallion Stakes (Got Koko Division) – $65,000 guaranteed – fillies, 3 yo , 1 mile *Texas Stallion Stakes (Stymie Division) – $65,000 guaranteed – colts & geldings, 3 yo , 1 mile *Nevill Stakes – Restricted Texas-Bred – $20,000 estimated – 3 yo & up , 350 yards Lone Star Park

*Masterpiece Challenge Paint and Appaloosa Stakes – Listed – $20,000 estimated – 3 yo , 400 yards Arabians: *Dubai International Arabian Races Texas Open Stakes – $30,000 guaranteed – 3 yo & up , 1 & 1/16 mile *Shadwell Arabian Stallions Texas Distaff Stakes – $30,000 guaranteed – fillies & mares, 3 yo & up , 8 furlongs *www.shadwellarabian.co.uk Texas Lone Star Futurity – $20,000 guaranteed – fillies, 3 yo , 6 furlongs *DIAR Texas Lone Star Futurity – $20,000 guaranteed – colts & geldings, 3 yo , 6 furlongs

References

* *Map: {{Grand Prairie, Texas Buildings and structures in Dallas County, Texas Buildings and structures in Grand Prairie, Texas Horse racing venues in Texas Stronach Group Sports in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex Sports venues in Texas Tourist attractions in Dallas County, Texas Sports in Grand Prairie, Texas 1997 establishments in Texas