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A casino and harness racing facility, Pocono Downs Raceway is located close to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Many people agree that this is one of the greatest American tracks in the smaller size range. The 5/8-mile oval track at Pocono Downs Raceway includes a 490-foot stretch. Stone dust with a top layer of red rock screens covers a base of stone aggregate. More than 2,300 slots, more than 80 table games, including roulette and blackjack, and an 18-table poker room are all available at the casino. Up to 3,000 people can fit in the Grandstand, while 400 people can reserve a spot in Pacer’s Clubhouse. There are up to 900 horses in the stables.
Every year, Pocono Downs Raceway holds a number of significant harness racing stakes events. The Max Hempt Memorial Pace, the James Lynch Memorial Pace, the Reynolds Stakes, and the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes are a few of these.
Pocono Downs History
Situated on 400 acres in the Pennsylvanian hillside near Plains, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. It is conveniently close to several fantastic northeastern Pennsylvania activities, including Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park in Hamlin, and New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware.
The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut owns it, making it one of Pennsylvania’s biggest, most unique, and most stunning entertainment, gaming, retail, and dining destinations. Ever since its acquisition in November 2005, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs has undergone continuous development and expansion.
At Pocono Downs, Mohegan Sun offers around 2,300 electronic table games and slot machines spread across 82,000 square feet of gaming space. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was among the first casinos in Pennsylvania to offer live table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and more, in July 2010, making state history. Over 80 table games, including poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps, are available at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Every weekend, Breakers and Bar Louie on the resort host musical performances by the greatest local musicians. Additionally, the 8,300-seat Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, which is nearby, is home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and hosts some of the biggest names in music, sports, and other entertainment.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is a short distance from the gaming activity and features a variety of food and beverage options, including sandwiches, snacks, steaks, fresh seafood, and gourmet foreign cuisine.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs provides customers with a wide range of options in its retail store, including luxury clothing, jewelry, technology and gadgets, gourmet food products, and more.
On January 25, 2005, Mohegan Sun paid $280 million to Penn National Gaming to purchase the Pocono Downs racetrack. Mohegan Sun started a significant expansion and changed the name of the resort to “Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs”. A remodeled grandstand area featuring two floors of slot machines, office space, a snack court, and a new simulcast section were among the improvements. It was Pennsylvania’s first slots casino, opening for business in November 2006.
Governor Ed Rendell then signed a bill to allow table gaming in Pennsylvania in January 2010. Among the first to get approval for table games, Mohegan Sun expected to expand by hiring 600 extra staff members. From July 13, 2010, table games have been operating.
On July 15, 1965, Pocono Downs opened for business. At that time, it was the “new kid” on the racing block, joining Liberty Bell to the south and the Meadows to the west. More than 12,000 fans flocked to the infield, clubhouse, and grandstand to see the action. Among its founders were James and Anna Jean Durkin, whose racetrack cost an estimated $7 million to create.
When Pocono Downs shared the track with the Shamrock Racing Association, thoroughbred racing took place there from 1970 until 1980. When storm Agnes caused the huge flood in the middle of 1972, one of the biggest natural catastrophes in American history, Pocono Downs temporarily suspended operations to act as an evacuation center for affected residents.
The track’s parent corporation, Penn National Gaming, Inc., paid the late Joseph B. Banks’ estate $47 million in November 1996 for Pocono Downs.
Satin Queen was the first winner of the first season. It was unheard of in those early years for a pacer or trotter to surpass the two-minute mile mark. Heineken the horse set the track record in that first season, clocking it at two minutes and twenty-four seconds. Singing Arrow registered the record time for a trotter, which was 2:02.2.
There were just 100 horses that broke the two-minute pace between 1965 and 1981. These days, every season has thousands of two-minute miles.
Even while harness tracks like Roosevelt, Brandywine, and Liberty Bell have gone, Pocono Downs is still one of the greatest little racetrack in North America, and the tradition lives on.
With Cat Manzi riding the bike, Yankee Finale set the track record on July 10, 2005, which stands at 1:49.4. It’s the only sub-150 mile timed racetracked history in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The record for the quickest trots ever held by two horses is currently in use. Founded on July 22, 2001, with Robert Blanton, Jr. at the wheel, they are SJ’s Caviar. On May 10, 2005, Armbro Barrister, riding a bike with Ray Schnittker, trotted that mile.
Off Track Betting Guides
Get your off track betting action at Pocono Downs, one of the many available horse racing tracks at YouWager.lv’s racebook.