Parx Casino and Racing | |
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Location | Bensalem, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia area) |
Address | 2999 Street Road Bensalem, PA 19020 |
Opening date | Racetrack: 1974 parx: December 18, 2009 |
Signature attractions | 360 |
Notable restaurants | Chickie's & Pete's |
Casino type | Land-Based |
Owner | Greenwood Racing, Inc. |
Previous names | Keystone Racetrack (1974-1984) Philadelphia Park (1984-2010) |
Website |
Casino Racetrack |
Parx Casino and Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino) is a horse racing venue and the largest casino gaming complex in Pennsylvania. Owned and operated by Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc., Parx features 24-hour gaming: 3,500 slot machines, 140 live table games, a poker room with 60 poker tables, live racing and simulcast action, and several dining options and bars.
Originally called Keystone Racetrack, it opened in November 1974 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, replacing the Liberty Bell Park Racetrack as the area's Thoroughbred track. When the track was purchased in 1984 by ITB, the racetrack received a new name, Philadelphia Park, a new turf course, and an innovative new way to wager called Phonebet.
In December 1990, the racetrack again changed hands when Greenwood Racing, Inc. (a corporation founded in 1989 by British bookmaking veterans Bob Green and Bill Hogwood) purchased the oval from ITB. Full card simulcasting was added, as well as six off-track locations called Turf Clubs, allowing race fans to watch and wager seven days a week.
Late in 1998, Greenwood joined with fellow Pennsylvania corporation, Penn National Gaming, Inc., in expanding into New Jersey with the purchase of Freehold Raceway in Freehold Borough, New Jersey and the operating lease of Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The new partnership, called Pennwood, was expected to pursue off-track and account wagering in the Garden State. Garden State Park closed in 2002, and was razed shortly thereafter. Simulcasting on cable broadcasting systems (notably those owned by Comcast) was discontinued in March 2010, and shortly replaced by Comcast with TVG Network, who later joined with Harrah's Chester to bring their own simulcasting betting accounts in October 2010.