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Where You Can Still Bet On Horse Racing in the US, Worldwide

Bill Speros for Bookies.com

Bill Speros  | 4 mins

Where You Can Still Bet On Horse Racing in the US, Worldwide

Professional and collegiate athletic competition has been halted across America, erasing much of the action usually available at sportsbooks. But gamblers are still able to live wager on perhaps the oldest sport of them all – horse racing.

Several horse tracks remain open across the nation and are offering action on live racing without fans in attendance and via online sites such as BetAmerica. There is also betting available on horse racing in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.

The Florida Derby, traditionally one of the bigger Kentucky Derby prep races, was run this past weekend at a near-empty Gulfstream Park. Only essential personnel, and the horses, were in attendance.

Tiz the Law ($4.80, $3.60 and $2.80) won the 1 1/8-mile event with ease by three lengths and has become a Kentucky Derby betting co-favorite at 7-2. The annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, meanwhile, has been postponed from its traditional date on the first Saturday in May until Sept. 5. Among the other Kentucky Derby top choices in futures odds at BetAmerica are three Bob Baffert hopefuls: Authentic (8-1), Nadal (9-1) and the co-favorite Charlatan at 7-2.

Even though the residents of Florida began life under a state-wide “Stay-At-Home” order Friday, racing has been allowed to continue at Gulfstream and Tampa Bay Downs.

The on-site restrictions Florida in include a limitation of one trainer and two handlers per horse. The starting gate is disinfected prior to each race and track employees are wearing face masks and gloves. Jockeys are having their blood pressure and temperatures taken before they are allowed to ride.

Where Can You Bet On Live Horse Racing?

Where You Can Still Bet On Horse Racing in the US, Worldwide 1
Live horse racing continues at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida without fans in the attendance. All wagering is done online.

Here Is a list of tracks currently running live horse racing in the U.S. Check out our best horse racing odds and deals:

  • Gulfstream (Florida)
  • Tampa Bay Downs (Florida)
  • Los Alamitos (Florida)
  • Oak Lawn (Arkansas)
  • Remington Park (Oklahoma)
  • Will Rogers Downs (Oklahoma)
  • (via BetAmerica)

Santa Anita Park in California had been running live racing without fans until it was shut down by public health officials last week. Officials have asked the Los Angeles County Department of Health to allow the track to reopen and run without fans in attendance.


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"Simply put, by ceasing live racing operations, we are jeopardizing the income stream for backstretch employees (racehorse caregivers) and the financial resources required to provide them and the horses they love with the care they both deserve," said Belinda Stronach, the chairman and president of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita Park. "Without live racing, some may have to make a difficult choice to leave their home at Santa Anita Park ... a fact that entirely defeats the objective of the stay-at-home orders."

Horse Racing Tracks Closed In The U.S.

Those tracks still running are outnumbered by those that have either canceled scheduled meets, postponed racing dates or simply closed until further notice. Here is the most-up-to-date list of racing meets that are no longer being held, via Twin Spires.

The closings are until further notice unless otherwise noted.

  • Aqueduct (Track is serving as temporary hospital)
  • Arlington (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Belterra Park (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Buffalo Raceway (through May 2)
  • Cal Expo
  • Century Downs
  • Charles Town
  • Delta Downs (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Dover Downs
  • Evangeline Downs (Opening Delayed Indefinitely
  • Fairmount Park
  • Flamboro
  • Fraser Downs (Canceled)
  • Freehold
  • Golden Gate Fields
  • Grants Pass (Canceled)
  • Harrah’s Philadelphia (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Hawthorne
  • Hippodrome 3R (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Hoosier (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Indiana Grand (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Keeneland (Canceled)
  • Laurel Park
  • The Meadowlands
  • The Meadows
  • Mahoning Valley (Canceled)
  • Miami Valley
  • Monmouth Park (Postponed to May 23)
  • Monticello
  • Northfield Park
  • Northville Downs
  • Parx Racing
  • Penn National
  • Plainridge Park (Postponed to June 1)
  • Pocono
  • Pompano Park
  • Rideau Carleton
  • Rosecroft Raceway
  • Sam Houston (Canceled)
  • Santa Anita
  • Saratoga Harness
  • Scarborough Downs (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Sunland Park (Canceled)
  • Turf Paradise (Canceled)
  • Truro (Delayed until May 1 )
  • Western Fair
  • Woodbine (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)
  • Woodbine Mohawk
  • Yonkers (Opening Delayed Indefinitely)

While the Kentucky Derby has officially been pushed back until the tail end of summer, Preakness and Belmont officials have yet to make a formal decision on when to re-schedule the final two races of the Triple Crown. They, too, would likely be run in September-October, If conditions permit.

About the Author

Bill Speros for Bookies.com
Bill Speros
Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.