Location

Philadelphia Park is located at 3001 Street Road in Bensalem, PA, three miles west of exit 25 on Interstate 95 and one mile east from US Route 1 and exit 351 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It is approximately 30 minutes north of center city Philadelphia and 40 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport.

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Racetrack

History

Philadelphia Park was known as Keystone Racetrack from its opening day on November 14, 1974 until International Thoroughbred Breeders (ITB) purchased the Bensalem Oval on December 28, 1984 for approximately $40,000,000. changing the name and look of the Bensalem Oval.

During the ITB reign, many major improvements took place including the construction of a turf course and the development of the Phonebet system. and a live television show, developed to help bettors enjoy the daily racing card from Philadelphia Park. The show, “Philadelphia Park Live” was shown over local cable stations in the area.

Philadelphia Park changed hands again in December of 1990 with Greenwood Racing, Inc. taking control of the reins. Headed by British gaming entrepreneurs Robert Green and William Hogwood, Greenwood Racing acquired a package of the racetrack facility, the Phonebet system, as well as the rights to the future development of up to six off-track betting sites in the Philadelphia area for a sum exceeding $67 million.

In 2004 a small chestnut colt, born in Chester County, PA 3 years earlier, won the heart of the nation when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Smarty Jones brought world-wide attention to the Bensalem Racetrack and became instrumental in the passing of the long awaited Slots Bill. On July 4th, 2004, PA Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law in the winner’s circle of Philadelphia Park.

The Casino has been temporarily located on the first and third floors of the racetrack and opened to rave reviews on December 18, 2006. The projected opening of the stand alone Casino is late Fall of 2009 and the Gandstand will then revert back to a racing facility.