Logo Placement

Since it first opened back in September of 1976, the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey has been among the most popular sports betting destinations in the region. Located right down the road from the new MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL, and not far from the Prudential Center of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, “The Big M” is host to only four graded thoroughbred stakes races, but it is the spectacle of live racing and the surrounding community that makes it such an exciting track to attend. With most of its races run at night, thousands within the vicinity of the track make their way out on a weekly basis to get in on the sports betting action.

With the Kentucky Derby betting coming up this weekend, the focus will be on the horse racing season beginning, and like many other racetracks, the Meadowlands has a one-mile dirt oval around the outside, with a more distinct turf course on the inside that is usually only run on by Thoroughbreds, and is only seven furlongs. Designed by the same Philadelphia architectural firm EwingCole that is also recognized for its design of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the Meadowlands has a lake stationed in the center of the track in a deliberate representation of the state of New Jersey. An expected privatization of the track that will include $100 million in improvements is expected by 2013, with more changes expected to come after the NFL Super Bowl is held at MetLife Stadium in 2014.

When you think about the greatest sports betting landmarks across North America, from Lambeau Field to Yankees Stadium, the old Montreal Forum and Madison Square Gardens, there is no shortage of prestige when you cycle through the list. When it comes to Thoroughbred racetracks across North America, the list of important destinations includes the Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana, which back in 2004 was ranked fourth by the Horseplayers of North America rating system for track destinations.

Using the land donated by a prominent local businessman named Virgil E. Cook less than two decades ago, the Hoosier Park was built on 110 acres of commercial real estate for the sole purpose of giving the city a pari-mutuel racing facility. It marked the first time since 1939 that a race track outside of Kentucky would be owned by Churchill Downs, and after costing $13 million to make, the track finally opened back in September of 1994. Churchill Downs wouldn’t hold on to the track for long as in 2007 they sold it for just $8.2 million to the Centaur Group, which then added slot machines and casino games to make for a more complete experience. Home to the Indiana Derby, the Indiana Breeders’ Cup Oaks, and the Richmond Stakes, the Hoosier Park draws big crowds on an annual basis both for the big events and for the smaller local ones. Any price per head bookie will recognize the name of such a distinct horse racing park, as Hoosier Park ranks as one of the best in North America.

One of the most famous horse racing tracks in North America, the Belmont Park in Elmont, New York has become a staple of American sports betting tradition as the host to some of the most memorable finishes in the history of the sport. Home to the annual Belmont Stakes, as the final leg of the horse racing Triple Crown, the very fact that they host that race is enough to be sure that they have hosted some significant events, even if no horse has been able to complete the full Triple Crown since Affirmed did it all the way back in 1978.

A major Thoroughbred facility built in the town of Hempstead in Nassau Country, the Belmont Park is owned and operated by the State of New York, and the New York Racing association. A historical landmark that has been open since May of 1905, the Belmont Park is host to such significant races as the Jockey Club Golden Cup, Manhattan Handicap, Metropolitan Handicap, Champagne Stakes, and Suburban Handicap on top of being host to the annual Belmont Stakes. Hundreds of thousands of pay head players make their way to the facility not only with money on their minds, but with the knowledge that they are truly walking through one of the most prestigious tracks in the world today. With the baseball betting season kicking in to full swing this week, it will be no time before horse racing season is well underway, and the Belmont Stakes will once again be host to some of the most popular races.