{"id":8004,"date":"2020-05-31T17:49:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-31T22:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/?p=8004"},"modified":"2021-07-30T13:22:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T18:22:08","slug":"brandywine-raceway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/brandywine-raceway\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandywine Raceway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brandywine Raceway was a 5\/8 mile Standardbred harness track in Wilmington, Delaware, that opened in September 7, 1953, and closed on December 28, 1989. <\/p>\n

The first race was won by Head Pin for a purse of $900 before 13,500 fans.<\/p>\n

Horseracing-tracks.com<\/a> describes the track this way:
\n“When Brandywine Raceway first opened it was your traditional half mile oval, and drivers were still wearing those floppy soft hats, but in 1970 as part of a four million dollar makeover, the racing surface was expanded to five eights of a mile. When Brandywine ended it’s run, it had a grandstand capacity of 12,000 with parking for 10,500 cars. Over the years many top drivers and horses raced over the Brandywine surface, Billy Haughton and Stanley Dancer were regulars and a young Herve Filion started out there.”<\/p>\n

\"Brandywine<\/a>
Brandywine Raceway, The Last Race, 1989, DE Public Archives<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A HarnessLink.com<\/a> article described the track as follows:
\n“Brandywine was considered as the nicest, best kept, best managed racetrack imaginable. The racetrack surrounded two tall water towers located in a centerfield lake. Fans would be treated to glorious sunsets as the races began during the Summer months. Across a parking lot, the racing office, the ‘White House’ publicity office where hospitality was on after the races nightly, fronted the Horsemen’s Kitchen and Snack Bar.<\/p>\n

Superintendent Bill Davis designed a remarkable setup for its horse barns which allowing air flow for horse. Brandywine also featured modern Grooms Quarters accommodations caretakers with a cushioned bed and air conditioning.<\/p>\n

Even today, horsemen and fans continue to remember the ‘gone but not forgotten’ great days of Brandywine Raceway.”<\/p>\n

Today the site of Brandywine Raceway is an upscale housing development named Brandywine Hunt. The pond from the interior of the track can still be seen along a street named Clubhouse Lane and bordering the pond is what appears to be the outline of the track. Here are photos as it looks today.<\/p>\n