Plainridge Raceway
Plainridge Raceway is a harness racing track in Plainville, Massachusetts. The track features world class standard bred racing featuring some of North America’s top-ranked trotters and pacers, as well as the best drivers and trainers.
Plainridge Raceway normally holds races from April to December.
The signature event of the meet at Plainridge Raceway is the $50,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial which usually forms part of a big Labor Day program. The Invitational race features some of North America’s finest pacers, and has been a highlight in each of the track’s previous meets.
Other notable races held at Plainridge Raceway include:
- The Stan Bergstein Pace, an Open for sophomore pacers;
- The $25,000 Guy Smith Memorial Series Final, for $20,000 claiming pacers;
- The $20,000 New England Classic
Plainridge Raceway Track Facts
- Racetrack: 5/8 mile oval, Euro style with spiral turns
- Length of stretch: 430 feet
- Surface: Gravel base, stone dust composition, stone dust screening top layer
- Track Opened: March 17, 1999
- Speed Rating: 2:00.2
- Starters Behind the Gate: 9
- Hubrail: No
- "Open" Stretch: No
- General Admission: Free
- Clubhouse Admission: Free
- General Parking: Free
- Grandstand Capacity: 3,000
- Clubhouse Capacity: 3,000
- Parking Capacity: 1,000
Plainridge Raceway Records
| Pacers |
| TYPE | HORSE | TIME | DRIVER | DATE |
| 5-yo-colt | Marced Card | 1:54.4 | B. Irvine |
9/20/04 |
| 2-yo-filly | Felicia Hanover | 1:56.3 | G. Ducharne |
8/4/01 |
| 2-yo-gelding | Smoky Bonz | 1:57.2 | K. Switzer |
9/20/04 |
| 3-yo-colt | Maveric Seelster | 1:52.2 | M. Stevenson |
9/20/04 |
| 3-yo-filly | Felicia Hanover | 1:54 | R. Tisbert |
8/13/02 |
| 3-yo-gelding | Son Of A Witch | 1:53.2 | M. Eaton |
8/02/04 |
| 4-yo-horse | Space Shuttle | 1:49.3 | W. Case Jr |
8/26/00 |
| 4-yo-mare | Ex Libris Hanover | 1:53.1 | E. Smith |
9/13/04 |
| 4-yo-gelding | Color Me Best | 1:52.3 | H. Campbell |
10/30/99 |
| Aged horse | Space Shuttle | 1:50.3 | D. Ingraham |
8/18/01 |
| Aged mare | Kadijah | 1:52.3 | M. Beckwith |
7/06/04 |
| Aged gelding | Chewy Gross | 1:49.3 | M. MacDonald |
9/06/04 |
| 5/8th Mile Dash | Midnite Tom Senor Jamie |
1:11 1:11 |
R. Andersen G. Annaloro |
9/07/02 11/04/02 |
| 1 1/4 Mile | Admiral's Valet | 2:29 | J. Hogan |
8/07/00 |
| Trotters |
| TYPE | HORSE | TIME | DRIVER | DATE |
| 2-yo-colt | Fred Pickle | 2:03.1 | D. GuidetteJr. |
7/29/00 |
| 2-yo-filly | Male Nurse | 2:01.4 | R. Dybdahl |
10/16/01 |
| 2-yo-gelding | Rc Focus | 2:04.3 | G. Ducharme |
11/02/02 |
| 3-yo-colt | Ben-Him Futile Qwest |
1:57.4 1:57.4 |
K. Crawford D. Marshall |
6/23/03 10/11/04 |
| 3-yo-filly | Clasicaly Designed | 1:59.1 | R. Tisbert |
7/1/02 |
| 3-yo-gelding | Queponco Magic | 1:57.1 | J MacDougall |
8/18/01 |
| 4-yo-horse | Maximum Speed | 1:56.4 | K. Crawford |
8/20/02 |
| 4-yo-mare | My Dolly | 1:57.1 | S. Smith |
10/26/99 |
| 4-yo-gelding | Queponco Magic | 1:57 | G. Bowden |
6/24/02 |
| Aged horse | Sent From Above | 1:56.1 | W.D. Campbell |
8/24/04 |
| Aged mare | Rompaway Ruth | 1:56 | M. Beckwith |
7/12/04 |
| Aged gelding | Ringside Rocket | 1:54.2 | W. Case Jr. |
8/26/00 |
Plainridge Raceway History
1999 - The track opened on March 17.
2004 - Nine different track records were established, including the 1:49.3 effort by Chewy Gross and Mike MacDonald that equaled the all-age standard set by Space Shuttle.
2014 – The venue officially rebranded as Plainridge Park. Following the passage of expanded gaming legislation, the property successfully secured the single competitive Category 2 slots license available in the state.2015 – A $225 million structural expansion culminated in the grand opening of the fully integrated casino gaming floor on June 24, marking the debut of the first legal casino showroom operation in state history.
2018 – The facility elevated its competitive profile by introducing the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot, establishing a premier Grand Circuit stakes event that regularly attracts elite, open-class standardbreds.
2019 – The racing program expanded its Grand Circuit footprint with the launch of the Clara Barton Distaff Pace, creating a high-profile companion stake explicitly designed for the sport's top older pacing mares.
2020 – On July 26, the elite mare Manchego captured the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot in 1:51.3, setting a new all-age track trotting standard and delivering one of the fastest trotting miles in regional history.
2022 – The absolute track trotting record fell again on July 25 when the international standout Alrajah One IT stopped the timer in 1:50.3 during the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot, lowering the previous speed baseline by a full second.
2023 – On-site operations expanded beyond live racing and electronic gaming with the official opening of a brick-and-mortar retail sportsbook on January 31.
2025 – The track record books were completely rewritten on July 20 during the Clara Barton Distaff Pace when Sylvia Hanover powered to a 1:47.2 victory, establishing the absolute fastest mile in track history and securing a new world record for pacing mares on a five-eighths mile oval.