Pocono Downs Raceway
Pocono Downs Raceway is a harness racing track near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It's widely acknowledged as one of the best smaller-sized tracks in America. Live racing dates are usually held from April to October.
Pocono Downs Raceway hosts several important harness racing stakes events each year.
Among these are the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, the Max Hempt Memorial Pace, the James Lynch Memorial Pace and the Reynolds Stakes.
Pocono Downs Raceway has a 5/8-mile oval track.
The length of the stretch is 490 feet and its surface has a stone aggregate base; the body is largely composed of stone dust; and has red rock screenings in the top layer.
The Grandstand can accommodate up to 3,000 while the clubhouse can hold up to 500.
The stable, meanwhile, can accommodate up to 900 horses.
Pocono Downs Raceway Records - Pacers
| Division | Horse | Time | Driver | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
All-Age (Stallion/Gelding) |
Sweet Lou Always B Miki |
1:47.0 | Ron Pierce David Miller |
July 5, 2014 July 2, 2016 |
All-Age (Mare) |
Shartin N | 1:48.0 | Tim Tetrick | June 1, 2019 |
2-Year-Old Colt |
Huntsville | 1:49.0 | Tim Tetrick | Sept 3, 2016 |
2-Year-Old Filly |
Warrawee Ubeaut | 1:48.3 | Yannick Gingras | Oct 5, 2018 |
3-Year-Old Colt |
Downbytheseaside | 1:47.4 | Brian Sears | July 1, 2017 |
3-Year-Old Filly |
Youaremycandygirl | 1:48.2 | Yannick Gingras | June 30, 2018 |
Pocono Downs Raceway Records - Trotters
| Division | Horse | Time | Driver | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Age (Stallion) | Sebastian K | 1:50.1 | Åke Svanstedt | June 28, 2014 |
| All-Age (Gelding) | Homicide Hunter | 1:50.2 | Geo. Napolitano Jr. | June 30, 2018 |
| All-Age (Mare) | Jiggy Jog S | 1:51.2 | Dexter Dunn | Aug 16, 2025 |
| 2-Year-Old Colt | Real Cool Sam | 1:53.1 | David Miller | Aug 17, 2019 |
| 2-Year-Old Filly | Checkmate Time | 1:53.4 | Tim Tetrick | Sept 4, 2016 |
| 3-Year-Old Colt | King Of The North | 1:50.3 | Mark Macdonald | Oct 29, 2022 |
| 3-Year-Old Filly | Jiggy Jog S | 1:50.0 | Dexter Dunn | Oct 29, 2022 |
History of Pocono Downs Raceway
A crowd estimated at 12,000 showed up for Pocono Downs' opening on July 15, 1965. The racetrack costs an estimated $7 million to build and among its founders were James and Anna Jean Durkin.
The track record during that inaugural season was 2:00.4, established by a horse named Heineken. The record for a trotter was 2:02.2 by Singing Arrow. From 1965 through 1981, there were only 100 horses to break the two-minute barrier.
From 1970 to 1980, thoroughbred racing was held at Pocono Downs Raceway when the Shamrock Racing Association shared the track. Pocono Downs Raceway briefly ceased operations in mid-1972 and served as an evacuation center for residents displaced by the great flood brought about by hurricane Agnes.
Penn National Gaming, Inc., the track's parent company, purchased Pocono Downs Raceway for $47 million in November of 1996 from the estate of the late Joseph B. Banks.
The corporate landscape of the venue transformed dramatically in January 2005 when the Mohegan Tribe purchased the property for $280 million. This high-profile acquisition initiated a comprehensive redevelopment plan, paving the way for the historic harness racing track to evolve into a premier modern racino entertainment destination.
The facility secured its place in state history on November 14, 2006, by launching its initial slot machine operations. This landmark opening established the venue as the very first legal slots casino to open and operate within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which injected a vital new revenue stream into the live racing program to bolster purse structures.
A massive expansion project culminated in the summer of 2008 with the debut of a $208 million gaming and entertainment complex built adjacent to the racetrack. The property significantly expanded its footprint by introducing thousands of slot machines, diverse dining options, and retail spaces, followed by a major gaming upgrade in 2010 that welcomed live table games like blackjack and roulette to the casino floor.
To better unify the historic racing oval with its expanding entertainment properties, the facility underwent a major rebranding in January 2023, officially changing its name to Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. The updated identity preserved the track's deep-rooted racing legacy while aligning its operations with modern regional gaming standards.