Spend a Day at the Horse Races at Lone Star Park

Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie is located at 1000 Lone Star Parkway in Grand Prairie, Texas. The park has a fairly long horse racing season. Each year the Thoroughbred season starts in early April and continues through the end of July. They also have American Quarter Horse racing that starts in late September and goes through late November. It's a great place for a day of fun and it's within 20 minutes of Dallas.

I have been to the park on a few occasions and each time I immensely enjoyed myself. I love horses and have attended live horse racing events since I was a kid. There is something beautiful about the gracefulness of a horse, especially when they are in full competition mode. My first time at Lone Star Park was spent with a few friends and we spent a lot of time smiling and laughing and of course yelling for our horse to win. I was happy that I had thought to wear sunscreen and to buy a race program on my way into the park. I didn't bet on every race, and when I did lay down a wager it was usually in the $2-5 range. I'm not a big gambler and I found that you can just pick the horse you think will win and root hard without ever laying down a dollar!

Lone Star Park offers free general parking and $5 preferred parking. I have used both, the only difference is a little less walking distance if you pay the $5. If you are on a budget and enjoy a little walk, go with the free parking. Free is never a bad thing! For those who like to splurge, they also offer $10 valet parking.

Ticket prices also vary. The general admission ticket is only $5 for adults, $3 for kids age 4-12 and kids 3 years old or younger are admitted free. The good part of the general admission ticket is that it is cheap, the bad part is that it does not include an actual seat. What you can do though is to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy watching the race from the grassy areas inside the Grandstand. They also have a picnic area with a good view of the track, but seating their is limited. The Clubhouse admission ticket is another option and it cost $8. However it also does not include a seat but does include access to the 2nd and 4th levels of the Grandstand which is climate controlled and has video monitors of the race. There is reserve seating for $8-13 which can actually get you a seat! I have purchased reserved seating which is right near the finish line and I have also gone with general admission and brought my lawn chair. I would say if you are looking for a day of family fun that is inexpensive, go the general admission route.

There is no age restriction to watch live racing in the grandstand area, so kids of all ages are certainly welcome. If you want to place a wager, you will need to be at least 21 years of age. They have wager windows both inside and outside and I have found the tellers to be friendly and helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them or another horse racing fan for advice on how to place wagers. I would suggest buying a program which is usually less than $5, so that you can mark it all up with your picks for each race.

The weekday live racing starts at around 6:30 P.M. and the weekend racing starts at about 1:30 P.M. I have yet to attend the night time racing but I'm thinking it may be a good idea. It can get pretty warm in Texas during the summer months but the park does have inside areas where you can step in and enjoy the nice air conditioning system. They also have an ample food court with a wide range of food and beverages, including beer and mixed drinks. During the times I have gone, the restrooms were kept reasonably clean and there were no long lines.

If you are looking for a way to spend a fun day outside at a reasonable cost, this is certainly an option I would recommend. My favorite part of attending a horse race is the same now as it always was, watching the bugle player come out before races and play the 'First Call' tune to let you know the horses are assembling and the racing is about to begin! My guess is that your kids will love it too. If you are in the area on the 3rd or 4th of July, you should definitely take your kids to the races. Each year during that time, they set up bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoos and lots of other fun activities for the kids. They also have a fireworks display that is actually choreographed to music and it is a great sight to behold! Go, and enjoy yourself!

Source: http://www.lonestarpark.com/