Harness Horse Racing
Dover Downs (tel. 800/711-5882; www.doverdowns.com) offers harness racing November through April. Races run Monday through Thursday at 4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 5:30pm. Simulcast racing is offered year-round, daily from noon to midnight. Harrington Raceway, Route 13, Harrington (tel. 302/398-7223; www.harringtonraceway.com), has 90 race days from April through June and August through October, Sunday through Thursday with post time at 5:15pm. Simulcast is available daily from noon to midnight. Like Dover Downs, Harrington has a 24-hour slots parlor (closed Easter and Dec 25). The track is located on the state fair grounds, about 15 miles south of Dover.
Stock-Car Racing
Twice a year, NASCAR fans flock to Dover International Speedway, 1131 N. DuPont Hwy. (Rte. 13), Dover (tel. 800/411-3219; www.doverspeedway.com). These two major race weekends draw some of the world's top drivers to Dover's 140,000-seat track. Tickets for adults start at $27 for general admission. Reserved seating for Sunday's race runs about $100; order online or call tel. 800/441-7223. Tickets go on sale 10 months prior to each race.
DART First State (tel. 302/652-DART [3278]; www.dartfirststate.com) offers express shuttle buses from the State Danner Campus, 800 Bay Rd., in Dover and Christiana Mall in Wilmington. Tickets are $20 per carload from Danner and $10 per person round-trip from the mall. Call or check the website for a schedule; bring exact change.
Put Yourself in the Driver's Seat -- Want to ride in a Winston Cup car? Maybe even drive it yourself? Monster Racing Driving School (tel. 800/468-6946; www.monsterracing.com) will let you get behind the wheel to "tame the monster" at Dover Speedway. For $99, you can ride the course for four laps with an instructor. Packages range from $389 to $899 to drive a race car for 30 laps, with shorter and less expensive alternatives in between.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
