Spectator Sports in Dover, DE

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.