Valley Race Park
Valley Race Park was an 80-acre facility in Harlingen, Texas, that hosted greyhound racing and year-round simulcasting of horse and dog racing.
The park actively promoted greyhound racing, particularly highlighting the best Texas-bred greyhounds, through events such as the Texas-Bred Weekly Spotlight Series, which included the Laguna Madre Stakes and the Santa Ana Stakes.
The facility featured a 91,000-square-foot building with terraced seating and table areas, a main floor for simulcasting, a clubhouse restaurant and bar, and multiple party rooms. It also included private suites and a top-level banquet room that could accommodate nearly 300 guests.
Valley Race Park housed 18 kennels with space for 1,080 greyhounds. Previously known as Valley Greyhound Park, it was originally owned by the Ladbroke Corporation, which began racing there in 1990.
In 2000, Sam Houston Race Park, a thoroughbred racetrack in Houston, purchased and renamed the venue as Valley Race Park. Thousands of visitors attended the opening night on March 17, 2000, even though the event was initially limited to simulcasting.
The park was conveniently located just minutes from Harlingen Valley International Airport, making it an attractive destination for visitors to experience the combined charms of Texan and Mexican cultures. The area offered ample accommodations and a variety of recreational activities.
Valley Race Park eventually closed its doors after years of operation, with declining attendance and industry challenges cited as key reasons. The closure marked the end of an era for greyhound racing in the region, and the facility was later repurposed, leaving behind memories of its vibrant racing history.
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