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The Mile High Racing and Entertainment History
1948 - Statewide voter approval of Amendment 2 legalized pari-mutuel wagering on horses and greyhounds. A public stock offering raised the $750,000 needed to build Mile High Greyhound Park.
1949 - Pueblo Greyhound Park opened. It is the oldest greyhound-racing track in Colorado. On July 27, more more than 16,000 racing fans packed Mile High Kennel Club for its inaugural night.
1950 - Centennial Turf Club opens in Littleton, Colorado and offers live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing every summer.
1954 - Mile High Greyhound Park was the second largest race track in the nation, based on attendance and betting figures.
1965 - Mile High Greyhound Park was purchased by Joe Linsey
1970 - The 70's welcomed the introduction of matinee racing and a steady increase in the number of performances. Alfred Ross, Linsey's nephew (Mile High Greyhound Park owner) served as President through 1990.
1981 - Legislation paved the way for the future of racing by allowing the in-state simulcasting of Mile High Greyhound Park's races
1983 - Sale of the property Centennial Turf Club occupies forces the track to close
1984 - Arapahoe Park opens for one season. However, the property falls into bankruptcy and closes
1990 - United Track Racing, Inc., now Mile High Racing and Entertainment, purchased the Mile High Greyhound Park property. During this decade, Mile High Racing and Entertainment ownership yields numerous upgrades and improvements to the facility. The property moves towards becoming a multi-purpose arena by adding a professional soccer field and facilities to the complex.
Mile High Racing and Entertainment ownership brought the Pueblo race track property improvements with a building containing a main floor, grandstand and mezzanine seating. A separate Clubhouse building serves patrons during the live racing season. Pueblo Greyhound Park serves patrons to the South as far as New Mexico and as far East as Kansas.
1991 - Longtime employee Bill Lee was named General Manager. At present, former Racing Director Steve Rose is Mile High Greyhound Park's General Manager. Senate Bill 99 is signed into law which brings horse and greyhound showing of simulcast authorized for all tracks in Colorado to that state on the condition of one live race day for every three simulcast days. Under Senate Bill 99, Pueblo Greyhound Park began its new racing schedule in the Southern circuit - October to March. Racing Associates of Colorado leases Arapahoe Park for three years and begins renovation of the facility and track.
1992 - Arapahoe Park reopens in May for a 64-day meet to a crowd of 111,946. Well-Oiled Machine, ridden by Carl Kutz wins the first race. In September, Maxfield's and Friends, a downtown sports bar, is the first off-track betting facility offering horse and greyhound wagering located in Colorado.
1993 - Arapahoe Park conducts its second live season with a 69-day meet May through August. Season highlights include Colorado's own Pat Day riding in a nationally recognized race.
1994 - Arapahoe Park's third live season consists of 68 days in May through August. A $100,000 stake race series and visits from nationally recognized jockeys such as Steve Cauthen and Gary Stevens highlight the season. In the fall, United Track racing exercises the option to purchase Arapahoe Park.
1995 - Arapahoe Park runs its fourth live season with a 62-day meet from May through August.
1996 - Arapahoe Park's live season consists of a 30-day meet, running from July to September.
1997 - Arapahoe Park opens for its sixth live season with a 38-day meet. General admission charges are dropped and a children's area opens offering families inexpensive entertainment.
1998 - Arapahoe Park is opened for its seventh live season. On July 25, Mile High Greyhound Park celebrates its 50th consecutive live season. "The Big Store" continues its tradition of world class greyhound racing.
2001 - Mile High Racing and Entertainment purchased Rocky Mountain Greyhound Park in April. The Colorado Springs track had been owned and operated by the Cloud family for over 40 years. The purchase also included operation of the off-track betting site Red & Jerry's in Sheridan, a Denver suburb.
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