Grand National Race Track
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has reopened. For more information click here. Live Racing Video and Replays Catch the thrill of live thoroughbred races Caption Goes Here Live Racing video and replays Live video and racing replays. SUNDAY: Noon – 6 p.m. MONDAY: Self-Serve.
- Racing Come experience the thrill of live horse racing all year long! Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course offers a horse race track with some of the nation’s best full-field cards for horse races near Hershey and Harrisburg. We offer simulcast horse racing from around the country, 365 days a year.
- Saturday, May 22 2021 2021-05-22 00:-05-22 00:00:00 America/NewYork Mission Foods® Texas Half-Mile presented by Roof Systems American Flat Track Race Texas Half-Mile - Fort Worth, TX Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX American Flat Track.
The Grand National Steeplechase Association is currently planning to run the 118th rendition of its race meet on April 17, 2021, with limited spectators. The Race Committee expects that State of Maryland and Baltimore County regulations related to COVID-19 may change approaching the race date. As such, all communication concerning ticket availability, attendance and race terms and conditions is subject to change. Further updates will be posted on the race website as more information becomes available. We would like to thank our public services, medical professionals, volunteers, loyal supporters and participants for their dedication to the Grand National Steeplechase. We hope to see you in Butler on the second-to-last Saturday in April!
Grand National Steeplechase Association
Race Day Schedule
3:15 – Grand National Steeplechase
4:00 – Benjamin H. Murray Memorial
Indiana Grand Race Track Picks
4:45 – Western Run Plate
Grand National Race Track Results
The rules set by Williams (pictured at right) for the “Independent 250” were simple: no carburetor restrictor plates or engine restrictions (which would allow teams to use the big block engines that were being phased out by NASCAR), a lenient technical inspection policy, no weight handicaps for the cars and usage of standard Grand National width tires. The only race control requirements were single-file restarts and one mandatory pit stop. The entry field included: Dave Marcis, James Hylton, Cecil Gordon, Buddy Arrington, Ray Williams. Bill Dennis, Bill Champion, Henley Gray, Richard Brown, Elmo Langley, Ed Negre, Jabe Thomas, J.D. McDuffie, Bill Seifert, Walter Ballard, Richard Childress, Dean Dalton, Wendell Scott, Earl Brooks, Bill Hollar and Charlie Roberts.
The race was a box office disaster as only 2,000 fans watched Cecil Gordon capture first place along with its meager $500 prize. The lackluster attendance caused pole sitter Dave Marcis to state “It was a good race run at the wrong time of year.” An upbeat Jabe Thomas however added “..there ain’t been a better race all year.”
Williams leased the track for the 1974 season and intended to promote another “Independent 250” but his efforts failed. “When I had the Grand National race, I had a truck, a trailer, two cars…” stated Williams, “a year later, I don’t have no trailer, no truck, no car, no tools, no nothing. I was history.”
Sources: (The Gastonia Gazette, Howard Owen, -Nov 22, 1973) (Stock Car Racing Magazine, Jonathan Ingram – April 1994) (Raymond Williams Racing)