Historical MarkerArlington Downs Racetrack
Arlington · Tarrant County · Dedicated 1978 · THC Atlas #5439004724
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
Marker Inscription
Wealthy rancher and oilman W. T. Waggoner (1852-1934) developed a stable of fine Thoroughbreds and quarter horses at his ranch here in the 1920s. At this site he built Arlington Downs, a one-and-one quarter mile race track with a 6,000-seat grandstand. Racing days drew thousands of spectators including numerous celebrities. Waggoner and his sons Guy (1883-1950) and Paul (1889-1967) campaigned for pari-mutuel betting, which was legalized in Texas from 1934 to 1937. The Racetrack was used for rodeos and other events before the buildings were razed in 1958. (1978)
About this site
Arlington Downs Racetrack is a historical marker in Arlington, Tarrant County, dedicated in 1978. It is one of 358 historical markers documented in Tarrant County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 501 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 32.7480, -97.0695 near Arlington. The nearest cataloged historic site is International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame (museum), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include The Six Flags over Texas, Cable Tool Rig, and Narrow Gauge Railway.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5439004724. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
