Hazel Park Raceway

To the guy that told me my review is a joke and to review the track, not the patrons. The patrons are part of the track! If a place attracts drunks, you need reviews to detail that to people. It’s all part of the ambiance, environment of it. Sorry I didn’t find your precious race track to be a country club.

I wish I wouldn’t have waited until the end of summer to start coming here. My first time here was on the 4^th of July and it didn’t disappoint. The place is fun and the people watching is phenomenal! A booklet and a $ 2.00 bet is all you need to get yourself going. I had to ask a couple of patrons on what to do and they were more than willing to explain things to me. A super bonus is $ 2.00 cans of beer! Ooh boy! This is a place you have to visit at least one time in your life.

Of all the mafia-​owned horse racing tracks in metro Detroit, this one is the best.
In the summertime, you can enjoy some top-​of-​the line, not rigged at all, thoroughbred horse racing where a slew of 900-​pound beasts, pumped full of amphetamines, gallop around a circular track with men built like Prince on their backs, all to entertain a crowd full of MENSA members. To maximize the fun, you’ll want to bet at least half of this week’s paycheck on a single race. On second thought, bet it all.
But before you lay it all on the line, I recommend going with someone who knows how to bet on horses, otherwise you’ll probably end up placing a bet on the horse with the most absurd name or making up your own absurd horse name and shouting this fictitious horse name atop your lungs while inebriated on moderately priced mixed drinks, encouraging Vin Diesel’s Foreskin to «run faster, goddammit, run faster.»
Hopefully your racetrack partner will teach you about odds. Like how the odds are not in your favor if you decide to order a hotdog from this place.
«Why is this hot dog black?»
«I think I bit into a vein.»
It also helps if your racetrack partner is an attractive woman, or if you’re an attractive woman, since the staff is more inclined to let attractive women pet the horses and take pictures beside the majestic creatures. But the staff still won’t let you feed the racing horses apples, even though there is not a sign that specifically says that you can’t feed the racing horses apples. Racing horses enjoy eating apples, dammit.
You may also want to wear an unusually large or silly hat coupled with a t-​shirt featuring the image of a horse on it to the horse racing track. This will let people know that you know what you are doing, so they won’t try to take advantage of you.
If you listen to these protips, your day at the mafia-​owned horse racing track will make you lots of money so you won’t ever have to work again.

«And they’re off!» We heard this phrase 8 times during our exciting visit for each of the 8 races that we had the pleasure of watching. It was a thrilling night of witnessing these absolutely gorgeous thoroughbred horses race around the track to the finish line.
We purchased a «night at the races» gift certificate which included a $ 50 dining voucher, a $ 20 wager voucher, 2 programs, a tour of the backstretch, and a chance to see and pet the horses in the stables for only 60 bucks. What an awesome deal! Well worth it…
On the second floor dining room, our group was seated right by the windows and we had a fantastic view of the track. We had an assortment of cocktail wine, and beer options. The Motown Mule (vodka, ginger beer, and lime) was scrumptious! I enjoyed Brik, a delicious red ale brewed in Royal Oak.
There is a buffet offered on Saturday and Sunday nights that included roast beef, mashed potatoes and Mac-​n-​cheese among many other items that rotate daily. We chose fish and chips, a Caesar salad, and a ribeye from the menu. All were pretty tasty. I particularly loved the fries!
Everyone was so friendly and helpful for first timers and after you get into the swing of things, it’s all business. We had a woman that would swing around the tables to take bets, but it was just as easy to go to the bar to place them in person. You could also do it at the many electronic kiosks in the dining room. One tip: always, always check your tickets to make sure your bets are placed correctly.
I absolutely loved our backstretch tour! It was incredible to see and pet the horses in real life. Zillo was a little shy but we encouraged her to come see us and Cosmic Star had the softest coat I’ve ever felt. They were beautiful… Just stunning horses! The overall track seems a little run down, peeling paint and a little dirty, but I don’t have much to compare it to. Honestly, the price was right for our purposes.
It was a fascinating and memorable evening. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute. I can’t wait to go back for more fun!

Friday nights. Horse racing and cheap beer and hot dogs. X you can go here with 20 dollars, bet a couple on every race, eat and have a beer. Awesome.

Friday Friday Friday!!! Excited for the beginning of another season at this Gem on 10 & Dequindre. $ 2 beers, $ 1 Popcorn, $ 1 Hot Dogs, $ 1 Soft Drinks!!! Great people watching, friendly staff and a chance to win a few bucks. What more can you ask for.

My yearly summer trip, with a group of friends to the track. Now with the thoroughbreds racing, attendance has increased. It seems like they have cleaned the place up a bit and opened up a few more concession stands. still have to love the $ 2 Friday beer night, the great people watching and the trailers that have been converted into restrooms. The gambling is secondary to me. A must see at least once for everyone, rich or poor, tall, or short lol

I used to come here with my grandparents every Fourth of July, but I hadn’t been in over two decades. However, my sweet grandpa is still a regular and he told me about the thoroughbreds. I thought my kids might like it, but I was still a little leery. The place was old and dingy back then and a lot of the people were… we’ll let’s just say I was out of my little 10-​year-​old girl element. I thought 28 years later it could only be worse, but I kept hearing about it, so we went. The grandstand seating is new, but the betting/​concession area is the same. The place was packed with families, young couples, old couples, and every day normal people with just a few compulsive gamblers sprinkled in. They added some portable trailers for bathrooms and pop-​up concession stands to handle the larger crowds. I had no clue what I was doing, but placed a handful of $ 2 bets letting the kids pick the horses, and ended up winning $ 17 on one, so it was a free night of family entertainment.

It has been years, ok decades, since I have been here. Wonderful improvements and great entertainment. We went on Friday night, aka dollar night. Parking, admission for two, program, popcorn and two beers = $ 6. Really. The guy in front of me purchased ten beers, for $ 20; when I asked if he did that at Comerica Park he laughed. You can have great fun and not spend much cash.

Thoroughbreds are back! It’s a racetrack, kids are allowed. Friday nights are $ 1 pops, popcorn and hot dogs. So bring the kids for family gambling. Free admission and free parking.
Always fun for a group of friends.

The thoroughbreds are coming! The thoroughbreds are coming!
I was at the track this past weekend for The Kentucky Derby and learned it was the last weekend for harness racing. The track is being converted for thoroughbred racing! According to their website, thoroughbred racing starts the last weekend of June 2014! This is going to be amazing!
Still has cheap beers, good people watching, and all the horse betting you can ask for.

I have seven words for you: Trifecta.
If horse racing sport of kings, harness racing is the sport of doorman dressed in the very royal looking clothes.
I made my first visit to the Hazeltucky Raceway for Green Dot’s 1 year anniversary party and had an amazing time.
It is a must –do experience for the area. You can get incredibly close to these majestic animals and then yell and scream at them over a $ 2 bet.
After a six race losing streak I hit a $ 6 trifecta for a payout of over $ 240 dollars. After a nice tip to the extremely patient woman who had been taking my bets and helping me place them I and my girl left on top.
To Recap:
The Good: Great time, unique experience, very affordable. Whether it is the $ 2 beers on Friday, the people watching, the chance to gamble a little.
The Bad: It can be a little slow between races, but the drinks help immensely in that area.
The Band This Establishment Most Resembles: Band of Horses, duh.

Can’t imagine coming here all the time unless I was a horse racing fanatic, but this place is definitely worth a visit. As other reviewers have stated the people watching is top-​notch.
My sister recently had herself a birthday party here so we ate in the clubhouse restaurant. I wish I had gotten the huge-​ass Flintstones looking steak or the fish and chips instead of my summer berry salad with chicken. The lettuce wasn’t too fresh, there wasn’t enough chicken and the portion in general left my stomach still rumbling. Don’t know what I was thinking trying to eat healthy at Hazel Park Raceway! Of course looking at the gargantuan portion of steak only made it worse.
After dinner another party guest and myself left the clubhouse, going downstairs to get a closer look at the action. It’s definitely more fun watching the horse races down there as opposed to in the clubhouse. We even got up close to the finish line. I figured the crowd would be at least 4 or 5 deep there, but no. I remedied my stomach situation by hitting up a concessions stand for a dollar hot dog. I couldn’t find where they were hiding the condiments, but then I was so hungry I didn’t look too hard. Just wolfed down that dog, mustard be damned. It was $ 2 beer night, which only make the people watching more fun. It was also funny seeing a Midway-​style concessions stand selling hard liquor. They had a bunch of fifths all lined up, all respected brands with the exception of Azteca tequila. They must not have too high of an opinion of tequila drinkers there. «I mean, if they’re not gonna hold it down anyway…»
The folks at the betting booths are almost Secretary of State-​like in their weariness and disdain for anyone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. So novices make sure you mind your p’s and q’s when you walk up to that booth to lay your money down. There’s posted signs of what information to give the teller and in what order. I thought knowing the name of my horse was sufficient, but they don’t traffic in countless fanciful and dopey horse names at the window. Horse number only. I didn’t know, and didn’t even bring my program with me, so off I went, tail between my legs to find out the number of my horse. I also had to ask what track I was betting on, gesturing to the large dirt oval by the clubhouse. «Hazel Park!» the teller wearily answered, like she was talking to a stupid five-​year-​old. I thought maybe there was more than one track there, like there was a smaller track #2, and that was why they ask for the track name. No, come to find out it’s because there’s a whole wall of monitors with horse races from around the country at the back of the clubhouse. That’s where the hard cases and high rollers sit, betting on every race they can, programs spread out in front of them, like old ladies that show off by playing 7 different bingo cards at once. I wonder how much the smoking ban has hurt this place. Seems like a huuuge smoking crowd.
I only won on one race, I bet «place» which pays out if your horse finishes 1^st or 2^nd. My horse came in second. Paid out a whopping $ 1.40 on my whopping $ 2 investment. I cashed out, as I wanted to see what I won, and then immediately bet on the next race. My teller (the same one I wrote about earlier) rolled her eyes and asked why I cashed out if I was just going to bet again. It’s kind of comical how rough around the edges they are; I’m not even complaining about it. I was kind of being a newbie dumb-​ass and it somehow goes with the whole environment. It’s kind of like having Charlene wait on you at the Bronx.
My new friend and I returned to the clubhouse to have cake for my sister’s birthday. Gwen’s friend Christine brought the cake, and that didn’t seem to be an issue with the track. Our waitress seemed a little stressed out by the number of separate checks our party had, but she managed valiantly. My mom, who knows nothing about horse racing but kept winning all night, was about the last person our waitress got to. I was concerned Moms was gonna cop an attitude about it, but she kept her irritation in check and even told me she tipped 20%. That was good. I know separate checks can get pretty time-​consuming. I guess winning can smooth over a lot of impatience.
So, yeah, I had a swell time, even if you won’t see me up in the clubhouse glued to 8 different video screens, trying to make a career or least some lucrative side cash out of the whole horse racing thing. It would be fun to go back sometime on Kentucky Derby day. I’d have to hit up Value World for a straw hat and polyester shirt.

Great place to go when you have nothing better to do or you have your kids and need to get outta the house. I do have to agree and disagree with some of the reviews it is very annoying when people let there kids run more wild than the horses. BUT as a mom of 2 my kids enjoy going with me and my husband and they sit with us and watch the horses on a weekend and enjoy a hotdog. There is nothing wrong with that! Parents need a break too ya know. But keep them away from the creeperz that are around there! :-)

There is something magical about live racing on a beautiful summer’s night. The people watching is also very entertaining. Especially on Friday nights when the beers are $ 2 and people get increasingly drunk.
Throughout the week, they have specials. The other one I can think of is the NY Strip on Monday nights. Cannot think of what the price is on it though. Either way, it is a deal and they cook a pretty good steak believe it or not.
The track most recently went from pouring drinks to passing out cans. While it is not great for the environment, I do appreciate the sanitation benefits.
They have drawings for Tiger’s tickets all the time. I cannot say enough about the people watching. There really is a great mix of people. Even people with their children. The horses are fun to watch and you get to know the drivers by name and look. We all have our favorite and our not-​so-​favorites!
The place could be cleaner for sure. There is definitely a distinct smell, even outside. But it’s all part of the charm, right?

This place is second-​to-​none when it comes to people-​watching. Friday nights are the best for this as Fridays are «dollar night» at the track and this always brings an exotic mix of people out of the woodwork, to say the least.
You can have a blast here playing «photo scavenger hunt» with a group of friends. Load up your to-​find list with such eccentricities as a pregnant smoking teenager, a full denim suit (Canadian Tuxedo), someone wearing confederate flag apparel, an unattended stroller/​baby carriage (w/​child still in it), a Charlotte Hornets Starter Jacket, and so on and so forth… and let the fun begin!
You really don’t need to know the first thing about horse racing to enjoy this place, but if you are into harness racing (and/​or betting on it) then this is as good of a place as any to enjoy the sport. Though I do not recommend coming here unless there is actual live racing taking place. Otherwise it is sort of sad, creepy, and depressing. Just trust me on this one.
One time my friends and I saw a speeding horse impale itself on a metal post on the side of the track, then get carried away in a bull-​dozer shovel. That was kind of awkward.

Two dollar beer night, gambling, and people watching.
Need I say more? The Hazel Park race track is the perfect date night! You can have a fantastic time with your mate and make money. Live music in between races on the patio and dollar hot dogs from the snack bar. Plus, you can wear whatever you want. The fashion is very diverse with fellas wearing t-​shirt and jeans to ladies in Kentucky Derby style hats and formal wear. Gambling starts at $ 2 a race with about 13 races a night. You don’t need any prior horse race experience. Just pick your favorite!
Attending a Friday night at the track is a must see adventure to experience!

Just good ol’ FUN! I’ve never been to anything like this and it was very enjoyable. The patron are unique and come from all backgrounds, cultures, age-​groups. I had fun watching the horses and watching the people. It can be cheap entertainment. I had fun with my $ 2 bets and MY WINNINGS! I had no idea what I was doing. I just had fun and went with it!

Definetly worth checking out! It doesnt matter if youre a novice or a experienced harness race gambler you’ll have a good time here! They have live racing in the summer until end of august and have lots of fun promos nad give aways!
Fridays are Dollar night: $ 2 beers, $ 1 hot dogs, programs, popcorn and sodas.
They give away gas cards, tigers tickets and hot dogs also. Its a great opportunity to do something different on a summer night and maybe make a buck or 2.
Live racing Friday, Saturday and Monday nights starting at 7:25p and with the last race usually going around 11:25p or 11:45p

I like to visit «Hazel-​tucky» the first Saturday of May each year to watch and bet on the Kentucky Derby and then watch some live harness racing. It’s become one of those signs of spring for me and the last few years we’ve been blessed with sunny weather. If you are not a horse racing fan you can still have a lot of fun here people watching. It’s especially crowded on Derby Day. The one thing Hazel Park needs to manage better on this day is the number of stations around the park for food and beer (and for the famous Derby drink the Mint Julep).
Aside from the other Triple Crown race days, the weekend crowds are nice and manageable. It’s easy to place a bet with a live banker or through several of the touch screen kiosks they have. The food and drinks are inexpensive and you can place a bet for as little as $ 1 or $ 2 each race. Typically there are about 12 – 15 harness races on a given evening of racing which will last a few hours.
Be sure to check the web site or call to verify they are live racing. Several Michigan state budget cuts this year are forcing the track to reduce the number of race days they have each season.