History
Opened in October 1914 as Prince George's Park, the track sat on a rail line between Washington and Baltimore. In the 1950s it became known for winter racing and added stakes such as the Barbara Fritchie Handicap.
Competition from new tracks in neighboring states helped end live racing on July 14, 1985. The property continued as a training center for racehorses, though one source reports that use ended in 2015.
Why it matters: It was a pioneer of winter Thoroughbred racing in the Mid-Atlantic.
Timeline
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | Thoroughbred training center (reported closed in April 2015 by ThoroughbredRacing.com)[1,2,3] |
| Mapped location | City-level location (exact site not confirmed) |
Venue facts
| Other names | Prince George's Park (1914) |
|---|---|
| Location | Just outside the Bowie city limits, Prince George's County, Bowie, Maryland |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | October 1, 1914[1,2,3] |
| Last used for sports | July 14, 1985[1,2,3] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Surface | Dirt (1-mile oval) |
| Owner / operator | Southern Maryland Agricultural Society; later MI Developments |
| Closure | Consolidation of Maryland racing and competition from newer tracks such as Keystone (Philadelphia Park). |
Sources
- The lost racecourses of Maryland, ThoroughbredRacing.com. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, opened
- Bowie Race Track, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, events, opened
- Bowie Race Track, Southern Maryland Horse Trails. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, opened
- Bowie, Maryland, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia and Southern Maryland Horse Trails describe the site as a training center; ThoroughbredRacing.com says the training center closed in April 2015.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.