History
Phoenix Greyhound Park opened in 1954 at Washington and 38th streets and in the early 1970s could draw more than 4,000 bettors a night. The track was tied to the reporting of Don Bolles, who began investigating its ownership in 1969 and was killed by a car bomb in 1976.
Facing falling attendance and the failure of a 2009 bid for slot machines, owner Delaware North ended live racing on December 19, 2009. The City of Phoenix Aviation Department, which had bought the land in 2007, later had the grandstand torn down.
Timeline
- 1954Track debuts[2]
Phoenix Greyhound Park opened.
- 1969Don Bolles investigation[4]
Arizona Republic reporter Don Bolles began investigating the track, finding that Emprise co-owned it.
- 1979Sold to Sportsystems[2]
Sportsystems Corporation bought the park.
- December 19, 2009
Live racing ended; simulcasting was to continue through December 31.
- Unknown
Breinholt Contracting demolished the grandstand over about six weeks beginning in February; the sources do not give the year.
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[2,4] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Owned by the City of Phoenix Aviation Department (since 2007); long-range airport plans show cargo and support facilities on the site[4] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Other names | Phoenix Park 'n Swap |
|---|---|
| Location | 3801 E. Washington St., Phoenix (Washington and 38th streets), Phoenix, Arizona[2,7] |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Greyhound racing |
| Level | Greyhound |
| Opened | 1954[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | December 19, 2009[1,2,3,4,5] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Capacity notes | The property covered 60 acres. |
| Owner / operator | Sportsystems Corporation (from 1979); Delaware North (2009); City of Phoenix Aviation Department (land, from 2007)[2,5] |
| Closure | Declining attendance and revenue, and the failure of a 2009 legislative proposal to allow slot machines (a "racino"). |
Documented details
Sources
- Greyhound racing in the United States, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
- Phoenix Greyhound Park Is Being Demolished - Here's What We Know, Phoenix New Times. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, closed, demolished, events, opened, owner operator
- After 50 years in Valley, greyhound racing park to close, The State Press. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed
- Greyhound park grandstand, part of legacy of Don Bolles, demolished for airport project, The Arizona Republic (via Yahoo News). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, demolished, events
- Phoenix Greyhound Racetrack to Shut Down, all-creatures.org. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, owner operator
- 38th Street/Washington station, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates
- I-10 Exit 148 attractions, iExit. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address
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 (3)
- Phoenix New Times says the park closed in 2009 "after 45 years in business", while it also gives a 1954 debut (55 years).
- The State Press (2009) says the building was constructed in 1987, which may refer to a rebuilt grandstand; not confirmed.
- Ownership: The State Press quotes Daniel A. Luciano of American Greyhound Racing, Inc.; all-creatures.org (October 2009) says Delaware North owned the park.
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