History
The Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club held its first races in 1935, about 15 miles north of downtown Orlando. After Florida voters banned greyhound racing in 2018, owner Penn National Gaming put the 31-acre property under contract to Wood Partners Group in 2019.
The track had planned to race until June 2020, but pandemic restrictions forced an early end: the final races ran in late March 2020 with no gamblers in the stands, closing 85 years of racing.
Timeline
- 1935Opening night[3]
The track held its first night of racing.
- August 2019Sale agreement[5]
Longwood's city manager said the track was under contract to Wood Partners Group for a mixed-use development.
- March 2020Final races[4]
With COVID-19 restrictions in place, the track ran its final races without spectators, ending 85 years of racing.
The site today
| Physical status | Status unknown |
|---|---|
| Current use | Under contract in 2019 to Wood Partners Group for mixed-use development (outcome not confirmed)[5] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Location | 301 Dog Track Rd, Longwood, Longwood, Florida[5] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Greyhound racing |
| Level | Greyhound |
| Opened | 1935[1,3] |
| Last used for sports | March 2020[1,4] |
| Physical status | Status unknown |
| Capacity notes | The property covers 31 acres between Ronald Reagan Boulevard and U.S. 17-92. |
| Owner / operator | Penn National Gaming[5] |
| Closure | Florida Amendment 13; the final races were moved up by COVID-19 restrictions. |
Sources
- Greyhound racing in the United States, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
- GeoNames search: kennel club (US) - Palm Beach Kennel Club, ID 6942409, GeoNames. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates
- At the Finish Line, WUFT. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: opened
- Coronavirus pandemic shuts the door permanently at Florida dog track, FOX 35 Orlando (Associated Press). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, events
- Longwood greyhound racetrack being sold, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, current land use, owner operator
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)
- The AP report says the track had to close by March 28 and describes the final day as a Saturday (March 28, 2020 was a Saturday), but does not state the date outright; month precision is used.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.