History
Built on the grounds of the old Wonderland amusement park, the dog track opened on June 12, 1935, and for decades was one of New England's busiest betting venues; its annual Wonderland Derby drew crowds above 30,000.
After Massachusetts voters required the state's dog tracks to close, Wonderland ran its last live card in September 2009 and ended simulcasting in August 2010. Demolition began in 2017, and Revere later took the land by eminent domain for a new high school.
Why it matters: It was among the most prominent greyhound tracks in the Northeast for 74 years.
Timeline
- June 12, 1935
About 5,000 people attended the first night of racing.
- 1988Last Wonderland Derby[1]
The annual August championship, which often drew more than 30,000 fans, was last held.
- September 18, 2009
Live racing ended after Massachusetts voters banned dog racing.
- August 19, 2010Simulcasting ends[1]
The facility closed completely.
- 2017Demolition[1]
Demolition of the track began.
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Taken by the City of Revere by eminent domain (2022) for a new Revere High School; groundbreaking August 2025[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Location | Across VFW Parkway from MBTA Wonderland station, Revere, Revere, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Greyhound racing |
| Level | Greyhound |
| Opened | June 12, 1935[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | August 19, 2010[1,2] |
| Demolished | 2017[1] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Owner / operator | Westwood Group (from 1977) |
| Closure | Massachusetts ballot measure banning greyhound racing, plus declining business and tax problems. |
Documented details
- The track recorded four nights with more than $1 million wagered, the first on August 29, 1981.[1]
Sources
- Wonderland Greyhound Park, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, demolished, events, opened
- Wonderland holds final night of greyhound racing, NECN. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
- Satellite map of Wonderland Greyhound Park, Latitude.to. 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.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.