Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission approved the dates and calendars at its November 25 meeting, and also signed off on the three-year license renewals for Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, Mohegan Pennsylvania (Pocono Downs) and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, as well as two of the three Thoroughbred tracks.
Electronic wagering petitions from all six tracks were approved for 2026.
The state’s three Thoroughbred tracks were awarded 331 racing dates for a statewide total of 738 next year. The PHRC regularly approves requests for changes in dates and post times throughout each year depending on various developments in each market. The schedules are very similar to those of 2025.
The Meadows was awarded the most harness dates with 169 from January 7 through December 30. Racing is scheduled for four days a week in January and June through July, and primarily three days a week the rest of the year. As has been the case in recent years, The Meadows plans to race at 5:10 p.m. on Fridays from late May through early September and one Friday night in October.
Pocono Downs requested 128 programs from February 14 through November 21. Like this year, live racing is scheduled for Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays in the afternoon, with nine Sunday cards with post time to be determined from late May through July.
Harrah’s Philly is scheduled for 110 live racing programs from April 10 through December 31 with racing three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) throughout the season. There is a special evening card set for Saturday, September 12, to celebrate the facility’s 20th anniversary.
In general, track officials told the PHRC they intend to continue to build upon big-event days, perhaps add some new ones, and maintain consistent schedules that provide a good purse structure and maximize field size to the benefit of pari-mutuel handle.