For more than 50 years, a massive concrete structure near Cotton Lane and Interstate 10 stood as a mysterious reminder of the Phoenix Trotting Park, a once-ambitious harness racing venue that opened in January 1965 and closed soon after.
The park was Arizona’s premier harness racing destination, where drivers rode in sulkies pulled by horses. It featured grandstands, betting windows, stables and a fine-dining restaurant, considered state-of-the-art at the time.
“The opening night ceremony had over 12,000 people attend,” said Trevor Freeman, a historian of the Phoenix Trotting Park, in a press release. “It was a huge kickoff to what the owners thought would be a very successful business.”…