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Fifty years ago today (June 7), the pari-mutuel era for horse racing racing began in Pennsylvania. Wagering on equines in the Keystone State began on this date with harness racing at northeast Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Park, which would win awards for its striking architecture, complete with All-American red/white/blue awnings. 

 

The first win bets from a crowd of 10,000 were cashed on a horse named Majesty's Knight, and the track's first 2:00 mile (one dare not say "state's," with Dan Patch drawing 90,000 at the Allentown Fair and other top horses appearing on the local fair circuit) went to Overtrick, that year's champion 3YO pacer, who beat his 1:59.3 mile on opening night with a 1:57.3 world record clocking later in the meet.

 

Pocono Downs would soon debut in northeast Pennsylvania, and is conducting its 47th campaign during 2013. Other harness tracks in Pennsylvania include the Harrah's operation just south of Philadelphia, debuting just afrer the slot law in 2006 as Harrah's Chester and now known as Harrah's Philadelphia; and "Lake Shore Meadows," the banner under which Meadows officials conducted some mid-80s dates at the Commodore Downs/Erie Downs oval near Erie, which was built for thoroughbreds.