Haunted Racetracks: Ghost Stories from Horse Racing’s Dark Past

Haunted Racetracks: Ghost Stories from Horse Racing’s Dark Past

If haunted house movies get one thing wrong, it’s this: Why would a metaphysical being with the ability to go anywhere choose a dilapidated Victorian? Wouldn’t they rather go somewhere fun, like the beach? Or maybe a nice race track? Apparently, they do. Haunted race tracks feature prominently in many communities’ folklore.

Might you need to worry, as you peruse a 2025 Belmont Stakes betting guide, about stumbling across a haunted steed? “Seabiscuit? But that horse died seventy years ago!” Ok. No. Race track ghost stories are, if nothing else, subtle. Yet, chilling. Where do ghosts go to place their bets or just take in a good race? Let’s get into it.

Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs is one of the oldest horse racing venues in the world. Certainly, it’s also one of the most iconic. The venue has witnessed many dark moments in its 150 years of operation. Some of them, inherent to the sport. Racing is hard on horses, and there was a long period of time when jockeys didn’t wear helmets. There’s also an added element of human suffering from the spectator gallery. Fans betting money they didn’t have and losing everything in the process.

Many are the spectators who have claimed to see ghostly specters at or near the betting window. Churchill Downs is at least good at owning its history. The venue has been known for opening up to “after-hours” tours during October to paint a picture of the darker elements of its history.

Ronnie Dreistadt, Manager of Education Services for Churchill Downs, explains: “Most of the stories, unfortunately, are taken right out of the newspapers, and the things that happen in real life are probably much scarier than a ghost could do. All of the stories have been researched and corroborated, and we really don’t have to embellish anything. They really speak for themselves.”

The stories they tell are often sad. “A young man walked up to a window in 1904 and literally put his life on the line. He went to a pawn shop and took his last $27 and put it all to win on a horse, and I’ll just say the horse didn’t win.”

While spirits can reportedly be seen throughout the venue, many people report a particularly high concentration in the museum area, which used to be a hospital for jockeys. “This one guy who worked in our AV department heard crying coming through a television. This was back in the 1980s,” Dreistadt explains.

The people behind these “ghost tours” see the experience as more than just a way of being entertained. It’s also a way to tell sad stories that don’t always get attention at horse racing’s greatest venue.

Del Mar

The Del Mar race track does not immediately conjure images of ghosts to the mind of guests. It’s a picturesque location in sunny California featuring a country club-like atmosphere that never approaches “spooky.” Is it possible that some ghosts have taken a look at the luxe atmosphere and said, “Well, hey. This seems like an ok place to spend eternity?”

That’s exactly what has happened–if the stories are to be believed. Most ghost stories are reported by employees observing after-hours phenomena. Are ghosts simply easier to spot in the tranquility of post-race quiet? Or maybe they just think it’s funny to frighten a nineteen-year-old trying to get home after having counted the drawer at the pretzel stand where they work. We’ll never know.

What we can say is that “ghostly” encounters at Del Mar are prominent–particularly since the track was renovated in the 90s. Some believe that the construction might have disturbed more than soil. It aggravated ghosts. It’s not uncommon for employees to report hearing laughter from the bar, or even people ordering drinks long after the grandstands have emptied. These reports led to a paranormal investigation in 2015. The South Carolina Paranormal Investigation team claims to have recorded disembodied voices during their inspection of the property.

Are the stories real? You can decide for yourself. The investigation was recorded and can be viewed here.

Why Race Tracks?

Race tracks might not be a frequent landing spot for ghosts, but they do feature a few common ingredients that motivate many of the best hauntings. Tragedy. Any track that has been around for long enough will witness suffering. Animals in pain. Jockeys injured.

History. Many of these venues have been around for more than one hundred years. Stick around for long enough and you’re bound to collect a ghost or two, right?

Passion. Also important to any good haunting is intensity of emotion. That tracks have in abundance. It’s felt by the jockeys. The teams behind the horses. The people in the stands. Certainly, it’s abundantly present in anyone who has placed a bet on a race.

With those ingredients, it’s just a wonder why more tracks don’t have great ghost stories.