Our History
We have a rich history that started in racing and has evolved into three world-class cardrooms and simulcast racing locations in Northeast Florida.
1930's
In the early 1930's, the Jacksonville Kennel Club introduced greyhound racing to Northeast Florida. Initially, it only operated during the summer months and soon attracted thousands of patrons at every performance.
1940's
The ownership of Jacksonville Kennel Club acquired a license to race greyhounds in Clay County and soon after Orange Park Kennel Club opened.
1970's
St. John's Greyhound Park, formally known as Gator Downs, was added to the racing schedule providing racing fans with year-round live greyhound action in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties.
1990's
As technology advanced, the tracks began sending signal to other pari-mutuel facilities in the state of Florida for patrons to wager. Soon thereafter, tracks would begin to receive signals from other facilities allowing patrons to wager on thoroughbred racing, harness racing and jai alai around the country.
2000's
In 2004, St. John's Greyhound Park, also known as "The Best Bet", introduced poker to the Northeast Florida area and was the largest poker room at the time with 44 tables.
In 2008, poker was added to the Orange Park Kennel Club.
2010's
In 2012, poker was introduced at Jacksonville Kennel Club's new facility, bestbet Jacksonville. Upon it's opening bestbet Jacksonville became the largest poker room in the state of Florida and the third largest in the United Stated with 70 tables. Today bestbet Jacksonville operates 88 tables. Later that year, "The Best Bet" in St. Johns would close.
In 2018, Florida voters elected to end live greyhound racing in the state by the end of 2020. Over the years, bestbet kept detailed records on all greyhound races and all the results can be found here.