‘Bark at the Parx’ Basset Hound Racing

We are back for another BARK AT THE PARX BASSEST HOUND RACING FUNDRAISER at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA! Want to see YOUR hounds race on the horse track? Then for just a $30 donation, your purebred Basset Hound or Basset Hound Mix can participate. And back this year we have a special race JUST FOR SENIOR HOUNDS!

THIS EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE!  ONLY COMPETING HOUNDS ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEND!

IF THE RACE OPTION YOU WANT IS SOLD OUT, PLEASE EMAIL US TO GET ON THE WAITLIST: juliaellis2010@gmail.com.

There are three race options this year – Get your tickets HERE!

1. PUREBRED BASSET HOUND (84 racing spots available; MUST BE a Purebred Basset Hound to compete in these races)
2. BASSET HOUND MIX (12 racing spots available; MUST BE a Basset Hound Mix to compete in this race)
3. SENIOR HOUND (12 racing spot available; MUST BE a Purebred Basset Hound OR Basset Hound Mix, and MUST BE approximately 10 years old [or older] to compete in this race)

Event Details:

• THIS EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE! If the horse races are racing as scheduled then we will have the hound races too.
• When: Saturday, June 6, 2026
• Where: Parx Racing | 3001 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
• Approximate Timeline: 
  • 11:00 a.m. – Gates OPEN at Parx and REGISTRATION for competing dogs begins
  • 12:00 p.m. – HORSE RACES and family-friendly ACTIVITIES begin (food options, vendors, raffle baskets, etc.)
  • 1:00 p.m. – Registration ENDS for competing dogs (all competing dogs MUST check in at the registration table by this time)
  • 1:15 p.m. – Derby Hat Contest**
  • 2:00 p.m. – Dog races START (the dog races will be in between the horse races; exact heat times will be shared with competitors a few days advance of the event)
  • 3:30 p.m. – Raffle Prize Drawing
  • 3:45 p.m. – FINAL RACES for the Purebreds and Basset Hound Mixes (the final two races for the Purebreds and Basset Hound Mixes to determine our champions)
  • 6:00 p.m. – Horse races END (Stick around after the dogs finish competing to watch the rest of the horse races)
• Parking: Plenty of FREE parking lots; there is a designated lot for the PICNIC GROVE.
• Entrance: Enter through the PICNIC GROVE area (map below).
• Cost: Free to enter the park and watch the event. It is a $30 donation if you want your hound to compete (and you get a great ‘swag bag’ with lots of goodies!). Get your tickets HERE!
• What to Bring: Parx allows outside food and beverages (no alcohol), so feel free to bring your own stuff! Also bring your own blankets and chairs (there are picnic tables, but we are expecting a large crowd). Note: Parx will search bags prior to allowing admission into the Picnic Grove.
• *Family Fun Activities: TSBHR will have new merchandise for sale, a raffle table to win prizes, and small business vendors selling their merch and services. Parx will also be hosting kid-friendly activities in the Lower Picnic Grove.
• **Derby Hat Contest: Super fun contest to unleash your hatitude! Bring an upcycled hat that you’ve decorated in whatever lovely lady or dapper gentleman theme you want. Let your hounds wear those floppy hats to show off your creations during the contest in the lower picnic grove before the final Basset Hound race heats. Prizes for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners and crowd favorite!
• Tickets: If you want your Basset or Basset-Mix to compete, you must purchase a ticket in advance by May 31. Each ticket includes a great ‘swag bag’ with lots of goodies! Get your tickets HERE!
• Note: Only competing dogs are permitted at Parx. If you have any questions about this, please contact juliaellis2010@gmail.com. 

THIS EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE! ​ONLY COMPETING HOUNDS ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEND! All proceeds from this event support the hounds in need! Questions? Email us at juliaellis2010@gmail.com.

‘BARK AT THE PARX’ SHIRTS

We are so excited to have this fabulous design for our 2026 ‘Bark at the Parx’ shirts created by our good friend, Pino Espudo, founder/owner of éSpūdö Enterprises. 

• Get your shirts HERE!
• Color options are FLO BLUE or GRANITE
• Size options are adult M to 3XL
• We have a very LIMITED SUPPLY of shirts and anticipate they will sell quickly
• Cost is $28 each, which includes shipping
• Remaining shirts will be available to purchase in-person at ‘Bark at the Parx’ on June 6

THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS SUPPORTING OUR EVENT!

• BarkBox – Beloved by over 2M dogs, BarkBox is the toys/treats subscription dogs are barking about. They made a raffle donation for our event.
• Basset Studios – Lizzy will be selling her lovely handmade and custom Basset-themed goods.
• éSpūdö Enterprises – Our good friend, Pino Espudo is the owner/founder of eSpudo Enterprises and is an expert graphic designer who designed the 2026 ‘Bark at the Parx’ logo! His online shop has some great Basset-themed items too! 
• FirstMate Pet Foods – A family owned and operated company, they have provided high-quality ingredients and nutritionally complete diets to pets 30 years. We are so grateful to FirstMate Pet Foods for providing dog food samples that will be in the participant ‘swag bags.’
• Hug Your Dog – Is dedicated to reminding owners that you are your dog’s best friend for their entire life. We are so grateful for their donating exclusive coupons that will be in the Derby Hat Contest prize bags.
• Images on the Run – Tim Hawk and Lori Nichols from Images on the Run are our official photographers for ‘Bark at the Parx. Make sure to stop by their table in the lower picnic grove to book a private photo session with them!
• Lehigh Valley IronPigs – The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They made a raffle donation for our event.
• Philadelphia Animal Specialty & Emergency  (PASE) – Rebecca and our friends from PASE will be on site in the lower picnic grove providing information about their services. As the ‘official’ vet of ‘Bark at the Parx’ they will also set up a cooling station for the competing hounds and will provide vet care as needed for the attending dogs. PASE is a trusted emergency and veterinary specialist in Philadelphia PA. PASE offers the highest quality patient care to ensure the health of your pet.
• Perk Valley Pet Eatery – Located in Trappe, PA, this hidden gem of a pet supply store has a team of caring and knowledgeable pet professionals that are committed to offering the exceptional quality in pet food and health supplies. We are so grateful to Perk Valley Pet Eatery for helping us secure dog food samples that will be in the participant ‘swag bags.’
• Philadelphia Union – The Philadelphia Union are an American professional soccer club based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. They made a raffle donation for our event.
• Philly Pet Pages – Philly Pet Pages is a sponsor of the 2026 ‘Bark at the Parx’! They are the #1 trusted resource for pets and their people! If it’s related to pets – it’s in Philly Pet Pages. Whether in print or online – Pet Pages is informative, insightful and very entertaining. We are so grateful to them for their magazine donation that will be in the participant ‘swag bags.’
• Saint Rocco’s Treats – Members of this fabulius team will be at the event selling all natural dog treats and food made in PA. We are so grateful to them for their treat sample donations that will be in the participant ‘swag bags.’
• Spot & Tango – Fresh dog food recipes made of 100% human-grade, whole food ingredients. Delivered right to your door. We are so grateful to Spot & Tango for providing samples of their “Unkibble” formula and exclusive coupons that will be in the participant ‘swag bags.’
• Subaru – Subaru loves dogs! And we are so grateful for the branded merch they donated to be in the participant ‘swag bags.’
• The Dog Bone Guy – Anthony and his team of Bernese Mount Dogs will be selling grass-fed NJ angus beef bones and more out of their bus in the lower picnic grove.
• Wandering Winston Bandanas – Kara makes the most adorable pet bandanas in sizes XXS-XL in a variety of fun patterns. We are so grateful to her for donating bandanas that will be used as prizes during the races!