During the past several years, Hazel Park has hosted the prestigous $150,000 Motor City Pace and the $100,000 Nicole Hudock Memorial Pace along with several other major stakes events. 2003's Stake Schedule brought $2,000,000 to be vied for by Michigan and the nation's finest competitors the sport has to offer. The track's nightly overnight events have an industry-wide reputation as being some of the most competitive racing to be found anywhere. Anchored by Michigan's strong foundation in harness racing and buoyed by a superlative influx of racing stables from southern Ontario to California, Florida and the Midwest. Racing at Hazel Park has always been considered among the nation's finest.

In 1996, state legislation permitted full-card Simulcasting enabling the track to virtually be open for business year round seven days a week, noon till midnight. Now, in addition to the outstanding live racing, patrons may view and wager on all major harness and thoroughbred tracks across the country. The Triple Crown, Breeder's Cup and Breeder's Crown, Little Brown Jug and The Hambletonian are all now standard fare.

Several recent improvements have been added for customer and horsemen convenience, including a passing lane, a casual park-setting picnic area, several banks of large screen TVs, the very popular Top of the Park Grill and the Winner's Circle Club Party Room. The year 2000 saw the inaugural induction of three horsemen and two horses into the Hazel Park Harness Hall of Fame. Driver-trainers Doug Ackerman, Chris Boring and Ted Taylor received the initial honors for their outstanding contributions to Hazel Park racing. Trotter, Night Court Dan and pacer, Armbro Cadet were the first equine recipients for their many achievements. 2001 brough another round of Michigan firsts to Hazel Park. On Saturday, September 20, 12 Michigan Sire Stakes with purses exceeding $1,000,000 were contested. The state's second million dollar purse night sent postward the pride of the Michigan Harness Horsemen.