Originally owned by the Upton family and other individuals, Southland was purchased by Delaware North Companies, Inc., based in Buffalo, New York, in the early 1970s. West Memphis was one of only two Arkansas cities to allow pari-mutuel betting, the other being Hot Springs. The track offered pari-mutuel betting, also known as pool betting, a unique form of betting where wagers are placed against other bettors and a pool is shared among the winners. At its opening in the mid-1950s, Southland Casino Racing was the only gambling venue in the Mid-South region, drawing thousands of visitors from the surrounding cities and states.
