Always love coming here during the summer! Chill vibes and good times with friends. Great drink specials too.

We had an absolutely great time! Purchased our club house box seats online! Breezed through the entrance with mobile tickets. We were greeted by Retama employee Steve, who was personal & shared a lot of tips. Even saw. Retama employees trying to play with the children by engaging to play with hobby horses. July 4th perfect venue for fireworks! We placed our food & drink order at the Club House 95. Drinks perfectly made, except the draft beer there was an issue. However the Amaretto Whiskey Sour delightful. Oh the cheese burgers, fries & onion rings perfectly fried for bar food. Food hot & fresh! The kiosks used to place bets were easy to understand and place bets. Yah! You know we are coming back here! read more

Retama Park - Great drinks - Horse Racing Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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A nice outdoor outing at the Park, the children enjoyed the petting and animal shows, there was a very good flamenco group. The Big Texas Crawfish Festival was more of a comercial carnival with one crawfish stand. The crawfish were fresh, spicy and not too salty. The turkey leg from another vender was god awful, I even asked for one fresh off the grill. It was apparently marinated in a strange tasting, overly salty mixture that made it inedible. A major yuk moment. read more

Retama Park - Big TX Crawfish Festival - Horse Racing Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Been here a few times and it is an enjoyable experience. Parking is free and entry is $5 a person. It does say they have a clear bag policy but they do not follow that. It is def hot no ac so go prepared as far as maybe taking some water or a fan. The club house needs to have their Leather chairs either repurposed or they need to get new ones. The drinks were def weak and food is okay nothing special. Def take cash to make bets on the machine. We went sat and it was very packed, never seen it that packed the times were gone. Again enjoy this park and will be going again. read more

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Absolutely incredible! We went to the camel and ostrich races .. and have just purchased tickets for another event!! I had the best customer service employee Darla help set up our next event!! What an incredible individual and service!! Darla you are amazing and we thank you for making the event effortless .. You ma'am are wonderful and we can't thank you enough for your help; and providing such easy and kind service!! thank you so incredibly much!! Shay H read more

Retama Park - The next event - Horse Racing Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

The reviews so far are out of date, to say the least. plenty of free parking at Retama Park. Retama Park entry for simulcasting is free. It starts on Wednesday through Sunday. Plenty of horse tracks to choose from as the sun goes up starting at the East coast tracks open up throughout the day until nighttime with Los Alamitos racetrack in California. The entry fees for live racing are minimal, Quater Horse Racing starts Late June 2024, and for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, which is today, and the Breeders Cup also have minimal entry fees. Retama Park is an indoor smoke free establishment. The staff are very friendly and make you feel very welcome. The food is prepared by their Chef on the third floor, sprots bar too. Watch your favorite Sports and wager too! Amber is one of the barkeeps and is well liked by many if not all! She is my favorite at the Sports Bar and Maria is one of my favorites at the Program/food service/ server on the second floor. Many veterans enjoy the parimutuel betting. The pool money is from all over the world. The pay out depends on the odds and not the number of attendees. The favorite horse, dog or harness racing entry is not always the winner! Be patient and be nice. We are all having a good time regardless, win or lose. Today is the running of the 148th Preakness. Come out and if you want to learn more or get some advice just ask the cashiers, patrons, and other service personnel. Meet you at the track! You do not need to wager a lot of money to win big! Enjoy! P.S. There are other venues throughout the year too. Circus Vargas has three shows a day through May 19th, 2024. They have a huge tent and parling is free. Buy tickets online for a $10.00 discount. Patron since 1995! Regards, Reytama read more

Originally, I came to see the camels and ostriches race. But what fun to bet on these noble steeds! I bet on "Paint me a Sinner" because it rhymed with winner (don't laugh at my logic) and won! I like the fact you have the choice of betting on first place or best of show (making 1st -3rd place). This gives you better odds if you're a Nervous Nelly like me. Unfortunately, the lines get long for food, and many options run out fast. So best to arrive early. We waited for almost an hour, and when we got to the cashier our only option was hot dogs. I enjoyed meeting the racers and petting the horses after the races. Overall, this place is pretty fun when it's not terribly hot. Be prepared for dirt in your face when it's windy, and always bet on the name that rhymes with winner. read more

Retama Park - Camel races - Horse Racing Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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So I got to say before I start saying anything, I have literally never been to any sort of horse track/dog track or anything like that before in my life so I have nothing to compare it to LOL I have to say though, for only $7 entry fee, this was an absolute blast! There were three levels to choose from the lowest being right where the horses are, what you're allowed to go up view the horses beforehand and also stand right at the rails where the track is. The second level has multiple machines to enter your bet if you're into gambling as well as an indoor and outdoor mezzanine to sit and watch the races from. I didn't actually go to the third floor so I'm not really sure what that's like. I can absolutely agree with everyone that said it smells like an old bus station or it looks like an old bus station LOL they are in the middle of renovating but the second floor definitely smelled like old stale cigarettes and felt kind of weird and dreary. However once you got outside it was an absolutely beautiful experience to view all of Selma/cibolo as well as the beautiful race track. I personally feel like you can't miss out on a night here especially at only $7 to get in. Definitely a fun way to start a Friday or Saturday night especially if you have family. The bets on horses started just one dollar and of course go up to crazy amounts. We just did $5 bets on each race So total we spent about $37 but some of us actually made some money back winning the races. I feel like it is a great thing to do so Just sit back relax and enjoy the horse races. read more

Retama Park - Horse Racing Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

QUICK TIP for Selma residents - free parking and free admission if you present your driver's license. Very nice facilities but after my experience at one of the very first 50 cent Fridays years ago, I deliberately skip those (even though they're on Saturdays now). At the first 50 cent Friday parking, hot dogs, admission, and beer were all 50 cents. However, the lines were long and the only beer that was 50 cents was Miller Lite on draft - you had no choice and it was served in pretty small cups. The lines were TERRIBLE. I think things have changed since then but I don't want to take the chance and would rather go on another night. Even on regular nights, the food and beer are reasonably priced - more like the prices found in a local neighborhood bar (remember, they want you to spend your money on the horses!). This is a really cool live event to take the family to and the price is much more affordable than a Spurs game or an NFL game. Provided you don't spend too much at the betting window of course. LOL. :) The place does a decent amount of business but on regular nights is not packed to the gills like other live events - you can even bring your kids right up to the rail so they can see the horses up close - very cool! The only complaint I have is that they do not do a good job advertising their live racing seasons - you usually can't even find that info on their website - I hope someone from Retama is reading this! :) read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Retama Park in the Clubhouse 95, on the third floor, for our Kentucky Derby adventure! They were trying out a new format and it was busy....the staff remained friendly and helpful...adding to the already fun time we were having! Amber was our server and we would def request her area Everytime! read more

Great if you like stale cigarettes and the creepy feel of an empty bus station. We used to come on family nights and have a great time. I guess those days are over read more

We went for the recent 4th of July event and it was horrible!! Total waste of time and money. Here's a hint for management If you are going to host a big event/ promoting it like crazy then maybe you should be better prepared There were not enough food trucks nor bar staff The bathrooms were disgusting The grounds were disgusting The lines were ridiculous 40 min just to get food or a beer is ridiculous and then leaving was chaotic. There was no structure what so ever. You need to get people to direct traffic to prevent any accidents Never again read more

I honestly do not enjoy giving bad reviews . But my experience today deserves one. First the even invite clearly says all you can eat crab. The server would only give you one . When I asked about it I was told you have to get in line again to get one at a time. The line was extremely long. So anytime you wanted one crab cluster you had to get back in this really long line and wait . There was also pasta , asparagus, baked chicken, and dinner rolls. EVERYTHING was really cold. There was no way to enjoy this dinner. I went with a large group and no one ate their dinner because it was cold . The only highlight was the chihuahua and horse races. If I ever return it would be for the race and drinks only . Maybe it was just an off day for them but for $40 bucks per person I was expecting it to be a better experience . I forgot to add that the waitress Maria was really nice. She was very attentive and apologetic about the cold food. read more

Fun place for a quiet afternoon. The food was pretty good and the staff were very friendly and helpful. For the Watch and Wager their are dozens of TV's and you can even bet on greyhound dog races. read more

Comments are most welcome and appreciated I normally only review restaurants but there is food served at this establishment and I was there so I figured I would give my opinion on Retama Park San Antonio. so right off the bat I would like to say that I don't have a lot to compare it to as I've only ever visited the one RaceTrac however my review is not really pertaining to the horses, the races or the gambling, my review is more aimed towards the food that was served, the cleanliness and the staff. with that said the food we have eaten at retama is decent...I guess the better options are when they have food trucks on premises for your food needs when visiting retama however we did have a nice soft pretzel. as far as cleanliness goes I'm not sure if they understand the word, I realize that the amount of people that come through make it impossible or nearly impossible to keep things clean and sanitary but the restrooms smell like urine 24/7 And clogged toilets usually go unattended. the staff is fairly friendly I mean you don't really come in contact with anyone unless you're ordering food or gambling but the few interactions that I have had with employees have been Pleasant. keep in mind when reading this that Retama Park is a very large theme park size facility that I imagine can be hard to maintain and manage with the amount of people that come through on the weekends. Why 3 stars and not 4: I miss 50 Cent Fridays... Just kidding I mean I do miss 50 Cent Fridays but the reason I'm giving them 3 stars is mainly cleanliness issues with the facility. If my review was helpful in any way and/or you enjoy reading my content please help encourage my continued use of yelp by leaving comments as they are most appreciated and welcome *Poor *Decent *Good *great *Best *JLFoodie Certified Food. Decent Service. Good Cleanliness. poor Value. good I realize I'm a food snob, I eat out regularly some weeks 3 to 4 times which in my opinion makes me a bit of an expert on food, service, quality etc. I say it how I see it and I usually will give restaurants at least three chances before I give up on them and in some cases after some time has past I revisit the restaurants to see if anything is changed and my reviews reflect that change. read more

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Chips and queso, they got em just can't get them together. Want a fork, sorry they are all dirty downstairs, nobody cleaned them last night. So you can get fries and queso, yummy! Who operates this food establishment? Not a chef, not anyone with any knowledge of running a restaurant! A complete joke of a menu! It's so mind boggling that it's hilarious!!! Poor employees who have to deal with customers and their complaints! July 4th Retama park, no racing forms, no sports bar until three with one of the biggest days for racing in the country. Who manages this establishment? Not a horse racing person, that's for sure!!! Good luck on opening day Retama, your going to need it! When are the camels and the donkeys arriving? At least Fredericksburg has its shit together! read more

Went out for the 4th of July races and fireworks. Crowd was alive nice to see in this morgue. But like all big days at Retema not enough betting lines open. This happens all the time Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont and Breeders cup. Wake the heck up this is why peopled don't come back. If you don't understand pari mutual betting don't run a race track. For those that don't know they make $ on every bet weather you win or lose. 25 minutes to cash winning ticket after the last (10th) race. read more

A friend and I were here on Friday night. Since kids under 12 gets in for free, many family brought their kids to the track, so there were kids running , yelling and playing in the open area. Inside the building, many seniors were watching other races or just hanging out. My friend said it is like Kindergarten in the front and Senior Living center inside, which I thought was hilarious. Anyhoo, parking is free, $5 per person to get in. There were nine races that night, about ever 20 mins or so between races. You can get up close to the track which is awesome for pictures. If you sit on the lower level, you can't see the race behind the billboard. $2 per person on the second deck so you get a view of the whole race. I thought it is funny that, unlike football stadiums, the higher you go, the more $ you pay. I'm not a big gambler, so we started off just betting with each other, loser buys the winner a hot dog (which is $1) or a soda (75 cents for the can), after winning the "bet" 4 out of first 6 races, I decided to put money down, and of course, no horses of mine ever finished in the top four ever since. That's why I don't gamble. Overall, great family fun, you can bring your family for an outing, feed your kids with cheap hot dogs and let them burn out their energy in the open area while you enjoy a beer or put a dollar or two on a race. My only complain is the second floor smells smoky, I think I saw someone smoking inside. I'm all for open area smoking (although please be considered of the kids), but indoor smoking is a big no no for me. read more

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Nice horse race park. If your going to eat fast food ...forget it..hot dogs cold, pretzels not cooked all the way.. For horse racing, plenty of seating, atmosphere in evenings outside is nice.. If it wasn't for the food I would give five stars. read more

Went to the track for Kentucky derby. All restaurants were filled with no seating, understandable. Plenty of great parking a plus. But to view the races was very limited. Only a few screens inside and the room smelled like smoke. Otherwise what does one expect for a race track. Beautiful hats and outfits but not many places to eat and view the races. Best review is equal to: meh. read more

We'll never go back. Been there maybe 6 times over 20 years and its gotten worse. It's a dirty dump, the food sucks and it's full of idiots. Whats to like? Drinks are overpriced, buffet is a joke, seats are sticky, trashy people everywhere. And the racing isnt exciting. We know Vegas baby, and this aint it. Maybe the bummy side of Vegas, but not the shiny exciting part. Dont watse your time or effort. read more

I have only been here for events, not to actually see horse racing because of the bizarre race schedule. I used to go to the race track in California when I lived there so maybe it is an unfair comparison, but definitely not my favorite place. The events I have been to (fairs, concerts) were all fun and I didn't have any complaints really. The place seems like it could use an upgrade. read more

If you're a product of the 70's, then chances are your parents actually took you along to one of those dark, smoky, velvety-creepy lounges while they had cocktails. That feeling? Is the one I get when I walk into Retama. I love it. The little old men who puff on cigars and look too serious for what they're actually doing (throwing money in the trash), and the little old ladies with their hair all did, still wearing knee-high Hanes. Hey! These are the same people! Anywho. The first beer goes down like water, so get two to start. Then make sure you get a program and bring your own dam pencil (GAH, are you an amateur or what?). The process is all very algorithmy and scientific, so get ready to take notes on how to bet: Is it your favorite number? color? flower? Disney Character? BET ON IT Does it contain your name in any form? INCREASE THE BET BY $2 Is it your mother-in law's name in any form? SKIP IT Did you once have a dog with this name? HAVE YOUR FRIEND BET ON IT Is it ranked the favorite? SKIP IT Is it ranked dead last? AT LEAST $2 The rest is a free for all, just put $2 on every horse in the race, and get your ass back to the bar. Guaranteed win. TIPS: There are always free nights, kids nights, and .50 hotdog/beer nights October is especially great because they hire a band to OOOMPA! every Friday night. Old dudes in tights - it. just. don't. get. better. read more

Six of us went; none of us had been there before. Retama Park makes Manor Downs (god rest her soul) seem like kid's play. Went on a night when it was free to enter. Programs were a few bucks, as was entrance to the upper decks--the grandstands. We only stayed in the grandstands for a race or two. And to eat 50 cent hot dogs and $1.75 beers. Wasn't totally worth it. So I say go to the mid-level and shell out the 2 bucks to sit in the box seats. You get your own table and it's outside, but shielded from rain (it was cool and rainy the night we were there). You're close to the action, but still get to stay seated. I didn't win much, but I'm okay with that. The cheap fun on a Saturday night was so worth it. You really should try it. Just once. And maybe you'l be lucky to sit in front of the guy we sat in front of. He really did get it all. read more

San Antonio's race track! We've got a world class race track, where they do live racing on a regular basis. They usually have simulcast racing going on as well, so if you're looking to place some wagers, this is the place. Overall, it's an inexpensive way to spend the evening, especially if you go on dollar night. (Check their website) They do manage to nickle and dime you once you get in. Want a program? A few bucks. Wanna sit in air conditioning? A dollar more. But overall, it's not too bad. The place isn't especially clean. It has the feel of a bus station, with scraps of paper everywhere, and empty drink containers all over the place. But parking is easy, and usually free. You can go out and check out the horses before they race over at one end of the grandstands. I like to bet on ones that poop before they go out. They carry a lighter load... You can take your kids with you, as long as they don't place bets for you. But those automated betting terminals make it so easy that even your toddler could place the bets for you. There's even a polo field out back, but I've never watched them play. read more

Awww yeaah! Our own little Kentucky Derby right here in San Antonio. I love Retama Park! This weekend there was 50 cent Saturday (not sure what happened to the awesome 50 cent Friday) with free admission and superbly cheap $1.50 draft beer! I'm not a huge fan of the 50 cent hot dogs, but when you're drinking cheap beer, nothing's better. This is a great racetrack, very clean and fun for the whole family. There are clowns and facepainting for kids and of course, gambling for the adults. I don't know how to correctly place bets, but it is fun to try and figure out the program. I always just bet on the horses with the coolest names. read more

Well I wouldn't call it world class but it's not bad. Certainly a clean modern facility. Expect to pay $6 a beer with Ziegenbock and Bud light as your only choices though they did have a full bar I didn't use. Other reviews say the food sucks, we were lucky this night as the USAF education and training commands top 3 was doing a fund raiser and had TOP NOTCH BBQ. A fun night overall and worth doing if you've never been. A good way to break out of the routine if you're looking for something to do. Seems to be a very family friendly venue. Pros: Clean, very friendly staff. Plenty of seating room and standing right by the track Cons: Parking was insane (we were there for camel and ostrich racing night) though my friends who have been several times assure me that this was an anomaly. No one answering the phone, a problem as it was raining earlier and we wanted to insure that the races were going to go on in the evening, the answering machine message was not informative in that regard either. They should update the message to state the plans in event of the weather. read more

I love 50 cent Fridays at Retama! Free admission (unless of course you belong to the club which will get you in on certain levels), 50 cent hot dogs and sodas and 1 buck for beer. For the kids there's an arcade and a petting zoo. 50 cent nights should be starting up in September and end in November. If you're like me and not a big gambler, you can still just come in and check out the races. In the lower level they even have 'classes' to teach you how to bet. ;) read more

I've only been here two times to wager on horses. The place has been around for years and is starting to look run down in the stables area. On the interior they allow smoking and a bunch of people are smoking. I walked by a table and there were burning cigarettes in an ashtray but nobody was sitting there. I'll go back but only to get in and out. Meh! read more

I like Retama Park Racetrack and had a fine time, but I had a few complaints. First is the way they nickel and dime you once you get inside the gate. Going to the club level is another buck. Getting inside the nicer bar is another buck. Program? Two more bucks. I'm a little surprised they let you out for free! I half expected to pay to exit. Also, because Retama offers parimutuel off-track betting, I sometimes found it hard to find the odds for the races actually occurring live at Retama among the plethora of monitors. Several times I ended up walking past clusters of screens showing horse and dog racing elsewhere just trying to find out what the darn odds were on the race I was about to see live. It's not a bad way to spend an evening. I only lost $20, which is as good as a win in my book! If you go and sit in the stands, for at least one race you should head down to watch the horses thunder past the finish line--it's not the best view in the house for rooting for your horse, but it is exciting to see. read more

What happened to Retama??? Why won't they spend any money on this facility?? The TV monitors look like the originals from when it opened, nd several don't work at all. The restrooms need serious upkeep. The third-floor was closed for the Kentucky Derby. This is sad because it could be a very nice facility if somebody would just spend some money and do it right. read more

First time I came here since I've lived here in 2 years. And I loved it! We went on Friday 50 cent night, so we only ended up spending $30 total. But with a $2 bet, our luck and beautiful horse, we won it all back! Not bad for a fun night! read more

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Well I went on a drizzly day so it wasn't very crowded. Parking was free, and admission was $5. Not a big deal. My biggest dislike was the amount of kids running around, and parents not watching them or caring. A lot of them would crowd around the area where the horses come out and attempt to touch the actual race horses, which is a big no no, and all the screaming spooked quite a few of the horses from what I saw. Most of the parents simply laughed or watched, thinking it was cute or funny. The food choices available were also a little disappointing. Basically, hot dogs, nachos, or mexican food, and the hot dog was certainly not the best I've ever had by far. The drink choices were better, and the bartender I met mixed me up a mean Blue Hawaiian after asking for something fruity, which I really enjoyed. The races were fun, but I really prefer Thoroughbred racing to Quarter Horse, the races last longer and are generally more exciting. I would really enjoy if they had a "How to Bet" guide for free for newbies, so we know what exactly everything is. But other than that, pretty nice track. read more

Glad this place doesn't have live racing year round because I would definitely have a problem. lol We have addictive personalities in my family! Anyways! :-) I love this place! It's so much fun! A group of us went last Saturday night for some fun on 50ct night.. it wasn't really 50ct night.. you had to pay 5.00 parking which you usually don't have to pay for.. only thing was 50ct were sodas.. Kind of disappointing but oh well! Had a great time and I won! woo hoo Still not smoke free because it's in Selma! FYI read more

I think horses just aren't my thing. Hahaha. It's a great place to hang out with the family, especially on their special days. I hit up the snack bar a few times to get hot dogs, nachos, and sodas, and it wasn't a strain on the wallet. My parents were there as well. They ended losing a couple bucks at the end of the night. :P My little bro and sis were there as well, along with my cousins. They were having lots of fun. They got to pet some of the horses. Overall, a pretty good place for the family. Yes they have beer and it smells like smoke, but still I'd definitely consider it a family event. read more

I hadn't been here in many years, but came with husband's work function and we were in the top level for a buffet and drinks. I was expecting more, much more. The bars were stocked but the drinks were made with very low quality alcohol beneath the bar. I cringed as I asked for a margarita on the rocks and waited for a grab for the Cuervo (at least) and some marnier, but came up short as the bartender reached for a bottle of toro(I think) tequila. What?? We were in a cash bar on the top level of the track at a private executive happy hour! One should automatically reach for the good stuff ( at least as good as you have) and expect to be paid for it. These are not college students for goodness sakes! But, the highlight of the night was the walk up to the track and petting the horses and seeing the jockeys. Yes, you can bring your kids and they can run around, which is always a plus, but for a gambling establishment the food and drinks were subpar. Someone needs to come and revive the food and bar drink experience. Pronto! read more

I can't understand it for you. I can only explain it. Outdoor/Indoor Venue. 3 stories. Spacious!!! Super cool. Unfortunately the idiots that be think it'll be fun to smash 500 people (max occupancy due to Wolfe/Neirenberg mandates) into 1 level. Waited 41 minutes in line to get in the gate (smashed next to 100 other souls). Waited 28 minutes in the concession line next people because only one bar was open. Never in my life have I been this close to people in the middle of a pandemic. Pathetic. read more

I love this place! The sounds, the smells, the people, the place, all bundled up for an eventful night. Keep in mind Retama (like other facilities trying to survive in this country) changes their live racing seasons often. I've been coming for years and every season is different. Visit their website or call for any special nights (like 50 cents/live racing/closed for special parties, etc). They revamped their website this year so it appears up to date. The most entertaining (and higher pay outs) happen to amateurs on 50 cent live racing nights. Sure you can go on Saturdays to test the waters, but because you bet in house (against each other) the less people the less your pay out will be. With that being said if you go on 50 cent night and bet $1 on the first probable favorite, you can imagine the other 900 + people did the same which means your pay out might be doubled (a measly $3 pay out, ya follow me?). So buy a 50 cent paper so you can read the horses statics, pick one that feels good and be prepared to bet a few bucks. You're going to have fun. If you're lucky $20 will get you an entire night of fun, especially if you win!! Three levels of fun to be exact. You have your thrifty families on the open air level, your hard core drinkers/smokers/serious gamblers on the second floor, then you get the sophisticated (mostly) singles on the 3rd level. Also, you pay a $1 extra to get access to the air conditioned less smokey 3rd level for a reason. There are usually less lines and friendlier staff. The restrooms up there are usually fully stocked too. What's a $1 at a race track anyway!? 50 cent nights are great for families. There's tons of affordable things to do and eat. They have pony rides, face painting, live bands and always have some sort of give aways. They have the kids on the jumbo screen scream YMCA around the 9th race and people have a great time. There's great event areas (3rd floor and track level) with great deals available for company parties, weddings and birthdays. I usually tell all my friends I'll be there for my birthday and they show up, and that's because I'm thrifty! The night can be real affordable if you choose so and you'll usually leave excited for the next trip back. read more

Its really nice and fairly priced. Recommend sitting upstairs terrace level dining the buffet is decent. Air conditioned as well read more

Retama Park - terrace level restaurant - Horse Racing Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

At Retama for the Kentucky Derby. On the 3rd floor 2 cashiers for betting and one poor, lonely bartender so incredibly overwhelmed. It is like this every time we try and have fun here. Water leaking from the ceiling with trash bins, smoke throughout building and understaffed. Crazy. Maybe I am crazy for coming here and expecting anything thing different. read more