Historical News and Views from the Empire State
The Goshen Historic Track has announced the Fifth Annual Kentucky Derby Day has been set for Saturday, May 4th, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.
Visitors can watch the Kentucky Derby races simulcast on several large screen TVs while enjoying the rest of the day’s festivities that also feature a family-style BBQ food, beer, wine and soda. OTB will be available. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and more. [Read more…] about Kentucky Derby Day at Goshen Historic Track May 4th
There will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the BOCES barn at one of Orange County, New York’s most distinctive landmarks, Goshen Historic Track, which opened in 1838.
Partially destroyed by a fire in 2017, the world’s oldest operating harness racing track is rebuilding to preserve a uniquely American tradition and continue serving as a community greenspace. The BOCES barn, so named because it was an extension of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, functioned as a training center focusing on equestrian care and farm management. The Track’s historic blacksmith and farrier shop was also lost in the fire.
If you wanted to hunt foxes, play polo, or just train horses around New York in the late 1800s, Long Island was the place to go. On the latest episode of The Long Island History Project, we explore this equestrian heritage with our guest Katie Robbins. Our subject is Katie’s ancestor Clarence H. Robbins, consumate cross country rider, horse trainer, and master of the hounds. He ran with Belmonts and Vanderbilts while avoiding the limelight himself although later generations would come to know his son, noted fantasy author Tod Robbins. [Read more…] about Equestrian Heritage on Long Island
The Goshen Historic Track has announced they are seeking community support to preserve a tradition that began 181 years ago.
On August 23, 2017, a fire completely destroyed the quaint blacksmith shop, the historic BOCES Barn and the shedrow barn connecting them. Fortunately, all horses were rescued and there was no loss of life. However, the Track is now facing the upcoming racing season. “The Cradle of the Trotter,” as the Goshen Historic Track is called, is a Registered Historic Landmark and the oldest active harness racing track in the world. It must rebuild quickly or lose a matching grant of $100,000. [Read more…] about Goshen Historic Track Seeks Help to Preserve Tradition
This week on The Historians podcast, communications officer Brien Bouyea discusses the National Museum of (Horse) Racing and Hall of Fame on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, NY. A famous voice from the museum’s phone answering machine introduces this episode. [Read more…] about National Museum of Horse Racing (Historians Podcast)
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has announced they will unveil a juried photography exhibition in 2019 called Photo Finish, and are now accepting submissions of photography work by both amateur and professional photographers in relation to thoroughbred racing in America. [Read more…] about Horse Racing Museum Seeks Photo Exhibit Submissions
Ulrich Raulff’s new book Farewell To The Horse: A Cultural History (Liveright, 2018) takes a deeply academic look at the ancient and complex relationship between horses and humans.
Once man’s most indispensable companions, horses were for millennia essential in helping to build cities, farms, and industries. But during the 20th century, in an increasingly mechanized society, they began to disappear from human history. [Read more…] about Farewell To The Horse: A Cultural History
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga has launched Foal Patrol, a fan-based interactive web program that tracks the lives and daily routines of several in-foal mares during their pregnancy through the birthing process.
The project includes an interactive website and several contests for racing fans and horse lovers. The site can also be reached through the Museum’s website. [Read more…] about Racing Museum’s ‘Foal Patrol’ Tracks Birthing Mares
On Sunday, November 5th, at noon, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs will hold a Man o’ War Spotlight Tour.
In celebration of the thoroughbred racehorses 100th birthday, this guided tour will take visitors through the history of the sport and feature objects related to the original “Big Red” and his connections, including an in-depth look at the “Man o’ War at 100” exhibition. [Read more…] about Saratoga: Special Man o’ War 100th Anniversary Tour
Horace Brown, perhaps the greatest horse trainer from the northern Adirondacks and foothills, attained fame and many trotting victories in America, Europe, and Russia. Of all his successes, none was more acclaimed than the marvelous season of 1882. Collectively, it was among the unlikeliest stories in sports, an early equivalent of the US hockey team’s stunning Olympic victory in 1980, when a group of fresh, largely untested amateurs came together and conquered the world’s best.
The 1882 story became legend and was often repeated, but the first couple of names involved aren’t absolutely certain. Bear with me briefly through the details, for the story will get better. By most accounts, the horse in question was bred by Jeff Brown of Dresden, on the western shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. In the vicinity of Dresden, he sold it to Richard Brown (and now the names are certain,) who sold it to Lawrence Bogert, who sold it to Stewart L. Purdy of the town of Benton. [Read more…] about Captain Lewis: Horace Brown’s Great Brown Horse