Agawam Park

Last updated
Agawam Park
Location Agawam, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°03′11″N72°39′43″W / 42.05306°N 72.66194°W / 42.05306; -72.66194 Coordinates: 42°03′11″N72°39′43″W / 42.05306°N 72.66194°W / 42.05306; -72.66194
Date opened1935
Date closed1938

Agawam Park was an American horse racing track in Agawam, Massachusetts, that was open from 1935 to 1938, when Hampden County, Massachusetts, voted against parimutuel betting.

Contents

Beginnings

On May 17, 1935, a special town meeting approved rezoning Bowles Agawam Airport for parimutuel horse racing. [1] On May 28, the Massachusetts Racing Commission granted the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association a racing license. [2] James J. Curry was the track's first president, but business pressures forced him to resign before construction even began. He was succeeded by Thomas Wells Durant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 22, 1935. [3]

Opening

The track opened on October 1, 1935. [4] 15,000 spectators attended the day's races but betting was light. [5] On October 16, Seabiscuit won the $2,500 Springfield Handicap. [6]

Struggles

The track was deeply in debt after its year and on March 23, 1936, Judge George Clinton Sweeney approved a reorganization of the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association that saw Anderson T. Herd purchase 15,000 shares in the track for $150,000. [7] After Herd took control, James C. Thornton replaced Lou Smith as the track's general manager and Ed Brennan took over as racing secretary. [8]

The track's second meet opened on May 27, 1936. 8,000 people attended the first day of races, which again was plagued by low betting. [9] On August 17, 1936, the track was put up for auction by the Agawam town collector due to unpaid taxes, however, no one bid on the property. [10] On March 29, 1937, Judge Sweeney gave the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association approval to hold races that summer. [11] That August, Paul Bowser sponsored a Grand Circuit meet at Agawam Park. [12]

On November 8, 1938, Hampden County voters rejected a referendum permitting parimutuel betting on horse racing 22,586 votes to 17,487, forcing the closure of Agawam Park. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Agawam Votes Zoning Change to Allow Track". The Boston Globe. May 18, 1935.
  2. ↑ "Race Permit Given Track at Agawam". The Boston Globe. May 29, 1935.
  3. ↑ "Agawam Ground Broken for Horse Racing Plant". The Boston Globe. July 23, 1935.
  4. ↑ Welch, Eddie (October 1, 1935). "Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing Invades Western Part of State on Major Scale as Agawam Opens Today". The Boston Globe.
  5. ↑ Welch, Eddie (October 2, 1935). "Ladfield Captures Opener at Agawam Before 15,000". The Boston Globe.
  6. ↑ "Seabiscuit Wins 'Cap at Agawam". The Boston Globe. October 17, 1935.
  7. ↑ "Herd Comes to Aid of Agawam Track". The Boston Globe. March 24, 1936.
  8. ↑ "Agawam Signs Brennan as its Race Secretary". The Boston Globe. April 29, 1936.
  9. ↑ "Only $92,000 Bet at Agawam Opener". The Boston Globe. April 29, 1936.
  10. ↑ "No Bidders at Auction Sale of Agawam Track". The Boston Globe. August 18, 1936.
  11. ↑ "Agawam to Reopen Again This Summer". The Boston Globe. March 30, 1937.
  12. ↑ "Meeting at Agawam to Draw Fast Field". The Boston Globe. July 17, 1937.
  13. ↑ "Vote Against Betting". The New York Times. November 9, 1939.
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