Montana State Fairgrounds Racetrack

Last updated
Montana State Fairgrounds Racetrack
USA Montana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location98 W. Custer Avenue, Helena, Montana, U.S.
Coordinates 46°37′17″N112°03′22″W / 46.62139°N 112.05611°W / 46.62139; -112.05611 Coordinates: 46°37′17″N112°03′22″W / 46.62139°N 112.05611°W / 46.62139; -112.05611
Built1870
NRHP reference No. 06001136 [1]
Added to NRHPDecember 20, 2006

The Montana State Fairgrounds Racetrack, also known as the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds Racetrack and as Helena Downs, is a historic horse racing track located on the outskirts of Helena, Montana, in the United States. Constructed in 1870, the track was part of the Montana State Fairgrounds, now the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds. The racetrack was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 2006. Portions of the track were demolished from 2006 to 2008 due to new construction on the fairgrounds.

Contents

Horse racing in Montana

Native Americans first brought horses to the northern Great Plains in the early to mid 1700s, [2] and horse racing among Native Americans in what later became Montana was common. [3] Horse racing also became popular among white settlers in the area, particularly miners. [4]

Semi-formal local horse flat racing meets first occurred in Montana in Deer Lodge, Helena, and Virginia City in the 1860s. Helena's first permanent horse racing track was Madam Coady's Two-Mile House, [lower-alpha 1] a 1 mile (1.6 km) track located a few miles from Helena. The first Montana Territorial Fair was held at the site 1868, and included Montana's first regionally-organized horse flat race. Harness racing was added at the second Territorial Fair in 1869. [7]

The Montana State Fairgrounds track

Construction of the track

In August 1870, [7] a group of Helena businessmen and civic leaders organized a new association, the Montana Agricultural Mineral and Mechanical Association, to host a new regional fair. [8] Among the trustees of the new organization were such prominent Montanans as Daniel A. G. Floweree, Cornelius Hedges, Anton M. Holter, and Conrad Kohrs. The group purchased property outside Helena (at the current location of the Montana State Fairgrounds), and construction of the racetrack began immediately. The 1 mile (1.6 km) track was built according to the rules of the American Horse Congress and the California State Agricultural Society, had a 0.25-mile (0.40 km) home stretch, and was wide enough to accommodate eight sulkies. [7] It is unclear if the track was a regular oval or if it had slightly distorted third and fourth turns which gave it an irregular oblong shape. [9] [lower-alpha 2] At the time of its construction, it was the only regulation 1 mile (1.6 km) track in the territory. [7]

Several other buildings were erected about the same time as the track was constructed. Grandstands were constructed probably at the same as the track, [lower-alpha 3] beginning near the starting line and extending eastward. [10] A "paddock" was built to the east of the grandstand, and around the first turn were three stables. [11] [lower-alpha 4]

Early history of the track

Races were held throughout the summer (not just at fair-time). [14] They attracted horses from as far away as Salt Lake City, and even included some high-quality Kentucky thoroughbreds. By 1884, horse racing tracks had been built in Bozeman and Butte, and a "Montana Circuit" for horse racing had evolved. Races at Montana Circuit tracks became more exclusive, and applicant horses had to be vetted by a nomination committee before being allowed to race. [7] The Montana Circuit eventually expanded to 15 regulation tracks. [15] On either side of the finish line were judging stands. These are two-storied structures which gave judging officials a clear view of the finish line so that they might declare which horses won and placed in the race. Initially, these were merely covered platforms, but they were replaced several times over the years with more elaborate, permanent structures with walls, windows, and amenities. [16]

Montana became a U.S. state in 1889, [7] and the fair was renamed the Montana State Fair in 1891 after being sold to a new group of investors. [14] Helena horse racing continued to gain in prestige, with owners in Denver, Colorado, and Spokane, Washington, sending entries. The track was rebuilt that year. [7] [lower-alpha 5] A Montana Central Railway spur reached the fairgrounds that same year, and local undocumented tradition claimed that several railroad cars of earth from Kentucky were laid on the track. [7]

The Panic of 1893 created significant economic disruption in Montana, and the Montana State Fair shut down after the 1895 event. The fairgrounds were mortgaged, and the issuers of the loan foreclosed. [14]

Period of state ownership

Helena residents raised money in 1903 to buy the fairgrounds, which were donated to the state. [14] By this time, the track had so deteriorated that large amounts of soil had to be trucked in to restore the turns. [17] The state of Montana authorized a subsidized Montana State Fair in 1903, and in 1904 relay races were added. [7] About this time, a two-story raised platform was erected just outside the first turn. This platform was used by racing officials to direct animals and riders before and after races. [12] In 1904, the three stables were moved from the first turn to outside the far stretch and rebuilt as speed barns. A fourth speed barn and three more stables were built at some point thereafter. [18] [lower-alpha 6] Two small cottages were erected about this time as well. One was against the north fence between the speed barns and stables, and another was at the end of a long shed built east of the speed barns. The cottage attached to the shed was used by the racetrack veterinarian. [19]

Significant changes to the viewing area were made after 1904. Three sets of bleachers were erected at the racetrack between 1903 and 1914. The first (the "long bleachers") was erected about 700 feet (210 m) west of the grandstands, probably in 1904. The second set was erected between 1904 and 1913 to the west of the grandstand, and the third (the "small bleachers") to the west of the long bleachers, probably in 1914. [20] The old grandstands were demolished in 1906, and replaced with larger ones. Roughly 260 feet (79 m) long and 60 feet (18 m) wide, they cost $20,000 ($576,074 in 2020 dollars) and were capable of seating 5,000 people. [10] Beneath the grandstands were a small jockey's dressing room (eastern end), a restaurant, and a room with betting windows. [21]

The horse racing at the Montana State Fair began to decline after the Montana Legislature banned betting on horse races in 1914. The fair's financial situation deteriorated when the state legislature significantly cut the subsidy in 1915, and a worsening decade-long drought led to fewer paying exhibitors. [7] A 0.5 miles (0.80 km) dirt automobile racing track was built in the horse racing track's infield in 1916, nestled against the first turn. [6] Although horse racing remained popular at the fairgrounds, [7] economic difficulties led to the fair's cancellation in 1926. Organizers managed to host only small fairs 1927 to 1932. [22]

The ban on gambling was lifted in 1930. That year, more than 350 high-quality racehorses from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico raced at Helena, and parimutuel betting (assisted by an automatic totaliser) first occurred. [7] The "paddock" was abandoned the same year, and a true, open-air paddock was built next to it. [23]

Closure and reopening

The last Montana State Fair was held in Helena in 1932. [7] The 1935 Helena earthquake and several fires in the 1930s and 1940s destroyed several unspecified structures associated with the horse racing track. [24] In the fall of 1937, the three north stables and veterinarian's cottage burned down. Horse racing ended during this time, and the track was abandoned except for the small section in front of the grandstand (used as part of the automobile race track). [25]

The largest of the four north barns was relocated to nearby Green Meadow Ranch about 1938. [26] The remaining three north barns either burned down or were demolished by 1951. [19] Both finish-line judging stands were removed by then as well. [16]

In mid-1953, the Capital City Racing Association constructed a 0.25 miles (0.40 km) oval stock car racing track inside the 1916 automobile track. It remained in until 1956. [6]

Horse racing returned to the horse track in 1964, some years after organizers hosted the first Last Chance Stampede at the fairgrounds. [7] Some newspapers began referring to the horse track as "Helena Downs" at this time. [27] Horse racing lasted until 1998, [15] and a year later the state turned the fairgrounds over to Lewis and Clark County. [28]

County ownership and changes to the track

The grandstands were demolished in 2000. [6] They had fallen into a decrepit state, and preservationists vigorously asked for them to be preserved. But the cost was too great, and the state declined to assume the cost. [29] New modern, metal bleachers were erected in their place, and in the infield just west of the first turn. The new grandstands, designed to accommodate rodeo activities in the infield, occupied about one-eighth of the horse racing track surface. [6] Both the second turn, home stretch, and backstretch were bulldozed to accommodate rodeo activities. [30]

The public discussion over the grandstands led the Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Office to conduct a historic assessment of the Montana State Fairgrounds in 2003. [31]

In 2005, the Lewis and Clark County Fair Board began consideration of a plan to reconfigured the old Montana State Fairgrounds for reuse. [32] The plans called for a new grandstand and a large new exhibition building in the horse track infield, and demolition of the home stretch. [33] Although there was support for the return of horse racing and restoration of the track, the fair board declined to amend the plan to accommodate it. [32] When the county began building an access road across the horse racing track in the fall of 2005 in preparation for construction, an organization named Save the Track Foundation unsuccessfully sued to have the road stopped. [33]

In November 2006, Lewis and Clark County voters approved a $5.7 million ($7,300,000 in 2020 dollars) tax levy to implement the changes proposed by the fair board. [33]

Despite the partial blockage and demolition of the track, the horse racing track (but not any associated buildings) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 2006. [1]

In 2006, the Save the Track Foundation filed several lawsuits to enjoin Lewis and Clark County from implementing its reconfiguration of the fairgrounds. The group claimed that the fair board had misled voters by failing to disclose that the horse racing track would be partially demolished and the infield used for construction. County officials said the reconfiguration plan saved most of the track for horse racing and preservation purposes, and that a lengthy planning process determined that partial demolition and use of the infield was the best use of the land given current and future needs. [33] A Montana District Court judge declined to issue a temporary injunction halting the plan, and in March 2008 issued a formal ruling in favor of the county. The ruling allowed final construction on the new 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) exhibition building to go forward. [28]

About the track

The Montana State Fairgrounds Racetrack is located in the center of the 160-acre (650,000 m2) fairgrounds. [8]

Grandstands, three sets of bleachers, an enclosed "paddock", two judging platforms, and three stables were built during the track's early history on the home stretch and first turn. Speed barns, three stables, and two cottages were built adjacent to the back stretch in the first two or three decades of the 20th century. No historic structures associated with the track's history remained as of 2006. [34]

The Montana State Fairgrounds Racetrack was one of only three 1-mile (1.6 km) tracks west of the Mississippi River in 2005. [15] It was reported to be the oldest of these 1-mile (1.6 km) tracks in 2006, [7] as well as the oldest extant horse racing track in Montana, and the only racing track built in Montana's territorial period to survive into the 21st century. [7] According to the American Racing Manual , it was the second oldest horse racing track of its kind in the nation. [33]

Related Research Articles

Santa Anita Park

Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races including both the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap as well as hosting the Breeders' Cup in 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019. Since 2011, The Stronach Group are the current owners.

Saratoga Race Course Horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actually the fourth oldest racetrack in the US. In 1857 the Empire Race Course was opened on an island in the Hudson River near Albany, but was in operation only a short time.

Churchill Downs Thoroughbred racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first Kentucky Derby, a Thoroughbred sweepstakes and part of today's horse racing Triple Crown, and the first Kentucky Oaks were held in the same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders' Cup on nine occasions, most recently on November 2 and 3, 2018.

Knoxville Raceway Racetrack

Knoxville Raceway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile dirt oval raceway located at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa, United States. Races at the "Sprint Car Capital of the World" are held on Saturday nights from April through September each year. Some special events such as the Knoxville Nationals, 360 Knoxville Nationals and Late Model Knoxville Nationals are multi-day events. Weekly racing events at the track features multiple classes of sprint cars including 410 cubic inch, 360 cubic inch and Pro Sprints. Each August, the Raceway holds the paramount sprint car event in the United States, the Knoxville Nationals. The track is governed by the 24-member fair board elected by Marion County residents.

Del Mar Fairgrounds Event venue in Del Mar, California, United States

The Del Mar Fairgrounds is a 370-acre (1.5 km2) event venue in Del Mar, California. The annual San Diego County Fair is held here, which was called the Del Mar Fair from 1984 to 2001. In 1936, the Del Mar Racetrack was built by the Thoroughbred Club with founding member Bing Crosby providing leadership.

Ellis Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Henderson, Kentucky, just south of Evansville, Indiana. It is owned and operated by Ellis Entertainment, a subsidiary of Laguna Development Corporation based out of New Mexico. While the track is located north of the Ohio River that forms the border between Kentucky and Indiana, which would put it within Indiana, the border is based on the course of the river at the time Kentucky became a state in 1792.

Laurel Park (race track) American thoroughbred racetrack near Laurel, Maryland

Laurel Park is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is 1+1⁄8 miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades until returning to the "Laurel Park" designation in 1994.

Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack

Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack is a one mile long clay oval motor racetrack on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, the state capital. It is frequently nicknamed The Springfield Mile. Constructed in the late 19th century and reconstructed in 1927, the track has hosted competitive auto racing since 1910, making it one of the oldest speedways in the United States. The original mile track utilized the current frontstretch and the other side was behind the current grandstands and the straightaways were connected by tight turns. It is the oldest track to continually host national championship dirt track racing, holding its first national championship race in 1934 under the American Automobile Association banner. It is the home of five world records for automobile racing, making it one of the fastest dirt tracks in the world. Since 1993, the venue is managed by Bob Sargent's Track Enterprises.

DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack Racetrack in southern Illinois, United States

DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack is a one-mile (1.6-km) clay oval motor racetrack in Du Quoin, Illinois, about 90 miles (140 km) southeast of St Louis, Missouri. It is a stop on the ARCA and USAC Silver Crown tours.

Oregon State Fair United States historic place

The Oregon State Fair is the official state fair of the U.S. state of Oregon. It takes place every August–September at the 185-acre (0.75 km2) Oregon State Fairgrounds located in north Salem, the state capital, as it has almost every year since 1862. In 2006, responsibility for running the fair was delegated to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, and the division is now known as the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center (OSFEC), which holds events on the fairgrounds year-round.

Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center

Belterra Park, formerly known as River Downs, is a racino located in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, just outside the southeast limits of Cincinnati. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Boyd Gaming.

Alameda County Fairgrounds

The Alameda County Fairgrounds is a 270-acre (110 ha) facility located in Pleasanton, California. It is home to the annual Alameda County Fair, held since 1912, as well as numerous trade shows and community events. Located on its grounds, the Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack was built in 1858, making it the oldest one-mile (1.6 km) horse racing track in the United States. There is a 3,000 seat amphitheater, as well as a 9-hole golf course located within the track's infield.

The Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds is a multi-purpose venue based in the village of Little Valley, New York, USA. Constructed in 1931, the fairgrounds serve as the site of the Cattaraugus County Fair each August.

Dufferin Park Racetrack

Dufferin Park Racetrack was a racetrack for thoroughbred horse races located on Dufferin Street in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was demolished in 1955 and its stakes races moved to Woodbine Racetrack as part of a consolidation of racetracks in the Toronto area. The track was owned by Abe Orpen and his family after his death. Only 0.5 miles (0.80 km) in length, it was also called Little Saratoga. The site is now a shopping centre.

Montana ExpoPark United States historic place

The Montana ExpoPark is a fairground located in the city of Great Falls, Montana, in the United States. The 133-acre (54 ha) grounds contain 35 buildings, a horse racing track, grandstands, and the Four Seasons Arena—multi-purpose sports and exhibition arena. The site is the host of the Montana State Fair as well as agricultural shows, rodeos, basketball tournaments, and funfairs. The six original structures of the fairgrounds were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Playfair Race Course

Playfair Race Course was the home of horse racing in Spokane, Washington, from 1901 to 2000. The track started out as a four-furlong (half-mile) flat oval, and expanded to five furlongs in 1946. The grandstand was on the west, with the home stretch heading south, and the stables were on the east side.

The Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California is a one-mile race track for Thoroughbred, Quarter horse and Arabian racing. Constructed in 1858 by the sons of Spaniard Don Agustín Bernal, it is the third-oldest horse racing track of its kind in the United States. Only the Freehold Raceway in New Jersey (oldest) and Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana are older.

The Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway was a dirt oval racing track located in Detroit, Michigan. The track was built in 1899 for horse racing, and it was part of the ground purchased to provide a permanent venue for the Michigan State Fair. Joseph Lowthian Hudson donated the land, at Woodward Avenue and what is now 8 Mile Road, to the Michigan State Agricultural Society.

Meigs County Fairgrounds United States historic place

The Meigs County Fairgrounds is a county fairgrounds located north of Pomeroy in Meigs County, Ohio, United States. Some of the fairgrounds has been designated a historic site, with particular emphasis having been placed on the fairgrounds' racetrack and its associated grandstand.

Louisville Downs was a half-mile Standardbred harness race track located in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It opened in 1966 and held over 3,400 days of harness racing until it was sold to Churchill Downs Inc. in 1991. Louisville Downs was built and managed by William H. King, a Louisville entrepreneur and promoter, who was the first to offer wagering by phone (“Call-a-Bet”) and full card simulcast wagering to television viewers. The track is now the site of Derby City Gaming, a historical racing parlor opened in 2018.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ The exact location of Madam Coady's, and the racetrack, is not known. [5] [6]
  2. ↑ All existing map and photographic evidence indicates the home stretch, as constructed in 1870, remained in place as of 2003. [9]
  3. ↑ The date of construction is unclear, but 1870 is the likeliest date. They were definitely in place no later than 1887. [10]
  4. ↑ The date of construction for the stables is unclear. They were definitely in place by 1887. [12] The nature of the "paddock" is unclear. The term denotes an enclosed by unroofed space for the temporary holding of animals, but there is some evidence that the "paddock" was a roofed building even in its earliest days. There is strong evidence that the "paddock" was roofed (and thus more like a stable or barn) by 1892, and probably rebuilt as a stable or barn in 1903 or 1904. [13]
  5. ↑ If the 1870 track were oblong, it is most likely it was corrected to a true oval at this time. [9]
  6. ↑ There is some evidence that indicates the three new stables were built in 1904. [19]
Citations
  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ↑ Haines, Francis (January 1938). "Where Did the Plains Indians Get Their Horses?". American Anthropologist. 40 (1): 112–117. doi: 10.1525/aa.1938.40.1.02a00110 . Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ Gustafson, Sid (May 2009). "In Search of Montana Horse Racing". Big Sky Journal. Retrieved May 14, 2017; Thompson, Francis M.; Owens, Kenneth N. (2004). A Tenderfoot in Montana: Reminiscences of the Gold Rush, the Vigilantes, and the Birth of Montana Territory. Helena, Mont.: Montana Historical Society Press. pp. 134–135. ISBN   9780972152228 ; Aarstad, Rich; Arguimbau, Ellen; Baumler, Ellen; Porsild, Charlene L.; Shovers, Brian (2009). Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Helena, Mont.: Montana Historical Society Press. p. 218. ISBN   9780975919613.
  4. ↑ Pace, Dick (1970). Golden Gulch: The Story of Montana's Fabulous Alder Gulch. Virginia City, Mont.: Virginia City Trading Co. p. 56; Baumler, Ellen (2010). Montana Moments: History On The Go. Helena, Mont.: Montana Historical Society Press. p. 157. ISBN   9780975919682.
  5. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 18 fn2.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Fairgrounds: Home of the Montana Territorial and State Fairs 1870-1932". Helena As She Was. March 11, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Baumler, Ellen (April 16, 2006). "Montana's Horse-Racing History Runs Deep". The Independent Record. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 3.
  9. 1 2 3 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, pp. 18–19, fn 18.
  10. 1 2 3 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 39.
  11. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, pp. 52–53.
  12. 1 2 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 52.
  13. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, pp. 15, 52–53.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 5.
  15. 1 2 3 Tryon, Phyllis (August 10, 2006). "Horse Racing Task Force gets financial support from industry". The Racing Journal. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  16. 1 2 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 44.
  17. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 57.
  18. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, pp. 50, 53.
  19. 1 2 3 Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 51.
  20. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 32.
  21. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 40.
  22. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 7.
  23. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, pp. 53.
  24. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 8.
  25. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 9.
  26. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, pp. 20, 51.
  27. ↑ Early, Dave (July 7, 1970). "Horsemen Not Happy With Racing Secretary". The Independent Record. p. 7. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  28. 1 2 Kline, Larry (March 19, 2008). "County cleared in lawsuit". The Independent Record. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  29. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 10.
  30. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 14.
  31. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 1.
  32. 1 2 "Horsemen's support needed in response to draft plan for Helena fairgrounds". The Racing Journal. May 6, 2005. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 Kline, Larry (August 31, 2006). "Whoa there: Preservation group seeks halt to fairgrounds work". The Independent Record. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  34. ↑ Helena/Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission 2003, p. 15.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.