Colins Ghost

I have been wanting to do a post about Havre de Grace Racetrack for quite awhile. I have done a great deal of research on the track and find it fascinating. Much of my interest comes from its former location in Maryland which is close to where I currently live. I am also perplexed (and saddened) how a prestigious track could close in 1950 just as racing was nearing its peak of popularity. The closing of Havre de Grace shows that no venue should be taken for granted.  

Image: The clubhouse and grandstand at Havre de Grace, September 29, 1931 (Link to source)

Man O’ War, War Admiral, Sir Barton, Seabiscuit, Exterminator, Sarazen, Equipoise, Discovery, Sun Beau, Crusader, and Citation are some of the legends that raced around the oval at Havre de Grace. From 1912 to 1950, a small town at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, served as a center stage for American thoroughbred racing.

What follows is the story of the track’s opening as told through the pages of the Daily Racing Form.

In April 1912, the Governor of Maryland signed a bill that cleared the way for the establishment of the track in Havre de Grace. A month later on May 9th 1912, details about its construction were published:

“The land on which the new track will be built has been acquired for $20,000 and the plans call for an expenditure of $125,000 for the construction of the track grandstand and other necessary structures.”

“The track will be located directly on the banks of the Susquehanna River in what is considered one of the most beautiful spots in all America. The grounds include 103 acres about thirty-eight miles from Baltimore and forty-eight miles from Philadelphia.”

“Both the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore Ohio Railroads run through the land that has become the property of Mr. Rhinock and his associates. Each company will build a handsome railroad station in close connection with the track. Mr. Rhinock has arranged with each company for a 50 cent round-trip car fare…Fine turnpikes connect the property with Philadelphia and Baltimore permitting automobiling and driving from each city.”

Joseph Rhinock was a former congressman from Covington, KY who was the “moving spirit” in the association that was formed to conduct racing at Havre de Grace. Work began on the track at the end of June with a plan to complete construction by August.

On August 19th, all seemed in order for opening day:

“The course was practically built in a month, the program has been framed, stakes have been closed and now special train arrangements have been completed for the handling of crowds”

Also announced on the 19th was a list of racing officials and administrators. Many came from New York, where anti-gambling legislation had completely shut down racing in 1911. Legendary handicapper Walter Vosburgh was one of the the former New York officials who moved south for the inaugural meet. 

On August 24, 1912 Havre de Grace opened for business. Here is part of the Daily Racing Form’s reporting:

“With an attendance of five thousand people, representing four of the largest cities in the east — New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington — the new race course at Havre de Grace opened its gates this afternoon. The plant, while still incomplete, was in first class condition as to appointments, but the track was cuppy, making fast time impossible. It was a good track for horses that like soft going and the purses nearly all went to animals that are partial to this kind of a track.”

“In the crowd were many faces that have been familiar on the tracks of New York, many of the old-timers going to the races for the first time since the sport was discontinued in New York. The largest patronage came from Philadelphia, although Baltimore and Washington sent goodly contingents. It is evident from the good attendance and the enthusiasm displayed that the new course is bound to prove popular. The going will doubtless improve as the meeting progresses and the soil gets settled….”

“….Well backed horses as a rule raced well and the crowd went away well satisfied with the afternoon’s sport.”

Daily attendance peaked at well over 6,000 during the meet. Even with the death of a jockey and a legal battle to ban on-track bookmakers, the first meet at Havre de Grace was deemed a success.

From 1912 to 1950 (with the excpetions of a shut down during World War II), the Maryland track hosted two meets. The spring meet served as one of the key destinations for colts bound for the Kentucky Derby.  The fall meet attracted some of the best handicap horses in country for races like the Havre de Grace Handicap.

Racing at Havre de Grace attracted high-class horses, well-heeled owners, and the best trainers and jockeys in the country.  According to a local journalist, the track made the small Maryland town “famous”.

Considering the current success of boutique meets at Del Mar, Saratoga, and Keeneland, it’s hard not to think what might have been had the track survived.

When the track closed in 1950, the land was sold to the Maryland National Guard.  The old clubhouse is now used as administrative office for the Guard, seen here in 2008:

 

Here is a shot taken from the former clubhouse turn looking towards the finish line. The white building on the left is the back of the clubhouse seen above:

Graw Days, October 10
On Saturday October 10 the town of Havre de Grace hosts its second annual Graw Days to celebrate the legacy of the track.  For more information, check out the event sponsors website. I am looking forward to attending this year’s event.

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS

“Consistent Magazine Wins,” Daily Racing Form, April 17, 1912
“Westerners Interested in New Track,” Daily Racing Form, May 9, 1912
“Opening is Auspicious,” Daily Racing Form, August 25, 1912

Article about the track’s closing from Time Magazine

View additional aerial images of Havre de Grace Racetrack

Many thanks to reader Richard Gephart who kindly sent me the postcard of Havre de Grace used above.

Thanks to those who commented and emailed about the Historic Races, Fantastic Finishes top ten. Nothing like a top ten list to get people talking. I made the premise a little more complicated then it needed to be and probably should have called it “Historic Achievements, Fantastic Finishes.” I received a handful of suggestions.  Most passed the fantastic finish test but not the significant historical achievement test. I appreciate all the feedback.  Hope to do more top ten lists in the future.

Looking forward to heading up the turnpike to Belmont this Saturday.  Jockey Club Gold Cup day is always a great day of racing.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

It’s over two weeks later and I still find myself thinking about this year’s Woodward. Rachel Alexandra’s win was the perfect storm: an historically significant race with the kind of ending that makes grown men weep.

This had me thinking about other races that fit that criteria. What races that included a major historical achievement had finishes as memorable as the one we saw a few Saturdays ago?

Here is my top ten list of historically significant races with fantastic finishes:

#10 — 1996 Kentucky Derby
Number ten goes to a human accomplishment: Grindstone’s win in the 1996 Derby gave trainer D. Wayne Lucas six straight Triple Crown winners in six tries. Beginning with Tabasco Cat in the 1994 Preakness and Belmont, followed by a sweep of the Triple Crown with two different horses in 1995, Lukas capped off his remarkable run in the Derby with Grindstone’s run down the center of the track to beat Cavonnier by a nose:

#9 — 1984 Breeder’s Cup Classic
Wild Again beat Slew O’ Gold and Gate Dancer in the inaugural running of the Breeders Cup Classic at Hollywood Park.  It is fitting that the day that changed the sport of racing in this country, ended with one of the most exciting finishes in BC history:

#8 — 2009 Preakness Stakes
Number eight to six is the filly triple crown of fantastic finishes starting with Rachel Alexandra’s Preakness.  Rachel A became the first filly to win the middle jewel of the Triple Crown since Nellie Morse in 1924:

#7 — 1980 Kentucky Derby
Genuine Risk became the first filly to win the Derby since Regret in 1915:

#6 — 2007 Belmont Stakes
In a truly fantastic finish, Rags to Riches held off Curlin to become the first filly to win the Belmont since Tanya in 1905:

#5 — 1981 Arlington Million
In the first throughbred race with a million dollar purse, John Henry just gets there to beat The Bart by a whisker in the inaugural Arlington Million. As many times as you watch this race, it is hard to believe that John Henry actually hit the wire first. Listen to legendary announder Phil Georgeff’s outstanding call and the post race commentary that assumed The Bart had won at 40 to 1.

#4 — 1988 Breeders Cup Distaff
Personal Ensign — looking hopelessly beaten in deep stretch — closes to beat Winning Colors on a muddy track at Churchill Downs. Her win completed a perfect 13 for 13 career and made her the first major racehorse to finish undefeated since Colin.

#3 2001 Breeder’s Cup Classic
The 2000 Horse of the Year and BC Classic winner Tiznow, after a lackluster 2001, beat Arc winner Sakhee.  Tiznow became (and remains) the only two-time winner of the Classic.  The race carried even more weight considering it was run at Belmont Park in New York just weeks after 9/11. Tom Durkin’s call of Tiznow winning it “for America” provides a chilling topper to an already storybook ending.

#2 — 2009 Woodward Stakes
Rachel Alexandra completed a memorable season by beating older males to become the first filly or mare to win the Woodward.  Tom Durkin’s call of this race matches or exceeds his call of Tiznow in the 2001 BC Classic and Victory Gallop’s upset of Real Queit in the 1998 Belmont Stakes.  

#1 — 1978 Belmont Stakes
A Triple Crown on the line and a rivalry between two great horses was the pefect set-up for the 1978 Belmont. Affirmed and Alydar had been knocking heads since the age of two. Their head-to-head battle and Affirmed’s victory to become the eleventh and last Triple Crown winner makes this race the unanimous choice for number one on the list of “Historic Races, Fantastic Finishes.”

DISCLAIMER : My preference was for races where I could find a replay. Also, I have a admitted bias for races that I watched live. The Salvator-Tenny race was historic and had a fantastic finish but it didn’t make the list for obvious reasons. Let me know if you think I missed any.

After a few weeks of catching my breath from the summer and getting back into the swing of things for the fall, I’ll be back next week with some history of Maryland’s Havre de Grace race track. On October 10th, the town of Havre de Grace will host their second annual ‘Graw Days’ to celebrate the former track. More details on that as they come in. It looks to be great event.

Big thanks to everyone who uploads race videos to YouTube especially partymanners whose productivity is astounding.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

Of everything written so far about Rachel Alexandra’s historic performance in the Woodward on Saturday, nothing carries more significance than this:

“I think she’s the best I’ve ever seen,” said 96-year-old racing legend John Nerud. “I don’t compare her to anyone. I’m not afraid to say she’s better than Ruffian, because she is. They sent two speed horses after her and made her go in :22 4/5, then they came after her one at a time and she put them all away. Those were tough older horses and they tried everything they could to get her beat and they couldn’t.”

That quote — from Steve Haskin’s brilliant story about the Woodward – is from a man who has spent at least 75 years of his life in racing.  John Nerud has seen Gallorette, Busher, Twilight Tear and every other filly who has raced in this country since the Great Depression.  Can you think of anyone more difficult to impress than someone who has seen it all?  If John Nerud says she is the best – who can argue with that?

I have already watched this at least a dozen times since Saturday — something tells me it will never get old:

What a moment….hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!