Comments on: Winter Racing at New Jersey’s Guttenberg Race Track, 1885-1893 http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html Thoroughbred Racing History Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:29:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: cookie http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html/comment-page-1#comment-15892 cookie Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:10 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=295#comment-15892 I am doing research on a trophy I have from 1893 - so far I am not having any luck - it is the Waldorf Prize from June 7, 1893 - I think the initials are CFB - Charles F. Bates - any info regarding the Four in Hand Race on that day will greatly be appreciated. Thank you! I am doing research on a trophy I have from 1893 – so far I am not having any luck – it is the Waldorf Prize from June 7, 1893 – I think the initials are CFB – Charles F. Bates – any info regarding the Four in Hand Race on that day will greatly be appreciated. Thank you!

]]> By: Laura http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html/comment-page-1#comment-1734 Laura Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:15:56 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=295#comment-1734 Dear Kevin, While on staff at a NJ daily paper, I was working on a condensed history of NJ thoroughbred racing to run in installments prior to Monmouth Park's hosting of The Breeder's Cup. Unfortunately, a newsroom reorganization ended my involvement with horse racing at the paper and the series never was written. I left the paper shortly thereafter. Just today I stared at my dusty file box representing long nights of NJ racing research. I considered packing it up for permanent storage. Then, for the heck of it and first time in five years, I did an Internet search for "Guttenberg Racetrack" and stumbled upon your site. I was amazed to find several others who are interested in NJ's racing history. That said, here's a few interesting items for you and your readers. - Organized horse racing has been around for about 300 years in NJ. In the 1700's Gimcrack, Quicksilver, and Macaroni (a son of Wildair) were being raced at the Paulus Hook course in the sand hills of Jersey City. In the early 1830's, a second track was constructed at Jersey City known as "The Beacon Course.) - The first "derby" staged in America was held in Paterson in June, 1864 and more than 10,000 people attended. (That's right, 10,000!!!). - There were, in the 1800's, about 10 horse race tracks in NJ. If you include the country tracks, where racing was sporadic, there were probably more. - At Guttenberg, horses not only raced in snow but in fog as well. And since some bookmakers took bets even after a race started, some enterprising bettors would have a friend scale a pole, see who was in the lead, and signal them to bet on that horse. - Artist William Glackens painted "Outside the Guttenberg Track" and it can be viewed on the Internet. However, don't let the shabby outer grounds fool you. I've seen a (poor) copy of a photo of the Guttenberg clubhouse, and it's evident it was a pretty swanky place. - In response to CURIOUS, I've seen photos of African American jockeys and stable hands from that era. I don't know if they were permitted to attend races, though. - - Dear Kevin,
While on staff at a NJ daily paper, I was working on a condensed history of NJ thoroughbred racing to run in installments prior to Monmouth Park’s hosting of The Breeder’s Cup. Unfortunately, a newsroom reorganization ended my involvement with horse racing at the paper and the series never was written. I left the paper shortly thereafter. Just today I stared at my dusty file box representing long nights of NJ racing research. I considered packing it up for permanent storage. Then, for the heck of it and first time in five years, I did an Internet search for “Guttenberg Racetrack” and stumbled upon your site. I was amazed to find several others who are interested in NJ’s racing history. That said, here’s a few interesting items for you and your readers.
- Organized horse racing has been around for about 300 years in NJ. In the 1700′s Gimcrack, Quicksilver, and Macaroni (a son of Wildair) were being raced at the Paulus Hook course in the sand hills of Jersey City. In the early 1830′s, a second track was constructed at Jersey City known as “The Beacon Course.)
- The first “derby” staged in America was held in Paterson in June, 1864 and more than 10,000 people attended. (That’s right, 10,000!!!).
- There were, in the 1800′s, about 10 horse race tracks in NJ. If you include the country tracks, where racing was sporadic, there were probably more.
- At Guttenberg, horses not only raced in snow but in fog as well. And since some bookmakers took bets even after a race started, some enterprising bettors would have a friend scale a pole, see who was in the lead, and signal them to bet on that horse.
- Artist William Glackens painted “Outside the Guttenberg Track” and it can be viewed on the Internet. However, don’t let the shabby outer grounds fool you. I’ve seen a (poor) copy of a photo of the Guttenberg clubhouse, and it’s evident it was a pretty swanky place.
- In response to CURIOUS, I’ve seen photos of African American jockeys and stable hands from that era. I don’t know if they were permitted to attend races, though.
-
-

]]> By: Paul http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html/comment-page-1#comment-998 Paul Sat, 29 May 2010 14:50:00 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=295#comment-998 Thank you so much for this work! I am also interested in jockey records for this track. My great grandfather's obit specifically mentions that he rode this track (as well as its companion track, Gloucester) with Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons when both were young men. Thank you so much for this work! I am also interested in jockey records for this track. My great grandfather’s obit specifically mentions that he rode this track (as well as its companion track, Gloucester) with Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons when both were young men.

]]> By: CURIOUS http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html/comment-page-1#comment-644 CURIOUS Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:05:25 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=295#comment-644 I am interested in track records that might give jockey names, and whether African Americans were allowed to work or attend the track. Would anyone know? I am interested in track records that might give jockey names, and whether African Americans were allowed to work or attend the track. Would anyone know?

]]> By: Steve Riess http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html/comment-page-1#comment-535 Steve Riess Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:12:22 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=295#comment-535 Thanks very much for the research. I have finished a book entitled "The Sport of Kings and the Kings of Crime. 1. Horse Racing, Politics, and Crime in New York, 1865-1913" with Syracuse University Press in the summer of 2011. The book includes a chapter on horse racing in NJ in the late 19th century, and featuers Guttenberg, along with its partner in crime, Gloucester, and, of course the elite Monmouth Park. Steve Riess Bernard Brommel Research Professor Dept. of History Northeastern Illinois University Thanks very much for the research. I have finished a book entitled “The Sport of Kings and the Kings of Crime. 1. Horse Racing, Politics, and Crime in New York, 1865-1913″ with Syracuse University Press in the summer of 2011. The book includes a chapter on horse racing in NJ in the late 19th century, and featuers Guttenberg, along with its partner in crime, Gloucester, and, of course the elite Monmouth Park.

Steve Riess
Bernard Brommel Research Professor
Dept. of History
Northeastern Illinois University

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