The latest edition of the Texas Horseman's Partnership has an article about tonight's Gala/Receiption at Retama Park where Carl Nafzger, Preston Carter, Jr. and D. Wayne Lukas ....and "several historic Teas racetracks" will be inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. (D. Wayne Lucas, a 2005 Inductee was unable to attend then but will be present tonight. Carl Nafzger and Preston Carter, Jr. will both be in attendance for their honors and there is a line-up of stakes races to add to the entertainment.)
What I found interesting was the depth (in terms of numbers and geographic breadth) of earlier horse racing venues in this state....touted as having "...kept horse racing alive from before the time horse racing was abolished in the 1930's until the current Texas Racing Act was passed in 1987."
I'd be very interested to hear from any of you on this board that may have memories or knowlege of the racing that went on at any of these tracks (note: Gillespie County Fair is still an active Mixed Meet for horse racing during the summer months today and I have fond memories of attending races there during my long-gone college idays in San Antonio. At that time it was still quite probable to find shopkeepers who only spoke German and it was an old country German at that. I remember communicating through the six and seven year old niece and nephew/grandchildren of the Bakery's proprietor's one wintery morning stopping there on a geology field trip - they were wearing lederhausen! But those Germans loved their horse racing and they did bet among themselves quite aggressively. The Pineywoods Downs track was an active training center in the 1970's to at least the early 1990's to my recollection and may still be. There's no mention of "Bluebonnet Downs" at/near Washington-on-the-Brazos but it was operational when I was a growing up in Houston and until the 1980's or ealry 1990's I believe. It was a popular destination for weekend car rides into the country with a picnic basket. I've also seen references of a much older historic race track at Patterson, Texas from the early statehood days.) Take a look at this list and add any memories/recollections you may have of any of these tracks....
1. Alamo Downs (San Antonio),
2. Almedea Downs (Houston),
3. Arlington Downs (Arlington),
4. Badera Downs (Bandera),
5. Brazos Valley (Graham),
6. Columbus Quarter Horse Track (Columbus),
7. Columbus Race Course (Columbus),
8. Columbus Racetrack (Columbus),
9. Cowboy Park (El Paso),
10. Del Camino Downs (Edinburg),
11. Dutchman Downs (New Braunfels),
12. Epson Downs (Houston),
13. Fair Park (Dallas),
14. Fort Duncan (Eagle Pass)
15. G. Rollie White Downs (Brady)
16. Gillespie County Fair (Fredricksburg)
17. Guadalupe County Fair (Sequin)
18. Hilltop Downs (Hilltop Lakes),
19. Junction Racetrack (Junction)
20. Kendall County Fair (Boerne)
21. Kimble County Fair (Junction)
22. La Bahia Downs (Goliad)
23. La Grange Downs (La Grange)
24. Las Palmas Downs (McAllen)
25. L.I.F.E. Downs (Laredo)
26. Little Delta Downs (Alamo)
27. Lost Valley Downs (Bandera)
28. Lubbock Downs (Lubbock)
29. Mendiola Ballroom & Racetrack (Von Ormy)
30. Milam County Fairgrounds (Rockdale)
31. Midland Downds (Midland)
32. Paleface Park (Spicewood)
33. Parkway Downs (Wichita Falls)
34. Pineywood Downs (Nagadoches)
35. Rimrock Downs (Umbarger)
36. Ross Downs (Colleyville)
37. San Diego Downs (San Diego)
38. Sonora Park (Sonora)
39. Trinity Meadows (Willow Park/Weatherford)
40. Uvalde Fair Grounds (Uvalde)
41. Val Verde Downs (Del Rio)
The list also mentions that there tracks in Hitchcock and Oak Hill but they Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame has not been able to document their existence, names, etc.
Tidbits of Texas Racing history....who knew?
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
Is Trinity Meadows still racing at all? I went there for a few months when I lived in Las Colinas (I was working for Associates at the time and they transferred me to TX from NY for a spring/summer) anyways loved Trinity Meadows...couldnt pick a TB winner to save my life but did very well on the QH's and a QH trainer asked if I wanted to work parttime with him. Sadly I couldnt since my time in TX was coming to an end but I spent many lovely days talking with him and watching the horses run.
Gerry -
Trinity Meadows is no longer operating as a track - it may still be operating as a Training Center but I doubt it since Lone Star in Grand Prairie, nearby, operates as one except when open for racing. Thanks for the recollections of your brief tenure in Texas - I'm glad Trinity Meadows was there to make the time you had here interesting. A lot of today's QH trainers and some of the old timer TB trainers have fond memories of Trinity Meadows as well.
There are currently 3 Class I tracks operating in Texas (Lone Star, Sam Houston and Retama in Grand Prairie, Houston and San Antonio respectively) with two Class II tracks operating: Manor Downs and the Gillespie County Fairgrounds. (B/T/W Gillespie's '07 Meet results were "up" on all fronts: with a 7%+ increase in handle, average # of starters of 9+ (which is remarkable b/c their longer QH races can only accomodate 7 horses for the start) and an admirable 12% increase in attendance. They're doing a lot of things right at Fredricksburg and I'd love to see their meet expanded and include more TB races.) There are two or three Class II track liscenses that have been granted I think: one in the Panhandle and two in the Valley area. There may also be a fourth still "alive" in the Austin area but I'm not sure about that. Granting a liscense does not equate to a track being built - but gives enough encouragement to the initial investors that if they can get local approvals and follow-through on their money they have a shot at opening a track. The liscense for a track in the Valley has been hotly sought even without slots supported purses as it will draw horses/horsemen and patrons from both sides of the border where horse racing is culturally a popular family/community form of entertainment - not to mention a form of employment. Then you have the 'snow birds' who winter in the Valley from their homes up north looking for entertainment + the rapidly growing cities along the Rio Grande as a result of NAFTA economic gains, etc. I think I read where Hurvitz, the controlling interest owner of Sam Houston Race Park was successful in getting granted a Valley liscense but only after he dropped/sold his interest in a dog track at/near Corpus that has languished. There are many local interests/power houses his group will have to go up against to succeed in opening the first track in the Valley since Pari-Mutual wagering was approved....so more to come on that story.
Trinity Meadows is no longer operating as a track - it may still be operating as a Training Center but I doubt it since Lone Star in Grand Prairie, nearby, operates as one except when open for racing. Thanks for the recollections of your brief tenure in Texas - I'm glad Trinity Meadows was there to make the time you had here interesting. A lot of today's QH trainers and some of the old timer TB trainers have fond memories of Trinity Meadows as well.
There are currently 3 Class I tracks operating in Texas (Lone Star, Sam Houston and Retama in Grand Prairie, Houston and San Antonio respectively) with two Class II tracks operating: Manor Downs and the Gillespie County Fairgrounds. (B/T/W Gillespie's '07 Meet results were "up" on all fronts: with a 7%+ increase in handle, average # of starters of 9+ (which is remarkable b/c their longer QH races can only accomodate 7 horses for the start) and an admirable 12% increase in attendance. They're doing a lot of things right at Fredricksburg and I'd love to see their meet expanded and include more TB races.) There are two or three Class II track liscenses that have been granted I think: one in the Panhandle and two in the Valley area. There may also be a fourth still "alive" in the Austin area but I'm not sure about that. Granting a liscense does not equate to a track being built - but gives enough encouragement to the initial investors that if they can get local approvals and follow-through on their money they have a shot at opening a track. The liscense for a track in the Valley has been hotly sought even without slots supported purses as it will draw horses/horsemen and patrons from both sides of the border where horse racing is culturally a popular family/community form of entertainment - not to mention a form of employment. Then you have the 'snow birds' who winter in the Valley from their homes up north looking for entertainment + the rapidly growing cities along the Rio Grande as a result of NAFTA economic gains, etc. I think I read where Hurvitz, the controlling interest owner of Sam Houston Race Park was successful in getting granted a Valley liscense but only after he dropped/sold his interest in a dog track at/near Corpus that has languished. There are many local interests/power houses his group will have to go up against to succeed in opening the first track in the Valley since Pari-Mutual wagering was approved....so more to come on that story.
Thanks Jellac! I didnt think Trinity Meadows was still operating but couldnt remember. I didnt realize that Retama was in Tx, not sure where I thought it was.
I sold a very nicely bred filly as a weanling to a couple from Texas and she is now a 2yr old and I keep waiting to see where she is going to turn up since she will be the first runner for Not A Corgi. I have her on my watch list but not even a work yet but given she was a May 30th foal I guess I need to be patient.
I sold a very nicely bred filly as a weanling to a couple from Texas and she is now a 2yr old and I keep waiting to see where she is going to turn up since she will be the first runner for Not A Corgi. I have her on my watch list but not even a work yet but given she was a May 30th foal I guess I need to be patient.
I spent many a Saturday afternoon at Bandera Downs. I remember watching Raise A Govenor watching almost all of his races there. I remember that there was a pony horse that some guy decided to enter in a race and wound winning 6 or 7 races in a row.(I can't remember the name. My favorite quarterhorse was Squinch Eye who probably was the fastest QH I ever saw until he blew out his knee. Also, wasn't Bandera
Downs just a renamed Lost Valley.
The Texas hill country is gorgeous. I was out at Gillespe this summer. Another beautiful setting.
Downs just a renamed Lost Valley.
The Texas hill country is gorgeous. I was out at Gillespe this summer. Another beautiful setting.
Last edited by Rick on Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gerry - Good luck to your buyers with the Not A Corgi offspring! Sam Houston opens November 17th - if you get a stable notice of a workout let me know and I'll start watching for an entry - go out and get a photo for you. I really enjoy watching horses connected to the Board members here when they run at Sam - gives me a 'hometown' reason to root for that horse.
Jellac, I don't know how to cut and paste, but I really would like to see this post and/ or thread posted at www.texasthoroughbred.com/forum/
You might be able to get more information. Trinity Meadows is now Squaw Creek and they have a suit agains TxRC at this time. I broke down two nice horses on their back stretch on a wet track. The track was bad over there because they used old refrigerators and the like to build it up and then they built a track on top of that. My son trained out of there and the big boys at Lone Star put their left over horses there when they don't have enough stalls. Some trainers are blessed with mothers and sister-in-laws with trainer license that help them get more stalls and then they will still fill a barn at Trinity Meadows.
You might be able to get more information. Trinity Meadows is now Squaw Creek and they have a suit agains TxRC at this time. I broke down two nice horses on their back stretch on a wet track. The track was bad over there because they used old refrigerators and the like to build it up and then they built a track on top of that. My son trained out of there and the big boys at Lone Star put their left over horses there when they don't have enough stalls. Some trainers are blessed with mothers and sister-in-laws with trainer license that help them get more stalls and then they will still fill a barn at Trinity Meadows.
Some history
Arlington Downs and Epsom Downs had a short heyday between l1933 and 1937, roughly. They actually began to attract some decent horses, although not the top caliber. Here are some of the "names" that I have on a list that I've compiled over the years: Heelfly, Sarada, Clang, Frank Ormont, Whiskolo, Dr. Freeland, Reaping Reward, Time Supply. On April 24, 1936 Arlington Downs carded a race for the latter, in which the purse was $10,000 if he ran, or $5,000 if he didn't. IIRC, he ran and lost.
My list also shows that Lawrin ran his first race at AD on April Fools Day 1937. The list peters out in '37, so I assume that's the year the Legislature went into wagering prohibition mode again.
My records also show that Dr. Freeland (a Preakness winner) and Jim Dandy ran in '35 in "Dal" (Dallas?) - both wa-a-ay after their primes, if Jim Dandy could ever be considered to have had a prime. That poor critter had the pee run out of him.
BTW, I collect old paper memorabilia. I have two betting tickets from Arlington Downs (one of the old mutuel types, and one of the larger AmTotes). Both are extremely scarce, and the only two that I've ever seen online. Only the better racetracks featured the latter, AmTote having only come into existence in 1933 at AP. So at one time, they had Texas-size ambitions, evidently.
My list also shows that Lawrin ran his first race at AD on April Fools Day 1937. The list peters out in '37, so I assume that's the year the Legislature went into wagering prohibition mode again.
My records also show that Dr. Freeland (a Preakness winner) and Jim Dandy ran in '35 in "Dal" (Dallas?) - both wa-a-ay after their primes, if Jim Dandy could ever be considered to have had a prime. That poor critter had the pee run out of him.
BTW, I collect old paper memorabilia. I have two betting tickets from Arlington Downs (one of the old mutuel types, and one of the larger AmTotes). Both are extremely scarce, and the only two that I've ever seen online. Only the better racetracks featured the latter, AmTote having only come into existence in 1933 at AP. So at one time, they had Texas-size ambitions, evidently.
Jellac, this is a great topic. It would be great if Texas could somehow develop a fair ground series of races again. I hope that the topic does not degenerate into a political discussion. However, I would note that Hillery Clinton is at least one presidential candidate that has actually attended the races and she is not against gambling as far as I know.
Bedouwia
Bedouwia
Bedouwia wrote:Jellac, this is a great topic. It would be great if Texas could somehow develop a fair ground series of races again. I hope that the topic does not degenerate into a political discussion. However, I would note that Hillery Clinton is at least one presidential candidate that has actually attended the races and she is not against gambling as far as I know.
Bedouwia
She finished dead last in her only out. With ankles like that they should have known she couldn't run.