This article and the images are copyrighted December 2014 by Glenn W. Gibbons and The Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center. From S. Dexter — I met Glenn Gibbons at the Cornish Historic Fairgrounds a couple of years ago during the Cornish Horsemen’s Day. I was playing a song I had written called, “The Story of a Maine…
This issue of the American Horse Breeders features an image of Waterville Maine’s champion trotting stallion, Nelson 4209. Nelson was foaled in 1882 and became a world’s champion trotting stallion in the early 1890. The image was taken from a photo of Nelson at the Readville Trotting Park in Massachusetts. Nelson had been retired from racing in…
George H. Bailey was a contemporary of Scott Leighton. Bailey was an artist, however, he was also a Maine Harness Horseman, an owner, trainer, driver, and judge at the tracks. He may have been a track manager. In addition, at the age of 55, he studied veterinarian medicine in New York State. Upon his returned he filled…
Our final tour was the most excellent — Louis Santerre, a long time resident of Cherryfield served as our tour guide as we did our walk about Cherryfield’s lost trotting park. This video features Louie as he tells us the history of this lost park — from trotters and pacers to stock cars! Dan and I walked…
In October of 2014, Libby and I journeyed to Jonesport, Maine to visit our neighbors and good friends Dana and Tova DeVos. While we were there Dana and I set off on adventures to four of Maine’s Lost Trotting Parks. This post features a video walking tour of Riverside Park in Machias, Maine. Walking Tour of Riverside…
Dana DeVos and I toured the lost trotting park of Jonesboro, Maine. Once the home to the West Washington County Agricultural County, the fairgrounds and trotting park was once a part of the cultural fabric of Jonesboro, Maine. Now the old track can be viewed from Google Earth in the middle of rich and color blueberry barrens….
August harness racing at Oakland Park in Gardiner, Maine attracted horsemen competing for pursing adding up to $1500.00. Horsemen’s names included J.B. Littlefield of Auburn, Sol Ryeson of Auburn, w.B. Smith of Gardiner, A. Tufts of Skowhegan, A.S. Pease of Gardiner, James Powers of Jefferson, Rufus Bean of Hallowell, L.J. Brackett of Windham, Walter Merrill of Dexter,…
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