This post presents an index to the research gathered since 2009 that tells the stories of Maine’s Lost Trotting Parks. Between 1890 and 1930 there were overtime at least 90 trotting parks that were registered with the National Trotting Association. Over the years there may have been slightly over 100 Maine communities with trotting parks. Today…

On March 5, 2018, Frank Hurff and I drove from Ocala, Florida to Bell to visit Valerie Grondin and others at the Bell Training Track started by Warren Harp. While we were standing at the end of the track, a man drove up in a golf cart. We soon found out that we were about to meet…

Race results for Maine in the Maine and New Brunswick Circuit in 1924 included Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Belfast, Anson, Bridgeton, Waterville, Portland, Pittsfield and Cornish. Racing in Portland probably occurred at Summit Park which would be located somewhere along Canco Street.

Throughout the years Houlton, Maine supported three trotting parks — The earliest near North Street, the second off Park Street, and the third off Randall Avenue. I was told that the third track closed in the early 1960s. Today this land is used for the Houlton Agricultural Fair and the baseball/softball fields by Houlton High School. (On…

Lost Trotting Parks research is often rewarding. Creating this post involved calling Rangeley’s town office. The Clerk provided me with the telephone number of the local Chamber. The Chamber gave me the e-mail address for Bill Pierce who represents the Rangeley Historical Society. I sent an e-mail to Bill and he responded later in the day. Bill…

Recently, the Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center acquired the 1922 Christmas issue of The Trotter and Pacer &  Book. This issue included racing results for 1922. At this point in history, the automobile was moving quickly to replace the horse and carriage as the major mode of transportation in the United States. In 1925 the automobile exceeded…