This post features a Hoof Beats Magazine article from 1939. Its topic: Jim Butler and the Butler Head Numbers!

On January 14, I visited with John Butler in his Lewiston home. John is 93. He goes to work everyday for two hours. In the mid-1930’s his uncle Jim Butler invented the Butler Head Numbers. When John came back from World War II his uncle asked him to join the company. John first day of work was…

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,…