Historic Track
Encyclopedia
The Historic Track is a half-mile (900 m) harness racing
track
in Goshen
, New York
. It was opened in 1838
and has been in operation ever since, the oldest continuously operated horse racing track in North America
.
Informal horse races had been held along neighboring Main Street (now part of NY 207
) since the 1750s. The current track site was first used in 1838 when a ⅓-mile (530 m) circle around a circus
ground near the south end of the track was cleared and prepared for regular racing. Later it would be succeeded by an oval track perpendicular to the current one, then a long square track around the whole site, until the current track was built in 1873.
Today the track operates a limited but intense season for one week every summer, between June 30 and July 4. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark
in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
later in the same year, when the National Register was created.
It is a contributing property
to the Church Park Historic District
. The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
(run by a separate organization) is located nearby.
The Goshen Central High School holds its annual graduation ceremony each June in front of the Historic Track grandstands.
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
in Goshen
Goshen (village), New York
Goshen is a village in and the county seat of Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was opened in 1838
1838 in architecture
The year 1838 in architecture involved some significant events.-Deaths:* September 5 - Charles Percier...
and has been in operation ever since, the oldest continuously operated horse racing track in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Informal horse races had been held along neighboring Main Street (now part of NY 207
New York State Route 207
New York State Route 207 is a state highway located entirely within Orange County, New York, in the United States. It serves as a connector between the village of Goshen and the city of Newburgh. It has for a long time provided the main access to Stewart International Airport...
) since the 1750s. The current track site was first used in 1838 when a ⅓-mile (530 m) circle around a circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
ground near the south end of the track was cleared and prepared for regular racing. Later it would be succeeded by an oval track perpendicular to the current one, then a long square track around the whole site, until the current track was built in 1873.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
later in the same year, when the National Register was created.
It is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the Church Park Historic District
Church Park Historic District
The Church Park Historic District is part of downtown Goshen, the seat of Orange County, New York, USA. It takes its name from the large triangular park formed at the center of the village by Main Street , Park Place and South Church Street...
. The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame is a museum in Goshen, New York. The museum collects and preserves the history of harness racing and serves as a hall of fame for trotter horses....
(run by a separate organization) is located nearby.
The Goshen Central High School holds its annual graduation ceremony each June in front of the Historic Track grandstands.