Rockingham Park
Encyclopedia
Rockingham Park is a 1 miles (1.6 km) horse racing
establishment in Salem, New Hampshire
, in the United States
. First built in 1906, it was used as an area for many to gamble on the weekends. Seabiscuit
raced there in 1935 and 1936, and Mom's Command
ran in her first race and gained her first victory there in 1984. Rockingham Park now only hosts standardbred races. Rockingham Park was the first place to receive car gates for starting races in 1998.
The New Hampshire Sweepstakes (now New Hampshire Lottery
) was originated in 1964 and raced here from 1964 to 1967. The race was brought back in 1984 (though not connected with sweepstakes tickets) and has since been the feature event of the summer racing meet.
train depot
began a 21-day tenure as host to a Thoroughbred meet. Over 10,000 people from as far away as Boston
, Rhode Island
, and New York
flocked to the small New Hampshire town. Their rave reviews proclaimed the site "the finest racecourse in the world". Although Alyth, a two-year-old, won the first thoroughbred
race at the site, gambling
was still illegal at the time in New Hampshire
, and betting was shut down after three days. Underground wagering continued throughout the meet, but the track sat idle for five years after the meet's conclusion; however, these humble beginnings would lead to the formation of a staple of New England culture rich with the history of the sport of kings.
meet in New England in 1911, where Lieutenant Milling set a new altitude record of 1600 feet (487.7 m) in his biplane
.
The track also served as the base for the 14th US Army Corps of Engineers during World War I
. The racecourse served as a bivouac
for soldiers prior to voyages to France
.
The racetrack was idled again when on July 29, 1980 a fire destroyed the grandstand. The track remained closed until May 26, 1984.
was built. The track was sanctioned by the AAA
, the most recognized sanctioning body of the day. On October 31, a 250 miles (402.3 km) automobile race was held on the board track. On August 21, 1926, Curly Fredericks, on an Altoona
, set the record for the fastest speed (120.3 miles per hour) that a motorcycle would attain on an oval board track. In 1928, the track held the final motorcycle national championships to be competed on a board track. The 1929 event was held at a dirt track because the inherent dangers in board track racing were discovered, dangers which led to the demise of the sport. The boards on the board track were rotting by 1929 and the board track was torn down. The track was used again as a board track later that year, with 45,000 spectators for a Labor Day
event and 52,000 spectators for a Columbus Day
event.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
establishment in Salem, New Hampshire
Salem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. First built in 1906, it was used as an area for many to gamble on the weekends. Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
raced there in 1935 and 1936, and Mom's Command
Mom's Command
Mom's Command was a multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred race horse. Her breeder and owner was Peter Fuller of Runnymede Farms in in North Hampton, New Hampshire, son of a former governor of Massachusetts...
ran in her first race and gained her first victory there in 1984. Rockingham Park now only hosts standardbred races. Rockingham Park was the first place to receive car gates for starting races in 1998.
The New Hampshire Sweepstakes (now New Hampshire Lottery
New Hampshire Lottery
Begun in 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery is the oldest US mainland-based lottery. New Hampshire's games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, and numerous scratch tickets.New Hampshire is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association , which it joined in 1995...
) was originated in 1964 and raced here from 1964 to 1967. The race was brought back in 1984 (though not connected with sweepstakes tickets) and has since been the feature event of the summer racing meet.
"The Finest Racecourse in the World"
On June 28, 1906, a tiny outpost near the SalemSalem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
train depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
began a 21-day tenure as host to a Thoroughbred meet. Over 10,000 people from as far away as Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and 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...
flocked to the small New Hampshire town. Their rave reviews proclaimed the site "the finest racecourse in the world". Although Alyth, a two-year-old, won the first thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race at the site, gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
was still illegal at the time in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, and betting was shut down after three days. Underground wagering continued throughout the meet, but the track sat idle for five years after the meet's conclusion; however, these humble beginnings would lead to the formation of a staple of New England culture rich with the history of the sport of kings.
Idle years
In between its stints as a racecourse, the site served as host to a number of historical occurrences. Before the return of racing, Rockingham Park hosted the first aviationAviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
meet in New England in 1911, where Lieutenant Milling set a new altitude record of 1600 feet (487.7 m) in his biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
.
The track also served as the base for the 14th US Army Corps of Engineers during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The racecourse served as a bivouac
Military camp
A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
for soldiers prior to voyages to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The racetrack was idled again when on July 29, 1980 a fire destroyed the grandstand. The track remained closed until May 26, 1984.
Motor racing venue
The establishment has hosted motorized racing. On July 4, 1925 the track was used for a 100 miles (160.9 km) race with an average speed of 76.8 miles per hour. Motorcycles races also were held. With the success of the events, a 2 miles (3.2 km) board trackBoard track racing
Board track, or motordrome, racing was a type of motorsport popular in the United States between the second and third decades of the 20th century. Competition was conducted on oval race courses with surfaces composed of wooden planks...
was built. The track was sanctioned by the AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
, the most recognized sanctioning body of the day. On October 31, a 250 miles (402.3 km) automobile race was held on the board track. On August 21, 1926, Curly Fredericks, on an Altoona
Altoona
Altoona, a variant of "Altona", is the name of several municipalities in the United States of America:*Altoona, Alabama*Altoona, Florida*Altoona, Iowa*Altoona, Kansas*Altoona, Pennsylvania*Altoona, Washington*Altoona, Wisconsin...
, set the record for the fastest speed (120.3 miles per hour) that a motorcycle would attain on an oval board track. In 1928, the track held the final motorcycle national championships to be competed on a board track. The 1929 event was held at a dirt track because the inherent dangers in board track racing were discovered, dangers which led to the demise of the sport. The boards on the board track were rotting by 1929 and the board track was torn down. The track was used again as a board track later that year, with 45,000 spectators for a Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
event and 52,000 spectators for a Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
event.