Montgomery Park Race Track

Montgomery Park Race Track
Race day at Montgomery Park Race Track c.1900
LocationMemphis, Tennessee,
United States
Owned byNew Memphis Jockey Club
Date opened1851
Course typeFlat racing 1 mile dirt oval
Notable racesTennessee Derby
Tennessee Oaks
Montgomery Handicap

Montgomery Park Race Track was an American thoroughbred racetrack in Memphis, Tennessee.[1]

History

The track was originally constructed in 1851 on plantation land southeast of Memphis. In 1882, Colonel Henry A. Montgomery organized the New Memphis Jockey Club, which purchased the race track and the surrounding land. The facility was named Montgomery Park at this time.

The track ran its last race meet in 1906 due to the outlawing of gambling by the Tennessee legislature. Following the closure, the track land and facilities were first leased and then purchased by the city of Memphis and incorporated into the Mid-South Fairgrounds.[2][3]

Physical attributes

The track consisted of a one mile dirt oval 65 feet wide at all points.[4]

Track Records

Track records for Montgomery Park at various distances.[5]

Distance
 Horse
 Age
 Weight
 Date
 Time
1/2 mile Rose
Dele Strome
3
2
100
101
04/09/1887
05/07/1906
 :49
41/2 furlongs Sainrida
Montgomery
2
2
115
113
05/05/1906
05/09/1906
 :55 1/4
5/8 mile Horace E.
2
118
05/07/1906
 1:01 1/4
51/2 furlongs Toah
Nannie Hodge
4
4
107 1/2
106
04/16/1902
04/17/1905
 1:08 1/4
3/4 mile Waring
5
129
04/23/1902
 1:14
7/8 mile Triaditza
The Rush
3
3
86
102
04/14/1900
04/28/1900
 1:27 3/4
71/2 furlongs Elsie L.
4
105
04/18/1903
 1:34 1/2
1 mile Rapid Water
4
113
03/28/1905
 1:40 1/2
1 m. & 70 yds. Silurian
4
97
04/18/1902
 1:45 3/4
11/16 miles Ram's Horn
3
106
03/27/1905
 1:47 1/2
11/8 miles The Lady
James Reddick
5
3
108
105
04/21/1902
05/09/1906
 1:54 1/4
13/16 miles Jack Young
6
101
05/03/1905
 2:02 1/2
11/4 miles Joe Lesser
6
102
06/30/1905
 2:08 3/4
13/8 miles Royal Choice
4
101
04/30/1897
 2:27
11/2 miles Jackanapes
4
105
04/27/1899
 2:38 1/2
Steeplechases
Short Course
(abt. 11/4 mi.)
 Handsqueeze
4
125
04/22/1902
 2:48
Long Course
(abt. 2 mi.)
 MacLaren
5
135
04/19/1902
 4:37

References

  1. ^ "Henry A. Montgomery ...and the Historic Montgomery Park". Historic-Memphis. com. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "History of the Fairgrounds - About - Kroc Memphis". Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  3. ^ "Famous Race Course Now Public Park". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1912-01-19. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  4. ^ Goodwin's Annual Official Turf Guide for 1905, Volume 1, p. ccxvii
  5. ^ American Racing Manual, Daily Racing Form Publishing Co., 1922 edition, p. 105