The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-02
PIONEER HORSE RACING.
The First Track in the State at
Sacramento.
Wisconsin Chief and HIS Monument
Early-Time Events = Jockeys
Not Above Cheating.

Sacramento. Many of the incidents
therein related are yet fresh in the minds
Of many residents of this city:
Racing has occupied a front rank in
the list of sports for many centuries, and
contests OF speed between horses have
always been in the lead. In ancient
Rome chariot racing was one of the prin-
cipal attractions at the public festivals,
and we are told in history that it was in
dulged in by kings and princes, and
those contests have been handed down
through the ages through the medium OF
the painters brush and the sculptor's
chisel.
At an early date racing became quite
popular in America. Long prior to the
Revolutionary war the then subjects OF
Great Britain raced their horses up and
down lanes and along turnpilles, and
many a barrel OF hard cider and bundle
of coon skins were won and lost on the
result.
kentucky, from its first settlement by
Daniel Boone and his brave band Of
pioneers has been distinctly horse COM
monwealth, place where the breeding Of
mans best friend' has been made life
study, and the result has been that for
symmetry Of form, muscle, speed and
staying qualities her bluegrass sections
have not had an equal on the green earth
until California, the peerless country of
the world came to the 'front.' and not only
divided the honors with old Kentucky,
but showed more progress in that line in
the last fifteen years than kentucky had
in the past fifty.
Horse-racing has q peculiar charm for
the pioneer. The men who blaZed their
way through the trackless forests Of the
West were mounted on good ponies and
had axes and rifles fer companions.
Their only sport was contests with the
rifle and trials OF speed with their neat
limbed animals.
California in early days was no eXcep-
ton to the general rule, and the pioneers
had not been on the coast fortnight until
animals that had crossed the plains from
st. Zoe to Sacramento We're pitted against
each other, and hundreds of dollars
changed hands on races in which the
speed would scarcely exceed that of the
ordinary truck horse
The first race track laid out in the State
was about four miles south of the city of
Sacramento, in 1850, at a point between
the present County Hospital and the
Slough House. 1t was q circular mile
track. The reason they went out so far
was that nearer town there were many
sloughs, and a mile track could rot be
constructed without expensive filings.
ii. >. Beals, who went to Sacramento in
1919 and has remained there since, was
one of those interested in the first track,
and has been connected with racing
events every season since, covering a
period of torty-three years. Mr.. Beais is
the posseSsOr af the famous stallion Ber-
lin and many other good ones, and is the
best-posted man on pioneer racing in the
State of California.
The first racing IN 1850 was between 800
yards, quarter horses and half milers.
once in awhile the race would be for a
mile, but the cold streakS in the horses
would tell before the circuit could be
made, and the time was necessarily slow.
No one had a stop watch in those days,
and q split second hand was something
unheard OF. The money was up and the
horse that crossed under the wire first
took the purse. No one cared for time or
talked about it. 1t did not matter whether
ii was two minutes or five minutes. 1t
was for coin and the first horse took it.
The first trotuing contest ever held in
State, and for that part of the country
west of the Rocky Mountains, was on the
9Th of September. 1880, just i've days be-
fore the State was admitted into the
Union.
man from kentucky had very fine
little mare, which he considered a world
heater. He bantered TennesSean who
had likely looking horse for q race, mile
heats, three IN i've, Tor 5000 q side. A
Yankee who kept livery stable had an
old horse he called Cabby, and be was adj
Initted on the same terms, making
$1,000 purse.
Two or three thousand people witnessed
the cOnJ6SG. OlQ OdDDy, 10 IlD surprise
OF the multitude, won in three straight
heats. taking the firstin the then remark
fably fast time of 3:0l.
This track was named after General
sSutter. The owner charged 81 admission
and made considerable money out Of it.
There was 10 fence, no grand stand, no
seats. lie just put out a picket line and
all who came within it were assessed. In
those days, however, men spurned to do
anything small and there was no attempt
to beat ones way. Money was plentiful
and mans popularity depended largely
upon his Gberality.
The next track was built upon the
upper Stockton road, three miles south
east of Sacramento. 1t was owned by
Buck Harrigan, man who was one of
the most popular bonilaces at the capital
in those early days. He maintained a
clubhouse at the track, and it was a
1avorte resort for ali the sports and
wealthy men Of the city. j was at that
time the Delmonico OF the Pacific Coast,
and the twenty dollars-a- plate dinners,
gotten up under the direct supervision of
Mrs. Harrigan, were famous from Hang
town to San Franci> co and from Angels
Camp TO Weaverville. Both have been
dead for many years.
The first iour-mile race run on the
coast was over the Harrigan track. 1t
was between Langford and Ashland, a
match contest fer s., 600 side Langtortl
man by the name OF Lathrop. who re-
sided at Stockton. Ashland belonged to
Nathan Coombs of Napa, who has been
dead tor some time. Mr.. Coombs was
one of the first men in the State to enter
largely into the importation and breeding
of thoroughbreds. He was the father OF
Minister Coombs, who at present repre-
sents the United States in Japan. Dash
away, another noted four miller. was next
pitted against Ashland, and defeated the
latter two heats out of three.
One of the most exciting races of those
early days was ten-mile trot for 81 900
side between 1olo Maid and Jack Gam
brill. People came from mountain and
valley to witness the contest Gambriil
pulled buggy weighing 80 pounds, with
Daniels up as driver, while Yolo Maid
went to SJlky. Gambrili won. He kept
behind for the first three miles, when he
passed the Maid and finished winner by
quarter of mile. Many thousands of
dollars changed hands on the result, and
nearly all the 4olo boys went home
broke.
Several other teh-mile trots took place
over this track. In one contest there
were five horses, including Glencoe
Chief, Tom MCGUIRE, Shot and Rainbow
All dropped out except Glencoe, who
was entirely too speedy for his COM
petitorS.
The next track built in the early fifties
was the Louisiana, just south of tie Capt.
tai City. All these tracks were made on
public land, no one at that time consider
ing it of sufficient value to locate Some
OF it to-day is worth 81, 900 an acre, and
none of 1t less than $3.50.
The Louisiana track was located by
L. G. Butler. 1t aiterward belonged to
E. NJ. Skaggs. Both We're well-known
horse and sporting men, and both MANY
years ago Joined the silent majority. The
odd Fellows Bank succeeded Skaggs in