The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-08
IN The SPRING OF 80.
When Brighton Was Very Lively
Suburban Resort.
The First Regulation Race Track In
the State Was There-The Thomp-
SON. iIlacy Fight.

Charles Petit, who came to Sacramento
in lS49 and who still resides here, writes
to correct few errors that occurred in an
article on "Pioneer Racing" printed in
the RECORD UNION few days ago. He
says:
The article stated the first race track
laid out in this State was about four miles
south of this city, in 1850. at point be-
tween the present County Hospital and
the Slough House, and that it was named
the ''Sutter Race Course" after General
Suffer.
Now, the facts are. the Suffer track
was not laid out till 1854, by John keenan,
and Sam Berry. The racehorse Wiscon-
sin Chief was brought to this State in 1852,
and the race between him and the three
minute horse spoken of was run in 1854
on the Suffer track, as stated. was one
OF the spectators. 1t was grand sell,
and everybody went home with big
disgust.
The first circular race course ever laid
out in Sacramento County was about five
miles east of this city, at point on the
American River called Brighton. The
town of Brighton and the race track were
laid out in the winter of '49 or early in the
spring OF 80.
came down from the mines in No
vember, 1850, and settled on piece of
land adjoining the race-track and town
site of Brighton At that time the town
contained two large hotels, one of which
was three stories in hight, and it had over
sixty rooms. There were also two large
stores Of miners supplies, a blacksmith
shop in an old adobe house, built either
by General Suffer or some Of his men,
besides number of private houses with
families living IN them. There were also
town lots and corner lots for sale, and
right back south of the town was the
race track, with high, tight board fence
entirely surrounding it, and with large
grand stand, judges stand, and num-
Der of stables for the accommodation of
race horses, and everything bore evil
dence of having been built for some
months.
In 1851 there was racing over the track
frequently. and many large sums were
won and lost. In 1852 there was also
prize hight at the Brighton track, between
Thompson and Willacy. Thompson
won in eight or ten rounds.
y. ID. Patterson was High" Sheriff of
Sacramento County at that time and put
in an appearance early in the day in
order, as he said, to take measures to pre-
vent the tight. So he went around among
the crowd and summoned every body, in
Guiding the writer, to assist him in pre-
serving the peace and in upholding the
dignity of the laws of the State of Califor-
mia.
But when the tight came off Mr.. Sheriff
was nowhere to be seen, and on inquiry I
learned that he had been kidnapped and
securely locked in room in the hotel,
with three burly, rough-looking men to
guard him and prevent his escape. But
one scalawag said he had peeped through
the key hole and saw the Sheriff engaged
IN social game Of draw
In addition 10 all this sport in early
times. we had at the Brighton race track
q ne1HSirlan Of TSt
time. 1t was run by a man named
Guildersleeve, ifmy memory serves me.
q am writing entirely from memory
He was to run, and did run easily, ten
miles inside of an hour, for the gate
money. Guildersleeve, it was said, had
won an international tenmile foot race q
year or so before, which was run near
st. Louis, Mo-, between himself flor
America and an Englishman and an
American Indian. Guildersleeve was in
training at the Brighton track and saw
him often during that time.
In speaking of early-day race horses
we must not forget to Ia ention Wake-Up-
Jake and 1.-The Boston Colt"