Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
pIMLICO TRACK NOTED
IN HISTORY OF TURF
Most Famous Contests Ever Tried Between
TI1oroughbreds Decided Over This Course.

Historic Pimlico race track at Baltimore
whereupon was run one of the most famous
races in the history of the American turf,
when Parole wen the three-cornCred race
against Tom Ochiltree and Ten Brock. will
be preserved and improved, as already an
nounced in The Star. The Baltimore Sun
recently gave the history of this noted race
course. The property comprises seventy
eight acres. bounded by Belvidere, Pimlico
and Rogers avenues.
The property was purchased in 1868 by
the Maryland Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, which was incorporated by the
legislature the preceding year, the money
being obtained from three sources-an APP
preparation by the state, an appropriation
by the city and private subscription The
act of incorporation provided that the prop
erty should be used for country fairs. These
fairs We're conducted successfully for some
time, but were discontinued about twenty
years ago.
In March, 1902 Mr.. Charles H Ncolai,
the only surviving trustee of the old asso-
citation, filed a bill in the circuit court of
Baltimore county. by Messrs. Gill and Pres
ton, solicitors, asking that the assets of
the association be sold and the proceeds
equally distributed. After long legal bat
tie Judge Burke recently decided that the
property should be sold and the proceeds
distributed among the state, the city and
the subscribers. As already announced, the
Maryland Jockey Club has bought the place.
Leased for $4,000.
The Maryland Jockey Club leased from
the Maryland Agricultural and Mechanical
Association the new course on the Pimlico
fair grounds for ten years, the consideration
being $4,000, which was raised by twenty
members. who by their generosity became
life members of the association. This score
of enthusiasts were: Washington Booth
w. w. Glenn Louis McLane. j. A. Shriver
II. d. G. Carroll, j. d. Kremelburg, ]. Viii
cox Brown, John Lee Carroll, c. Oliver
ODonnell, Alexander d. Brown, Henry T.
Johnston, Robert Garrett, George Small,
Robert Lehr p T. George, H H. Dodge
F. Law Rogers, w. w. Corcoran, William
Devries, Jacob Tome
Mr.. James d. Ferguson was appointed
clerk of the course and Mr. Edmund Law
Rogers superintendent In 1872 Mr.. Fer
guson became secretary.
The inaugural meeting was held October
%, g. 81 and %, 1870. Although there
was not even horse car running to PIN
lico, there was hardly room within the fence
for the people. 1t was estimated that L.,
900 persons saw the opening, but the esti-
mate is probably too large. The first race
on the track was won by Mr.. Joseph DonO-
hue. with Biddy Malone, five years old, in
two-mile hurdle race for $500.
In 1877 Secretary Ferguson by his enter
the club to add 81 900, for an extra race for
all ages secured for the track one of the
most famous contests in the history of
American racing-the three-cornered race
for two miles and half between f. b. Har-
per's champion, Ten Brock, Pierre Loril-
lards Parole and G.. /. Lorillard's Tom
Ochiltree These were conceded to be the
finest specimens of horsefesh in the coun-
try, each having won many large purses.
Ten Brock From Kentucky.
To secure the famous Ten Brock the
club paid the expense of bringing the horse
from Kentucky and sending it back. The
race was to large extent a sectional con-
test, and the greatest interest was mani
tested in it all over the country. Ten
Brock was a Kentucky horse born and
bred in the west. and the sportsmen of that
section believed him to be inVincible.
Favored Racing Field.
Before the civil war cast its blight upon
the south that section of this country was
the favored racing field. Fine blooded
horses were plentiful in the south, many
of them being the pride of the landed gem
try. who would risk large sums upon their
favoriteS and win or lose without word.
Those were the days when statesmen and
jurists were proud to take their places in
the judges stand, and the race track of
tcialS We're the most prominent men in the
neig hborhood.
Beforesthe war the Metairie track, at New