The New York herald., 1922-07-30
An Outline of
Horse Racing,

OF sports. has prevailed fn
Long Island.
When the English obtained cone
troll of New York and Long Island
in 1864, Governor Nichols, an ardent
sportsman, announced the first horse
race. which took place at Hempsteads
in the autumn of 1865.
The racing proclamation, a copy
of which is N the archives of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, reads. Not
so much for the advertisement Of
youth as for encouraging the betters
ing of the breed of horses. which
through great neglect has been i'm.
paired"
Governor Nichols caused a track
to be laid out and rolled on what
was then called Salisburys Plains
a part OF the Great Hampstead Plains
ana WdS Siiudlcu icai tifc III htSchs
Hyde Park station of the Long
Island Railroad. The track was
called Newmarket. after the famous
English race course, and was the
first regular race track of which
there is an authentic account in the
United States or Canada -
Governor Nichols was succeeded
by Governor Lovelace. and in 1883
the latter announced that races
would be run over the Newmarket
course in the spring and fall of each
year. The announcement stated
subscriptions may be sent to Capt.
Salisbury of all such as are dis
posed to run for a crown of silver
or the value. thereof in wheat"
Racing on the Newmarket course
was continued for more than eighty
years. The track was situated at
what would be considered in those
days quite a distance from New
York, considering the facilities for
reaching it which then existed. But
distance did not deter either the New
Workers of that day or the farmers
or fishermen of Long Island from
seeing and wagering on good race,
and it is reported that people turned
out in such large numbers as to
make the sport both enjoyable and
profitable.
In 1864, a new track was, con-
structed at Centreville. near the
Newmarket course, and as racing
had become the popular pastime OF
the colony both tracks were liber-
ally patronized.
In 1904 the racing moved. to a
field east of the old Court House,
and in 1921 the famous Union Course
On the. western border of Jamaica
was constructed. and in 1929 the
Fashion track nearby was built.
The New York P0stboy of June 1,
1850 wrote: "On Friday last there was
a, great horse race on Hampstead
Plains. which engaged the attention
of so many of the City of New York
that upward of seventy chairs and
chaises were carried over Brooklyn
ferry the day before, besides far
greater number of horses. The num-
ber of horses on the Plains exceeded
one thousand" In 1894 the Macaroni
Club offered prizes of f100 and ESQ,
respectively, for a race on this track,
the money being won by Lath. owned
by James De Lancey, and Lijah,
owned by William Willet.
On March IA. 1881. race was run
between Eclipse and Sturdy Beggar
for 80 Joes" and there was a three
hundred guinea sweepstake race held
on Hampstead Plains April 81, 1882.
which attracted so many New York.
ers away from the city that the
diapers and other merchants closed
their shops.
One of the printed announcements
reads: by permission of his Ex-
cellency a three days sport on Ascot
Heath. formerly Flat Lands Plains.
Monday: First, the Nobelman's and
Gentleman's Purse Of Sixty. Pounds.
free for any horse except Mr.. Wart-
yuore's and Mr. Allep,S Duleitnau