Montgomery Park Race Track
 Race day at Montgomery Park Race Track c.1900 | |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
|---|---|
| Owned by | New Memphis Jockey Club |
| Date opened | 1851 |
| Course type | Flat racing 1 mile dirt oval |
| Notable races | Tennessee Derby Tennessee Oaks Montgomery Handicap |
Montgomery Park Race Track was an American thoroughbred racetrack in Memphis, Tennessee.[1]
History
[edit]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
[edit]The track consisted of a one mile dirt oval 65 feet wide at all points.[4]
Track Records
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ "Henry A. Montgomery ...and the Historic Montgomery Park". Historic-Memphis. com. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "History of the Fairgrounds - About - Kroc Memphis". Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
- ^ "Famous Race Course Now Public Park". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1912-01-19. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
- ^ Goodwin's Annual Official Turf Guide for 1905, Volume 1, p. ccxvii
- ^ American Racing Manual, Daily Racing Form Publishing Co., 1922 edition, p. 105