Greater Kennebec & Androscoggin River Valleys
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Augusta’s Capital Driving Park A hot spot for harness racing in the 1880s by Brian Swartz
T
o experience the thrills, spills, and money-making opportunities of harness racing, Capital Driving Park in Augusta was the place to be in mid-August 1888. Known by several names, among them Augusta Trotting Park and Capital Driving Park, the facility was located near Capital Park. Straddling the hilly shore along Bond Brook and the Kennebec River, Augusta offered little smooth terrain where horsemen could compete on a level track, but this bit of flat land near the river sufficed. Southern-style weather, described by one race fan as “somewhat sultry”
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with sunshine and clouds that “looked threateningly,” spat “a few drops of rain” on people flocking to Capital Driving Park on Thursday afternoon, August 16. The tootling and thumping musicians of the National Band “favored the spectators with some of their best selections, finely rendered,” the race fan noticed. The grandstand filled to SRO status; “a large crowd was upon the grounds in addition,” he observed. The people lining the rails watched as judges D.W. Goodwin, E.L. Norcross, and J.W. Withee took their seats at 2 p.m. The day’s first race involved
13 “green horses … that have never been trotted for money,” the race fan commented. Only seven horses — New Haven Boy, Lamont, Herolight, Watchmaker Jr., Nellie Call, Young Rolfe, and Billy Knox — “responded to the call.” New Haven Boy took the pole, and the other six horses aligned on him; at the “go” signal, Herolight tore into the lead with Billy Knox hot on his hooves. Fans cheered as Herolight passed the quarter-mile mark at 0:31 seconds. Suddenly Watchmaker Jr, burst from the trailing horses and made a serious run, almost drawing even “before turn-
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