Augusta’s Capital Driving Park

A hot spot for harness racing in the 1880s

by Brian Swartz

To 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” 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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ing down the back stretch,” where “he broke badly.”

Herolight blew past the three-quarter mile mark in 1:58 and swept to victory in 2:38.

Eleven horses were entered in the next race, intended “for horses in the 2.42 class,” the race fan scribbled on his score sheet. Only six horses “answered to the bell,” and if 21st-century Mainers think that competitors in the Kentucky Derby have unusual names, these six horses answered to Huldah, Courier, Busy Boy, Emma A., Rob Roy, and Alice Oates.

Huldah held the pole as the first heat started, “but Courier soon sailed ahead of her,” according to the race fan. “Rob Roy did some good trotting” in the “well contested heat,” but Huldah and Courier were “too fast company” for the competition and swept first and second, respectively, across the finish line.

The top four horses (Huldah, Courier, Rob Roy, and Alice Oates) then lined up at the starting gate for a second heat in their class. The race fan watched as “Huldah got a good sendoff … broke but once during the heat,” and won with Alice Oates not far behind her.

And Huldah would not be denied victory in the third heat, fishing at 2:37¾ with Alice Oates not far behind in second place.

“By far the most interesting race of the afternoon” was that involving horses in the 2.34 class, the race fan commented. “Several horses … had many friends upon the grounds … who showed their appreciation” by cheering lustily as the horses trotted onto the track.

Five of the seven horses entered for the race appeared: Hector, Ticonic, Black Crook, Cushnoc, and Maud M. Opposing owners immediately protested in writing the presence of Black Crook and Maud M.

Confused, the judges conferred with “the National rules” and with the drivers, who “had received no notice of suspension.” Not knowing “but which horses may have been re-instated,” the judges let them start.

Heavy betting occurred prior to the race. Located at the pole, Hector initially took the lead for the first heat, “but Cushnoc soon passed him, and had it his own way all through,” the race fan noted. “He came in a long way ahead and amid the hearty cheers of the big crowd.”

Hector, Ticonic, Maud M., and Black Crook finished second through fifth, in that order.

The drivers and horses returned to the starting gate for the second heat, with Cushnoc holding the pole this time. He broke into the lead at the start, (cont. on page 10)

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(cont. from page 9) but “by a favorable spurt Hector shot ahead of him” before the quarter-mile mark, the race fan noticed. Then Cushnoc retook the lead, “won the heat and was loudly cheered as he came down the home stretch and under the wire.”

The five 2.34 class horses lined up for a third heat, which Cushnoc again won.

Though the day’s racing had officially ended, Herolight owner C.N. Nelson decided to extend the action. He “generously offered to give one-half of the money he had won” toward “a new race,” the race fan thrilled.

Money changed hands as horses that had already competed that day lined up for the consolation race. Up to the starting gate came Billy Knox, Lamont, Watchmaker Jr., Young Rolfe, Nellie Call, and New Haven Boy. With Billy Knox and his owner Charles Sylvester at the pole, the race began.

At the three-quarter mile mark, Sylvester’s sulky collided (apparently with the inside rail) and “was badly smashed,” the astounded race fan wrote. Pitched onto the track, Sylvester was “dragged a long distance,” but remained “clinging to the reins until help arrived.”

Nellie Call won the heat.

A new sulky was harnessed to Billy Knox, and Ira Woodbury placed as the driver. The scuffed-up Sylvester settled into the sulky behind Young Rolfe.

The six horses lined up for the second heat. Watchmaker Jr. took an early lead, but Nellie Call soon trotted past and went on to win in 2:55, just three seconds longer than her winning time in the first heat.

This had been “a grand day for the races,” the race fan concluded.

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