JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH "FLAT" HORSE RACING. EVENTS SUCH AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS IN LOUISVILLE, THE PREAKNESS, PIMLICO, MARYLAND AND THE BELMONT STAKES IN NEW YORK, MAKE UP THE THREE STAGES OF THE TRIPLE CROWN OF HORSE RACING, A MOST POPULAR ANNUAL EVENT. HOWEVER, NOT MANY ARE AWARE OF THE EXCITEMENT OF "HARNESS RACING''
NOT QUITE AS POPULAR AS THE THOROUGHBRED RACES, IT HAS HAD AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY WHEN AS FAR BACK AS OVER A 1000 BC, CHARIOT RACES SET THE STANDARD AND WERE AN EVENT IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES. THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE ENDED CHARIOT RACES, THOUGH TROTTING MATCHES WERE REVIVED IN EUROPE. THEY HAD A RETURN IN THE 16TH CENTURY AND EVENTUALLY FOUND THEIR WAY TO NORTH AMERICA IN THE 19TH CENTURY TO BECOME KNOWN AS HARNESS RACING, USUALLY TAKING PLACE AT COUNTY FAIRS.
MUCH LIKE CHARIOT RACING, THE HORSE IS ATTACHED BY HARNESS AND PULLS A 2 WHEELED VEHICLE KNOWN AS A "SULKY". NO JOCKEYS RIDE IN A SULKY BUT A "DRIVER", LIKE IN A CAR. THE RACE TAKES PLACE ON A TRACK, LIKE THOROUGBREDS, BUT THE HORSES MUST TROT AND NOT RUN, NOR GALLOP... THAT WOULD BE A CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATIN.
THE POPULARITY OF HARNESS RACING INCREASED INTO THE 20TH CENTURY AND IN 2026 THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY (25) TROTTING TRACKS IN THE STATES.
IN THE SPRING OF 1959 SHENANDOAH DOWNS OPENED IN CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, FEATURING NIGHT RACES, COMPETING WITH CHARLES TOWN RACEWAY WHICH FEATURED DAY RACING. BUSSES AND RAIL LINES BROUGHT HOPEFUL WAGERERS THERE FROM NEARBY BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON, DC. RACING IN THE NIGHT LIGHTS AND DINING IN THE NIGHTLIFE AT THE STARLIGHT TERRACE WOULD PROVIDE A JOYOUS AND ENTERTAINING ATMOSPHERE.
"THE DOWNS" EVENTUALLY BEGAN DAY RACING AND THOROUBRED RACING, HOWEVER OVER TIME, THE FACILITY WAS BOUGHT OUT AND WITH INCREASING COMPETITION, IT CLOSED IN 1976. IN 2006, ALL OF THE STRUCTURES WERE RAZED...
...INCLUDING THE SOUVENIR STAND WHERE THIS
VINTAGE, ADORABLE, 5 INCH SULKY DRIVER WAS PURCHASED. IT WILL AGREE WITH ANYTHING YOU SAY WITH JUST A TOUCH OF HIS NODDING HEAD.