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47-519: Open to horses age three and older, the race was run over a distance of 1 + 3 ⁄ 16 miles (9.5 furlongs ). The Special started at the top of the Narragansett stretch with a run of 3/16ths to the wire and then one full lap around the one mile dirt oval. Across its history, the "Special" was run in late summer and fall, over fast and sloppy tracks, and even in the snow one year (Wise Margin – 1955). Time Supply , under jockey Tommy Luther , won

94-465: A jockey : Most wins by an owner: Furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile , equivalent to any of 660  feet , 220  yards , 40  rods , 10  chains , or approximately 201  metres . It is now mostly confined to use in horse racing, where in many countries it is the standard measurement of race lengths, and agriculture, where it

141-565: A Furlong, and 10 single square Chains an Acre, so that a square Mile contains 640 square Acres." —John Ogilby, Britannia, 1675 The official use of the furlong was abolished in the United Kingdom under the Weights and Measures Act 1985, an act that also abolished the official use of many other traditional units of measurement. In Myanmar furlongs are currently used in conjunction with miles to indicate distances on highway signs. Mileposts on

188-410: A half length lead at one point. Whirlaway twice tried to move ahead of Alsab (once as they neared the far turn and once as the two horses entered the backstretch). However, both times jockey Carroll Bierman let Alsab stay ahead. Halfway through the stretch turn, jockey George Woolf turned Whirlway loose. Whirlway's late charge resulted in a photo finish, however Alsab won the race by a nose. The race

235-636: A measure legalizing parimutuel betting by an almost 3 to 1 margin. The following day, the Narragansett Racing Association announced plans for a $ 1 million race track and steeplechase course on the site of the former What Cheer Airport and filed articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State of Rhode Island . The Association chose to name their track after Narragansett Park , a former trotting park in Cranston, Rhode Island . On June 6, 1934,

282-504: A rod or a furlong, and the number of square feet and square yards in an acre. The definition of the rod went from 15 old feet to 16 + 1 ⁄ 2  new feet, or from 5 old yards to 5 + 1 ⁄ 2  new yards. The furlong went from 600 old feet to 660 new feet, or from 200 old yards to 220 new yards. The acre went from 36,000 old square feet to 43,560 new square feet, or from 4,000 old square yards to 4,840 new square yards. The furlong

329-654: A square furlong in extent (eight to a mile, which explains the series of freeway exits: 19th Ave, 27th, 35th, 43rd, 51st, 59th ...). Much of Ontario , Canada, was originally surveyed on a ten-furlong grid, with major roads being laid out along the grid lines. Now that distances are shown on road signs in kilometres, these major roads are almost exactly two kilometres apart. The exits on highways running through Toronto , for example, are generally at intervals of two kilometres. The Bangor City Forest in Bangor, Maine has its trail system marked in miles and furlongs. The furlong

376-509: A square furlong. At the time, the Saxons used the North German foot , which was about 10 percent longer than the foot of the international 1959 agreement . When England changed to a shorter foot in the late 13th century, rods and furlongs remained unchanged, since property boundaries were already defined in rods and furlongs. The only thing that changed was the number of feet and yards in

423-461: A three-year-old chestnut filly. The mutuel handle for the day was $ 351,482. On Labor Day 1934 the track drew an estimated 53,922 patrons, the most for any sporting event in the history of Rhode Island. During its early years, Narragansett Park was one of the most financially successful tracks in the country. From the time it opened to September 30, 1936 it posted a net profit of $ 2,017,381.54. In 1934 Rhode Island received over $ 800,000 in revenue from

470-497: Is 201.168 metres, and five furlongs are about 1  kilometre ( 1.00584 km exactly). The name furlong derives from the Old English words furh ( furrow ) and lang (long). Dating back at least to early Anglo-Saxon times, it originally referred to the length of the furrow in one acre of a ploughed open field (a medieval communal field which was divided into strips). The furlong (meaning furrow length)

517-461: Is also a base unit of the humorous FFF system of units. The exact length of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries. In Canada and the United Kingdom, which define the furlong in terms of the international yard of exactly 0.9144 metres, a furlong is 201.168 m. Australia does not formally define the furlong, but it does define the chain and link in terms of the international yard. The United States previously defined

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564-567: Is approximately one furlong in length. City blocks in the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne are also one furlong in length. Salt Lake City 's blocks are each a square furlong in the downtown area. The blocks become less regular in shape farther from the center, but the numbering system (800 units to each mile) remains the same everywhere in Salt Lake County . Blocks in central Logan, Utah , and in large sections of Phoenix, Arizona , are similarly

611-685: Is considered to be one of the greatest in New England racing history. The track began a slow decline in the 1950s. On October 9, 1960, two of the track's barns burned down. Many horses fled the barns and ran into neighboring yards and streets. By the 1970s the track had fallen upon hard times. Due to reduced public interest in thoroughbred racing, competition for racing dates with other New England tracks, and competition from greyhound racing and state lotteries for gambling dollars, attendance dropped and handles decreased rapidly. This led to an inability to attract high-quality horses. The physical condition of

658-504: Is used to measure rural field lengths and distances. In the United States, some states use older definitions for surveying purposes, leading to variations in the length of the furlong of two parts per million, or about 0.4 millimetres ( 1 ⁄ 64 inch). This variation is small enough to not have practical consequences in most applications. Using the international definition of the yard as exactly 0.9144 metres, one furlong

705-514: The Narragansett Special . The loss ended a streak of seven consecutive stakes wins for Seabiscuit, one shy of Discovery 's record. In the summer of 1937, track president Walter E. O'Hara got into an altercation with the state racing steward. The state Horse Racing Division ordered that O'Hara be removed as a track official of the race track for intimidating and interfering with the steward. The Horse Racing Division also ordered an audit of

752-538: The Rhode Island Supreme Court unanimously decided to quash the division's order to remove O'Hara. However, Quinn filed two charges with the division seeking O'Hara's removal as a track official and the revocation of the Narragansett Racing Association's license for O'Hara's attacks in the newspaper. The division sided with the Governor and ordered O'Hara's removal and indefinitely suspended the track's license at

799-521: The Yangon–Mandalay Expressway use miles and furlongs. In the rest of the world the furlong has very limited use, with the notable exception of horse racing in most English-speaking countries, including Canada and the United States. The distances for horse racing in Australia were converted to metric in 1972 and the term survives only in slang. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and

846-543: The measuring chain in the 1620s led to the introduction of an intermediate unit of length, the chain of 22 yards, being equal to four rods, and to one-tenth of a furlong. A description from 1675 states, "Dimensurator or Measuring Instrument whereof the mosts usual has been the Chain, and the common length for English Measures four Poles, as answering indifferently to the Englishs Mile and Acre, 10 such Chains in length making

893-420: The Narragansett Racing Association was awarded the state's first horse racing permit. Construction was completed in less than two months at a cost of $ 1.2 million. The track consisted of a one-mile racing oval, a 14,000 seat grandstand, 270 betting and paying booths, a clubhouse, and 22 barns with stalls that could hold more than 1,000 horses. The City of Pawtucket constructed a new four-lane highway leading to

940-556: The Narragansett Racing Association's books, which resulted in six new charges against the track to revoke its license for the fall racing season. O'Hara responded to the charges in his newspaper, the Providence Star-Tribune , in an article which he implied that Governor Robert E. Quinn was or would end up in Butler Hospital , a psychiatric hospital that specialized in the treatment of substance abuse. On September 15, 1937,

987-469: The Narragansett Special. He drew off by 13 lengths with jockey Steve Brooks aboard. Gun Bow would gain fame by having stirring duels with Kelso , the unofficial "horse of the 1960s". In true 'Gansett fashion, the race was run on a Friday and drew a paid attendance of 6,877. The 1963 running was the 29th, and final, edition of this once special race. Speed record: Most wins: Most wins by

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1034-540: The U.S. survey foot, with effect from the end of 2022. The furlong in U.S. Customary units is thereafter defined based on the International 1959 foot, giving the length of the furlong as exact 201.168 meters in the United States as well. Narragansett Park Narragansett Park was an American race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in Pawtucket, Rhode Island . On May 18, 1934, Rhode Island voters approved

1081-459: The United States, races are still given in miles and furlongs. Also distances along English canals navigated by narrowboats are commonly expressed in miles and furlongs. The city of Chicago's street numbering system allots a measure of 800 address units to each mile, in keeping with the city's system of eight blocks per mile. This means that every block in a typical Chicago neighborhood (in either north–south or east–west direction but rarely both)

1128-437: The association's president and managing director. He was succeeded by track secretary James Dooley . The track reopened in 1938 and attracted the same huge crowds it drew before the "war". On September 19, 1942, the track hosted a match race between Triple Crown winner Whirlaway and 1942 Preakness Stakes winner Alsab . The race was organized after members of the media accused track president James Dooley of concealing

1175-433: The death of 77 horses at Rockingham Park that summer. The inter-state shipping of horses that Fall was greatly restricted. The 1948 edition had Rhode Island in the middle of a record late August " heat wave " with temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When added with the cancellation of the previous year, the race drew its smallest attendance figure of only 12,612 people. Donor , under jockey Arnold Kirkland , won

1222-487: The end of the summer races. The summer racing season ended on September 30, 1937, however, the track did not remove O'Hara. The Supreme Court quashed the division's order to remove O'Hara and suspend the track's license. However, Quinn refused to permit racing at the track. On October 17, Quinn declared that Narragansett Park was "in a state of insurrection," and ordered the National Guard to enforce martial law. O'Hara, who

1269-433: The entrance of the track and a double track railway was built near the stands. Narragansett Park opened on August 1, 1934, with 37,281 people in attendance, including Jack Dempsey , Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney , Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. , and Jesse H. Metcalf . The track's first card consisted of eight races. The feature race was a $ 5,000 added six furlongs sprint for three-year-olds and up won by Chinese Empress,

1316-454: The fact that Alsab would not run against Whirlaway in the September 12 Narragansett Special until after a large crowd had come to the track. The race was attended by 35,000 people and all three major radio networks provided live coverage. Whirlaway entered the $ 25,000 match race a 3 to 10 favorite, while Alsab went off at 8 to 5. Alsab jumped out to an early lead, holding as much as a two and

1363-456: The furlong was once also called an acre's length , though in modern usage an area of one acre can be of any shape. The term furlong, or shot, was also used to describe a grouping of adjacent strips within an open field. Among the early Anglo-Saxons, the rod was the fundamental unit of land measurement. A furlong was 40 rods; an acre 4 by 40 rods, or 4 rods by 1 furlong, and thus 160 square rods; there are 10 acres in

1410-481: The furlong, chain, rod, and link in terms of the U.S. survey foot of exactly 1200 ⁄ 3937  metre, resulting in a furlong approximately 201.1684 m long. The difference of approximately two parts per million between the old U.S. value and the "international" value was insignificant for most practical measurements. In October 2019, U.S. National Geodetic Survey and National Institute of Standards and Technology announced their joint intent to retire

1457-463: The horse as "Old Sosh" bolted towards the outside rail. Vanderbilt, after reducing the size of his racing stable through a dispersal sale, brought another star from his class of 1950 to Gansett. The six year old Find capped his 1956 season with an easy three length victory in the Special. By the late 1950s, attendance and betting handle were down at the track. It was harder to attract the best horses to

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1504-552: The mile, and 1½ miles to the league . A league was considered to be the distance a man could walk in one hour, and the mile (from mille , meaning "thousand") consisted of 1,000  passus (paces, five feet, or double-step). After the fall of the Western Roman Empire , medieval Europe continued with the Roman system, which the people proceeded to diversify, leading to serious complications in trade, taxation, etc. Around

1551-439: The only local outfit to win the Special. 1954 revealed Alfred G. Vanderbilt II in the paddock as his Social Outcast was saddled for a popular 3-length victory. The purse swelled to $ 42,450, making it the richest running. It also had the largest field as 18 horses made the post. Social Outcast broke from the 15 hole and as jockey Eric Guerin made the lead he lost his right stirrup in deep stretch. Guerin did well to remain on

1598-643: The race for owner W. Deering Howe. In 1949, Donor, a son of Challedon, became the only two-time winner of the race by defeating the Santa Anita Handicap winner of 1949; Vulcan's Forge ; and Calumet Farm's 1949 Kentucky Derby winner, Ponder . In a thrilling three horse photo finish, Warren Mehrtens had his mount's head in front at the wire. More than 30,000 were in attendance for this exciting renewal. On September 19, 1953, Sailed Away, with New England riding legend Anthony DeSpirito "up" for trainer R. E. Harper and Rhode Island–based Vigilant Stable, became

1645-432: The region and Narragansett Park and the Special declined in prestige. Without a breeding industry in New England, the quality of horse racing throughout the area went into a steep decline. There were also betting scandals. The purse was lowered to $ 25,000 added in 1955 and did not keep pace with other top races. Finally, in 1963, one last future Hall of Fame horse, Gun Bow (inducted HoF:1999), won his first stakes race in

1692-549: The riding stars that won the "Special". Lucky Draw equaled the World Record for the distance, while carving his name in the Track Records Narragansett Park , when he defeated Pavot and Armed in 1946. Many considered this to be the race of the year. The event was not run in 1947 due to an outbreak of Swamp Fever. The outbreak of the disease, with an official title of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), had caused

1739-592: The stretch of street where the concert stage stood (at 510 Narragansett Park Drive) renamed as 'Beach Boys Way.' On June 29, 1979, the stockholders of Narragansett Park voted to sell the track to the City of Pawtucket for $ 5.6 million. The city used a grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to buy and improve the land, which they sold to developers below market value to stimulate employment and business investment. On May 30, 1981,

1786-472: The track deteriorated as well. On Labor Day 1978, only 2,882 patrons paid to gain admittance. Two days later it was announced the track would close. On September 2, 1977, The Beach Boys performed at Narragansett Park before an audience of 40,000, which remains the largest concert audience in Rhode Island history. In 2017, music historians Al Gomes and Connie Watrous of Big Noise were successful in getting

1833-460: The track received patrons from Boston via the New Haven Railroad . During the racing season, daily trains, known as "'Gansett Specials" ran from Boston's South Station to the station tracks at Naragansett Park. The trains left Boston around noon to arrive in time for the first race and returned following the last race. Narragansett Park was part of many horse racing innovations. The track

1880-403: The track, which was more than 10% of the state's entire budget. Narragansett also became known as somewhat of a “High Society” due to its proximity to Newport, Rhode Island – the summer resort of many wealthy owners from New York City . The track was frequented by celebrities, including Cab Calloway , Jimmy Durante , Babe Ruth , Lou Gehrig , Mickey Rooney , and Milton Berle . For decades,

1927-459: The very first Special. A. A. Baroni's Top Row and Rosemont , for William duPont, won the next two editions. An instant success, the race continued to attract the top horses from across the United States. 1937 had Mrs. Ella K. Bryson's gelding Calumet Dick, with Hilton Dabson riding, captured the event. A former Calumet Farm runner that loved the mud, Calumet Dick upset Wheatley Stable 's Snark and national superstar Seabiscuit . The 'Biscuit

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1974-537: The year 1300, by royal decree England standardized a long list of measures. Among the important units of distance and length at the time were the foot , yard , rod (or pole), furlong, and the mile . The rod was defined as 5 + 1 ⁄ 2  yards or 16 + 1 ⁄ 2  feet, and the mile was eight furlongs, so the definition of the furlong became 40 rods and that of the mile became 5,280 feet (eight furlongs/mile times 40 rods/furlong times 16 + 1 ⁄ 2  feet/rod). The invention of

2021-627: Was historically viewed as being equivalent to the Roman stade ( stadium ) , which in turn derived from the Greek system . For example, the King James Bible uses the term "furlong" in place of the Greek stadion , although more recent translations often use miles or kilometres in the main text and give the original numbers in footnotes. In the Roman system, there were 625 feet to the stadium , eight stadia to

2068-603: Was in Maryland on business, flew back to the track and was escorted by guardsmen to his penthouse on the track's roof, where he entertained journalists and politicians and played March of the Wooden Soldiers over the public address system for the guardsmen. On February 9, 1938, sheriff's deputies battered down the Narragansett Racing Association' doors and seized records on order of the Superior Court. O'Hara then resigned as

2115-598: Was made the betting favorite by his fans, but proved his dislike for "off" going and saw a seven race winning streak snapped when he finished third on the sloppy track under high-weight of 132 lbs. Over the years, the race was won by racing stars such as future U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees Challedon (won:1939 / inducted:1977) and Whirlaway (won:1942, inducted:1959). In 1941, Glen Riddle Farm's War Relic upset that year's Triple Crown winner, Whirlaway . Top jockeys Eddie Arcaro , Ted Atkinson , Johnny Longden , George Woolf , and Jack Westrope are among

2162-491: Was one of the first in the country to install a photo finish camera and a starting gate . It was also one of the first to institute a $ 1,000 minimum purse. On June 22, 1935, Seabiscuit broke his maiden at Narragansett and equaled the five-furlong track record. Four days later in the Watch Hill Claiming Stakes he once again broke the track record, this time by a full second. In 1937, Seabiscuit finished third in

2209-448: Was the distance a team of oxen could plough without resting. This was standardised to be exactly 40 rods or 10 chains. The system of long furrows arose because turning a team of oxen pulling a heavy plough was difficult. This offset the drainage advantages of short furrows and meant furrows were made as long as possible. An acre is an area that is one furlong long and one chain (66 feet or 22 yards) wide. For this reason,

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