Misplaced Pages

#840159

142-589: Fleetwood Park was a 19th-century harness racing (trotting) track in what is now the Morrisania section of the Bronx in New York, United States. The races held there were a popular form of entertainment, drawing crowds as large as 10,000 from the surrounding area. The one-mile (1.6 km) course described an unusual shape, with four turns in one direction and one in the other. For the last five years of operation, Fleetwood

284-601: A Grand Circuit harness racing track in Hartford, Connecticut , had opened in 1873. Twenty years later, Charter Oak canceled racing due to a "new law relating to pool selling and purse racing" and the Charter Oaks Stakes , first run in 1883, was transferred to Fleetwood. The Breeder and Sportsman wrote: Fleetwood will see very lively days this season. After much deliberation the Driving Club, of New York, and

426-610: A bulge on one side, yielding five turns – four to the left and one to the right, if run counter-clockwise. Modern-day 167th Street diverges from the otherwise rectilinear street grid with the oblique portion of the street following the northern leg of the racecourse. Another oddity was that the track was not level, dropping approximately nine feet (2.7 m) in the first half-mile. As many as 10,000 spectators attended races at Fleetwood. According to The Sun's Guide to New York (which promoted itself as providing "Suggestions to Sightseers and Practical Information for Practical People")

568-459: A computer system, which takes control of the vehicle and provides a printout at the end of the score up. Some harness racing clubs have been granted additional funds for the installation of the AVA computerised mobile barriers. In Australia and New Zealand, harness racing is conducted both on smaller rural tracks and at major city venues, creating the opportunity for even the hobby-trainer to make it into

710-474: A crowbar caused a spark . One man was killed and several others were seriously injured. The track also suffered fire damage. On June 15, 1873, an early morning fire in the stables destroyed 48 stalls, causing an estimated $ 12,000 (equivalent to $ 305,000 in 2023) damage to the building, plus unknown damages to sulkies and other racing gear. Two horses worth a total of $ 11,000 (equivalent to $ 280,000 in 2023) were killed. Another fire, on October 15, 1893,

852-406: A difficult position); or to race with "cover" on the outside. On the rail behind the leader is a choice spot, known as the "pocket", and a horse in that position is said to have a "garden trip". Third on the rail is an undesirable spot, known on small tracks as the "death hole". As the race nears the three-quarter mile mark, the drivers implement their tactics for advancing their positions – going to

994-518: A new track, two possible locations being discussed. One site of 105 acres (42 ha) was near Mount Vernon, served by William's Bridge Road, Boston Road, and the Harlem River Railroad. The other site, with 77.7 acres (31.4 ha), was about 2 miles (3.2 km) closer to the city, along the Bronx and Pelham Parkway , not far from the Morris Park track. The latter was preferred by most of

1136-430: A pavilion of artillery, which apparently had cost one million dollars to stage, including a coastal gun of 42 cm in bore (16.54 inches) and a length of 33 calibres (45.93 feet, 14 meters). A breech-loaded gun, it weighed 120.46 long tons (122.4 metric tons). According to the company's marketing: "It carried a charge projectile weighing from 2,200 to 2,500 pounds which, when driven by 900 pounds of brown powder ,

1278-519: A point of argument between many industry participants. Modern Starting gates used in Australia now include Auto start. This innovation allows the starter to concentrate on the actual horse's positioning during the "score up". The modern Starting gates use only a driver for steering the vehicle and a starter in the rear to observe the race and call a false start if required. The start speed, acceleration, score up distance, and gate closing are controlled via

1420-541: A premium is awarded. Horses cannot, in that State, trot either in purse or stake races, and the Charter Oak Association, one of the greatest trotting organizations in America, has been under the necessity of trotting its races at Fleetwood. The next year, the race was back at Charter Oak but, unlike all previous Grand Circuit meetings, with no betting at the track. The gate admission fee

1562-671: A race could be Silver division against Class II. In such a case the Silver Division horses must run 60 m behind the less experienced Class II horses. Some races use the mobile starting gate as seen in the United States. Other races (for up to 16 horses) use a circular starting system. Horses with post positions 1 to 5 are in the first wave, 6-12 or 15 are in the second wave. In volt start good starting numbers (which automatically turn in to certain positions) are 1, 3 and 5 (slightly better than 2 and 4). But numbers 6 and 7 (who start in

SECTION 10

#1732891722841

1704-678: A replica of the Gokstad ship . It was built in Norway and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean by 12 men, led by Captain Magnus Andersen. In 1919, this ship was moved to Lincoln Park . It was relocated in 1996 to Good Templar Park in Geneva, Illinois , where it awaits renovation. Thirty-four U.S. states also had their own pavilions. The work of noted feminist author Kate McPhelim Cleary was featured during

1846-712: A rock quarry in Quincy, Massachusetts , so that the Bunker Hill Monument could be erected in Boston. The frog switch is now on public view in East Milton Square, Massachusetts , on the original right-of-way of the Granite Railway. Transportation by rail was the major mode of transportation. A 26-track train station was built at the southwest corner of the fair. While trains from around the country would unload there, there

1988-432: A specific pattern to hit the starting line as a group. This enables handicaps to be placed on horses (according to class) with several tapes, usually with 10 or 20 meters between tapes. Many European – and some Australian and New Zealand – races use a standing start, although this increases the chance of a 'false start' where one or a number of horses commence 'off-stride' and gallop. The race must then be brought back to

2130-511: A stylized recreation of an American Indian cliff dwelling with pottery, weapons, and other relics on display. There was also an Eskimo display. There were also birch bark wigwams of the Penobscot tribe. Nearby was a working model Indian school, organized by the Office of Indian Affairs, that housed delegations of Native American students and their teachers from schools around the country for weeks at

2272-619: A successful exposition and that only Chicago was fit to fill these exposition requirements. The location of the fair was decided through several rounds of voting by the United States House of Representatives. The first ballot showed Chicago with a large lead over New York, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., but short of a majority. Chicago broke the 154-vote majority threshold on the eighth ballot, receiving 157 votes to New York's 107. The exposition corporation and national exposition commission settled on Jackson Park and an area around it as

2414-565: A thoroughbred track, was opened in 1866 and operated until 1890, when it was condemned by the city and the land repurposed to build Jerome Park Reservoir . Morris Park which operated from 1889 to 1904, also for thoroughbreds, was located in what is now the Morris Park neighborhood of the Bronx. The name Fleetwood has been associated with this area since at least 1850, when the New York Industrial Home Association No. 1

2556-483: A time. The John Bull locomotive was displayed. It was only 62 years old, having been built in 1831. It was the first locomotive acquisition by the Smithsonian Institution . The locomotive ran under its own power from Washington, DC , to Chicago to participate, and returned to Washington under its own power again when the exposition closed. In 1981 it was the oldest surviving operable steam locomotive in

2698-590: A very popular exhibit. Eadweard Muybridge gave a series of lectures on the Science of Animal Locomotion in the Zoopraxographical Hall, built specially for that purpose on Midway Plaisance. He used his zoopraxiscope to show his moving pictures to a paying public. The hall was the first commercial movie theater. The "Street in Cairo" included the popular dancer known as Little Egypt . She introduced America to

2840-577: A way to bring together societies fragmented along class lines. The first American attempt at a world's fair in Philadelphia in 1876 drew crowds, but was a financial failure. Nonetheless, ideas about distinguishing the 400th anniversary of Columbus' landing started in the late 1880s. Civic leaders in St. Louis, New York City, Washington DC, and Chicago expressed interest in hosting a fair to generate profits, boost real estate values, and promote their cities. Congress

2982-401: A winter carnival was set up, with toboggan slides, lighting, and music; on other occasions, pigeon shooting contests involving live birds and shotguns were held. An 1897 New York City ordinance forbade the discharge of firearms within the city; Fleetwood Park was noted as one of the specific areas exempted from the prohibition. The exemption was deleted from the ordinance in 1906, as the track

SECTION 20

#1732891722841

3124-511: Is 1000 meters (inner track) with two long sides and two curves. Horses run counterclockwise. The horses are classified by how much prize money they have gained through the entire career of the horse. The classifications are from the lowest and upwards: Stallions (and castrated geldings) are considered a little better in general. In pure mare horse races, horses from higher classification get 20, 40 or up to 60 meter extra to run. Distance addition occurs also in races between classes. An example of such

3266-559: Is a combined thoroughbred and standardbred track, while another is only used once every year. So the only "pure" thoroughbred track in Sweden is Bro Park . At Solvalla in the suburbs of Stockholm the premier Standardbred mile race is held in late May every year, Elitloppet ( the Elite race ). Other important annual races are Svenskt travkriterium , a race restricted to three-year-olds, also hosted at Solvalla and Swedish Trotting Derby (open for

3408-542: Is an Australasian champion Standardbred notable for being a three-time Australian Harness Horse of the Year and three-time winner of the Inter Dominion (2011 - 2013). I'm Themightyquinn won over AUD 4.5 million in its career. Races can be conducted in two differing gaits: trotting and pacing. The difference is that a trotter moves its legs forward in diagonal pairs (right front and left hind, then left front and right hind striking

3550-421: Is important, while the longer stretch run of a mile track favors horses with late speed for come-from-behind wins. Usually, several drivers will contend for the lead away from the gate. They then try to avoid getting "boxed in" as the horses form into two lines – one on the rail and the other outside – in the second quarter-mile. They may decide to go to the front; to race on the front on the outside ("first over",

3692-410: Is modern-day Teller Avenue was originally named Fleetwood Avenue, after the track. The name was later changed to Teller Avenue, honoring Richard H. Teller, a member of the 1868 commission which authorized the first official street map of Morrisania, published in 1871. For most of the track's lifetime, trotting races were run on the 1-mile (1.6 km) (one source says 1.25-mile (2.0 km)) oval by

3834-432: Is not universal.). An additional lane is available to the inside of where the rail would have been. If the race leader is positioned on the rail at the top of the homestretch, that leader is required by rule to maintain that line (or move further out), while horses behind the leader can move into the open lane with room to pass the leader if possible. This solves a common problem, in which trailing horses are "boxed in" (behind

3976-750: Is part of the Pacing Triple Crown . Important Canadian races include the North America Cup , the Canadian Pacing Derby , the Maple Leaf Trot , the Gold Cup and Saucer, and the Mohawk Million. The harness racing industry conducts an annual Grand Circuit , which includes many of the most prestigious races for both pacers and trotters. Founded in 1871 and first conducted in 1873 at four tracks,

4118-414: Is that they often wear hobbles (straps connecting the legs on each of the horse's sides). The pace is an unnatural gait for horses, and hobbles are used to maintain the gait at top speed; trotting hobbles (which employ a different design, due to the difference in the gait) are becoming increasingly popular for the same reason. Most harness races start from behind a motorized starting gate , also known as

4260-476: Is the number one game to bet on. The winner of seven (pre-decided) races (with 12 or 15 horses) is to be picked. One single "row" is very cheap to play, but people usually play large systems, picking the winner in one or two of the races and several horses in the other races. The price for a system grows rapidly if many horses are picked in a race. Price for one "row" is 1/2 SEK (approximately 0,05 euro) but if, for instance, betting on 2, 5, 1, 7, 7, 1 and 4 horses in

4402-423: Is the richest Standardbred horse in the world. Foiled Again retired on January 1, 2019, but the then 15-year-old gelding left an indelible mark in harness racing annals. He compiled a 331/109–70–46 record and earned an all-time record US$ 7,635,588 in purse money. In one of his last races at Rosecroft Raceway, he beat the then 10 year old career winner of over $ 600,000, Real Flight. I'm Themightyquinn (foaled 2004)

Fleetwood Park Racetrack - Misplaced Pages Continue

4544-425: Is their fastest winning time at that distance. Harness races involve a good deal of strategy. Though the vast majority of races are one mile, races are contested on several different size tracks. The most common are 1/2 mile, 5/8 mile, and 1-mile tracks. Certain horses are better on the smaller tracks and others are better on the 1-mile tracks because there are fewer turns. Also, on the shorter tracks, early speed

4686-482: The New York Ledger , was a member, as was his brother David, who at one time served as president. For most of its history, the track failed to turn a profit, the shortfall being made up annually from financial assessments of the membership. Economic pressures forced the track to close in 1898, and within two years the property was being subdivided into residential building lots. One of the few remaining vestiges of

4828-745: The Niña (real name Santa Clara ), the Pinta , and the Santa María . These were intended to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the Americas. The ships were constructed in Spain and then sailed to America for the exposition. The celebration of Columbus was an intergovernmental project, coordinated by American special envoy William Eleroy Curtis , the Queen Regent of Spain , and Pope Leo XIII . The ships were

4970-784: The Australian Pacing Championship . The most prestigious events for three-year-olds including the Victoria Derby , the New South Wales Derby and the Australian Derby . For the younger horses there are series that stem from yearling sales including the Australian Pacing Gold and an Australasian Breeders Crown . In New Zealand the major races include the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup as well as

5112-521: The Baháʼí Faith in North America; it was not taken seriously by European scholars until the 1960s. Along the banks of the lake, patrons on the way to the casino were taken on a moving walkway designed by architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee , the first of its kind open to the public, called The Great Wharf, Moving Sidewalk , it allowed people to walk along or ride in seats. Horticultural exhibits at

5254-793: The Chicago World's Fair , was a world's fair held in Chicago from May 5 to October 31, 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus 's arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, held in Jackson Park , was a large water pool representing the voyage that Columbus took to the New World. Chicago won the right to host the fair over several competing cities, including New York City , Washington, D.C. , and St. Louis . The exposition

5396-541: The Harlem Railroad Company was also using the name "Fleetwood" in reference to a new rail station they were considering building in the area. The area around Morris Avenue and 165th Street is still referred to as the Fleetwood neighborhood of the Bronx. In 1870, William Morris leased part of his estate to two brothers, Henry and Philip Dater, for a 20-year term. The Daters opened a racing track on June 8, 1871, on

5538-722: The Harlem River Speedway opened. This was a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) public roadway running from 155th Street to Dyckman Street , built on unused land in High Bridge Park along the shoreline of the Manhattan side of the Harlem River . It was intended to be used for trotters ( sulkies , ridden horses, and bicycles were all prohibited), and built in lieu of previously approved plans for a trotting track in Central Park . In 1997,

5680-474: The Netherlands , Malta , Russia , United Kingdom and Estonia . In Italy "trotto" is as popular as "galoppo". Almost all North American races are at a distance of one mile (1,609 m). Most races are run on tracks constructed solely for harness racing (some with banked turns), but a few tracks conduct both harness and Thoroughbred flat racing. North American harness horses earn a "mark" (a record), which

5822-743: The New York Ledger and trotting aficionado had his stables nearby. Robert's younger brother, David, was also a member of the New York Driving Club and at one time served as its president. Robert was well known for paying large sums for horses; in 1884 he bought Maud S. from William H. Vanderbilt (William K.'s father) for $ 40,000 (equivalent to $ 1,400,000 in 2023). Five years later, he purchased Sunol from Leland Stanford for an unknown price only disclosed as being higher than that of Maud S. Other notable attendees included former US president Ulysses S. Grant , who sometimes also drove horses at

Fleetwood Park Racetrack - Misplaced Pages Continue

5964-550: The New York Times called "the greatest performance ever made in harness" at Fleetwood on September 1, 1893. The club lost money most years. In 1893, the New York Times wrote: Year in and year out the Treasurer of Gotham's driving club has been the one official who has accepted the post with reluctance and relinquished it with a sigh of relief; happy if he could leave his financial statement painfully balanced by an assessment on

6106-415: The New York Times described the speedway as: ...   a $ 5 million bread-and-circuses project built to serve both the rich – who wanted a racing ground for their fast trotters – and the not-so-rich, who were supposed to watch. Several years earlier, Robert Bonner had written: Interest in trotting has not fallen off but owners of horses remain away from Fleetwood because the streets and roads leading to

6248-953: The New Zealand Free For All , Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile and the New Zealand Messenger Championship . There are also the New Zealand Derby and the Great Northern Derby for three-year-olds, and the Dominion Handicap and Rowe Cup for trotters. The Harness Jewels raceday (the end-of-year championships for two-, three- and four-year-olds) takes place in late May/early June The major open races in Australia and New Zealand are brought together in an Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit . The leading harness racing nations in Europe are France, Italy and Sweden, and

6390-831: The " Harness Horse of the Year ." The marquee event of Australasian racing is the Inter Dominion Series, which includes a pacing series and a trotting series. The series is held yearly and rotated around the Australian State Controlling Bodies and once every four years the Inter Dominion Championships are held in New Zealand. The major events for open age pacers in Australia are the Miracle Mile Pace , A.G. Hunter Cup , Victoria Cup and

6532-420: The "running tracks" the horse must be "a fast starter". The start of the races and the starting position (which equals a certain number as explained previously) are indeed important, independent of the start method. A very good horse in a race with weak opponents but with a bad start number (like 12 or higher) may not become the prime favorite due to the bad starting position, especially at short distance. After

6674-589: The Beaux-Arts architecture of the buildings was under the direction of Daniel Burnham, Director of Works for the fair. Renowned local architect Henry Ives Cobb designed several buildings for the exposition. The director of the American Academy in Rome, Francis Davis Millet , directed the painted mural decorations. Indeed, it was a coming-of-age for the arts and architecture of the " American Renaissance ", and it showcased

6816-569: The Charter Oak Club, of Hartford, have decided to consolidate their Grand Circuit meetings this year and to have them decided at the New York track, August 28th to September 4th. This combination will result in one of the grandest trotting meetings ever held in the world, and it will certainly surpass anything New York has ever before been treated to. Two weeks later editor Joseph Simpson explained in

6958-731: The Grand Circuit now visits 20 tracks as of the most recent 2021 season. The most notable harness tracks in North America are the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey , Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York , The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky , and Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ontario . Since 1947, the "United States Harness Writers" Association annually votes for

7100-440: The Horticultural Hall included cacti and orchids as well as other plants in a greenhouse . Most of the buildings of the fair were designed in the neoclassical architecture style. The area at the Court of Honor was known as The White City . Façades were made not of stone, but of a mixture of plaster, cement, and jute fiber called staff , which was painted white, giving the buildings their "gleam". Architecture critics derided

7242-419: The Louisiana Pavilion were each given a seedling of a cypress tree. This resulted in the spread of cypress trees to areas where they were not native. Cypress trees from those seedlings can be found in many areas of West Virginia, where they flourish in the climate. The Illinois was a detailed, full-scale mockup of an Indiana -class battleship , constructed as a naval exhibit. The German firm Krupp had

SECTION 50

#1732891722841

7384-435: The New York Driving Club renewed its lease with a $ 2,500 (equivalent to $ 92,000 in 2023) reduction in rent. Pressure from real-estate developers led to the track being closed the next year with the last meeting held on October 8, 1897. The track was permanently closed on January 1, 1898, when the city began constructing streets on the property. By the end of that month, the New York Driving Club had met to consider building

7526-430: The New York Driving Club was admitted to the Grand Circuit, along with another club in Detroit. This brought the Grand Circuit up to nine clubs: Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Springfield (Massachusetts), Hartford, New York, and Philadelphia, allowing it to better compete with the Western-Southern Circuit. The clubs also agreed to increase cooperation with each other and made it more difficult to expand

7668-407: The New York Driving Club. In 1892 The Sun's Guide described Fleetwood as "For a time   ... the most famous trotting track in the country". The Guide noted, however, that interest in harness racing by horse owners had waned, the track had "gone into a decline" and that the single annual meeting was "not an important meeting", not being part of harness racing's Grand Circuit . The next year,

7810-523: The United States helped finance, coordinate, and manage the Fair, including Chicago shoe company owner Charles H. Schwab, Chicago railroad and manufacturing magnate John Whitfield Bunn , and Connecticut banking, insurance, and iron products magnate Milo Barnum Richardson , among many others. The fair was planned in the early 1890s during the Gilded Age of rapid industrial growth, immigration, and class tension. World's fairs, such as London's 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition , had been successful in Europe as

7952-436: The World's Columbian Exposition, the answer is Slavery." Ten thousand copies of the pamphlet were circulated in the White City from the Haitian Embassy (where Douglass had been selected as its national representative), and the activists received responses from the delegations of England, Germany, France, Russia, and India. The exhibition did include a limited number of exhibits put on by African Americans, including exhibits by

8094-426: The World's Religions , which ran from September 11 to September 27, marked the first formal gathering of representatives of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions from around the world. According to Eric J. Sharpe , Tomoko Masuzawa , and others, the event was considered radical at the time, since it allowed non-Christian faiths to speak on their own behalf. For example, it is recognized as the first public mention of

8236-494: The ashes of the Great Chicago Fire , which had destroyed much of the city in 1871. On October 9, 1893, the day designated as Chicago Day, the fair set a world record for outdoor event attendance, drawing 751,026 people. The debt for the fair was soon paid off with a check for $ 1.5 million (equivalent to $ 50.9 million in 2023). Chicago has commemorated the fair with one of the stars on its municipal flag . Many prominent civic, professional, and commercial leaders from around

8378-432: The best four-year-old horses) hosted in September at Jägersro in Malmö . The latter race track also hosts the Hugo Åbergs Memorial , which is an international race open for all horses. Other important harness racing arenas in Scandinavia are Åby outside Gothenburg , Mantorp , Axevalla , Bergsåker , Boden (almost at the polar circle ) and Charlottenlund in Danish capital Copenhagen . A betting game called V75

8520-404: The big-time if they have an exceptional horse. The major tracks include Gloucester Park (Perth), Globe Derby Park (Adelaide) Albion Park (Brisbane), Menangle Park Paceway (Sydney), Melton Entertainment Park (Melbourne), Alexandra Park (Auckland) and Addington Raceway (Christchurch). The breeding and racing of standardbred horses is both a dedicated pastime and profession for participants in

8662-548: The biggest races. Trot racing as a sport is often considered dull, but when combined with betting it can rapidly get interesting. The huge popularity of trot betting in Sweden "spills over" to the neighboring Norway (11 racing tracks), Finland (43) and Denmark (9). In Ireland, sulky racing is today associated with the Traveller community , and some with criminal associations, whereby illegal racing takes place on public roads. Trotting sport and betting also exist in Austria , Belgium , Germany , Hungary , Serbia , Italy ,

SECTION 60

#1732891722841

8804-590: The breed. The founding sire of today's Standardbred horse was Messenger , a gray Thoroughbred brought to America in 1788 and purchased by Henry Astor, brother of John Jacob Astor . Astor had the horse for two years on Long Island and then sold him to C.W. Van Rantz. From Messenger came a great-grandson, Hambletonian 10 (1849–1876), a horse who gained a wide following for his racing prowess and successful offspring. The lineage of virtually all North American Standardbred race horses can be traced from four of Hambletonian 10's sons. As of January 1, 2019, Foiled Again

8946-413: The burgeoning neoclassical and Beaux-Arts styles. The fair ended with the city in shock, as popular mayor Carter Harrison Sr. was assassinated by Patrick Eugene Prendergast two days before the fair's closing. Closing ceremonies were canceled in favor of a public memorial service. Jackson Park was returned to its status as a public park, in much better shape than its original swampy form. The lagoon

9088-417: The circuit by requiring a two-thirds vote of existing members to admit any new members. Improvements in preparation for the track's first Grand Circuit meeting included upgrading the grandstand, painting fences, trimming foliage, and enlarging the band stand. A new starter, Frank Walker, was hired with the hopes of speeding up the scoring process. The Sun's Guide lamented that the track was "famous more for

9230-412: The city where there was "not a house to buy and not a rock to blast" and that it would be located so that "the artisan and the farmer and the shopkeeper and the man of humble means" would be able to easily access the fair. Bryan continued to say that the fair was of "vital interest" to the West, and that the West wanted the location to be Chicago. The city spokesmen would continue to stress the essentials of

9372-418: The clear majority of harness racing in Australia and New Zealand are also now for pacers, even though the sport is colloquially still known as 'the trots.' Pacing horses are faster and (most important to the bettor) less likely to break stride (a horse that starts to gallop must be slowed down and taken to the outside until it resumes trotting or pacing). One of the reasons pacers are less likely to break stride

9514-405: The club were "wealthy enough and ardent enough" they could raise the entire cost of the new track by themselves, four or five members being able to immediately contribute $ 150,000 (equivalent to $ 5,500,000 in 2023) the club intended to issue bonds . It was estimated that the total cost to complete the track would be $ 280,000 (equivalent to $ 10,300,000 in 2023). Despite these proclamations, by

9656-401: The early years of the Standardbred stud book , only horses who could trot or pace a mile in a standard time (or whose progeny could do so) of no more than 2 minutes, 30 seconds were admitted to the book. The horses have proportionally shorter legs than Thoroughbreds , and longer bodies. Standardbreds generally have a more placid disposition, due to the admixture of non-Thoroughbred blood in

9798-420: The easiest way to get to the track was by train from Grand Central Depot to Melrose station , a 15-minute trip. People also came by carriage from Manhattan Island, or steamboat from Fulton Market slip in Brooklyn and Peck Slip in Manhattan to the Morrisania dock from which they made connections by horse-drawn coaches. When races were not being held, the grounds were used for other activities. In 1888,

9940-425: The end of 1898, it was announced that the new track would be built in Yonkers and operated by William H. Clark. The following year, the Empire City Trotting Club began operations at Yonkers Raceway . Dirt from the old track was used to grade and fill the private park being installed by Andrew Carnegie for the new Fifth Avenue residence he was building in Manhattan. In 1898 (the same year Fleetwood Park closed)

10082-410: The end of the frontier which Buffalo Bill represented. The electrotachyscope of Ottomar Anschütz was demonstrated, which used a Geissler tube to project the illusion of moving images . Louis Comfort Tiffany made his reputation with a stunning chapel designed and built for the Exposition. After the Exposition the Tiffany Chapel was sold several times, even going back to Tiffany's estate. It

10224-438: The exposition. The exposition covered 690 acres (2.8 km ), featuring nearly 200 new but temporary buildings of predominantly neoclassical architecture, canals and lagoons , and people and cultures from 46 countries. More than 27 million people attended the exposition during its six-month run. Its scale and grandeur far exceeded the other world's fairs , and it became a symbol of emerging American exceptionalism , much in

10366-553: The fair site being referred to as the "White City". The Exposition's offices set up shop in the upper floors of the Rand McNally Building on Adams Street, the world's first all-steel-framed skyscraper. Davis' team organized the exhibits with the help of G. Brown Goode of the Smithsonian . The Midway was inspired by the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition , which included ethnological "villages". Civil rights leaders protested

10508-411: The fair site. Daniel H. Burnham was selected as director of works, and George R. Davis as director-general. Burnham emphasized architecture and sculpture as central to the fair and assembled the period's top talent to design the buildings and grounds including Frederick Law Olmsted for the grounds. The temporary buildings were designed in an ornate neoclassical style and painted white, resulting in

10650-479: The fair's official director of color-design, William Pretyman. Pretyman had resigned following a dispute with Burnham. After experimenting, Millet settled on a mix of oil and white lead whitewash that could be applied using compressed air spray painting to the buildings, taking considerably less time than traditional brush painting. Joseph Binks, maintenance supervisor at Chicago's Marshall Field's Wholesale Store , who had been using this method to apply whitewash to

10792-507: The fair, several products that are well-known today were introduced. These products included Juicy Fruit gum, Cream of Wheat , Cracker Jacks , Shredded Wheat cereal, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, among many others. There was an Anthropology Building at the World's Fair. Nearby, "The Cliff Dwellers" featured a rock and timber structure that was painted to recreate Battle Rock Mountain in Colorado,

10934-519: The field gets the bell at signal their final lap. New Zealand racing is quite similar to that of Australia. Many horses are able to easily "cross the Tasman " and compete as well on either side of the sea that separates Australia and New Zealand. In both New Zealand and Australia the same system of an 'open lane' operates, although in Australia it is called a 'sprint lane' and in New Zealand a 'passing lane'. These lanes do not operate on all tracks and have been

11076-423: The first turn. After the initial fight for a good running position, the horses usually form two rows or tracks. Good running positions are the leading position of the inner track or the second (or third) place in the outer track. This is explained by the fact that the outer track is close to 15 meters longer per lap, front running is always heavier compared with just follow behind (just like in cycling). Positions in

11218-477: The ground simultaneously), whereas a pacer moves its legs laterally (right front and right hind together, then left front and left hind). In continental Europe, races are conducted exclusively among trotters, whereas in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States races are also held for pacers. Pacing races constitute 80% to 90% of the harness races conducted in North America - while

11360-618: The grounds of what had previously been the Morris estate. At the time, this was still the Town of Morrisania, in Westchester County; it was annexed into New York City as the borough of the Bronx in 1874. The Daters' venture failed and the property reverted to Morris in 1880. It was leased in 1881 to the New York Driving Club (Gentlemen's Driving Association in some sources), who ran the track as Fleetwood Park. The New York Times observed in 1895 that

11502-510: The help of Chicago Art Institute instructor Lorado Taft to help complete them. Taft's efforts included employing a group of talented women sculptors from the Institute known as "the White Rabbits " to finish some of the buildings, getting their name from Burnham's comment "Hire anyone, even white rabbits if they'll do the work." The words "Thine alabaster cities gleam" from the song " America

11644-416: The industry. The premier events can now have prizemoney exceeding AUD 1 million and recent upgrades to some venues has created world-class facilities for harness racing. Betting revenues have come under pressure from both thoroughbred racing and from expanding opportunities in greyhound racing - however 'the trots' still has a dedicated following and a rich history to enjoy. Friday night is generally regarded as

11786-429: The inner track behind the leader may appear the best. But as described before, overtaking is not an easy manoeuver. And horses in the inner track may very well be trapped all the way to the finish, due to the horses and sulkies in the outer track. On the other hand, if an opening in the outer track appears close to the finish line, such a horse has had "an easy ride" with much strength left to give. The leading position of

11928-414: The lead early; circling the field; moving up an open rail; advancing behind a horse expected to tire and so on. Harness horses accelerate during the final quarter-mile of a race. The finish of a harness race is exciting, and often extremely close. The judges have a photo-finish camera to help them determine the order of finish if needed. Until the 1990s harness tracks featured a rail on the inside, much like

12070-457: The lead to any horse that challenges, often leaving a horse parked outside the leader in the " death seat " or simply "the death" (known as "facing the breeze" in New Zealand), as this horse covers more ground than the leader. Australian racing generally has more horses in each race; a field of 12 or 13 is not uncommon. This generally means that with the smaller tracks a "three-wide train" starts as

12212-471: The leader, with another horse outside). It makes races more wide-open, with potentially higher payoffs — and more attractive to bettors. Australian racing differs from North American racing in that metric distances are used, generally above the equivalent of one mile and horses are classed by how many wins they have. Another large difference is that in Australian racing the leader does not have to hand up

12354-719: The members. The first year of profitable operations was 1893, when the Grand Circuit meeting and "special day profits" provided sufficient income. Major expenses were ground rent ($ 8,000, equivalent to $ 270,000 in 2023) and labor ($ 4,178, equivalent to $ 142,000 in 2023). Income was mostly from initiation fees, dues, and "transfer members" ($ 12,225, equivalent to $ 415,000 in 2023) and stall rent ($ 4,408, equivalent to $ 149,000 in 2023). The consolidated meeting and special day earned $ 1,183 (equivalent to $ 40,000 in 2023) and $ 1,077 (equivalent to $ 37,000 in 2023) respectively. Sale of manure brought in another $ 10 that year (equivalent to $ 339 in 2023). Charter Oak Park ,

12496-405: The membership. Alfred De Cordova, who had been elected president, stated: We intend to give the new city a driving track that will be a credit to it. The grand stand and stables will be as commodious as any in the country, and when the track is completed the horsemen will see old Fleetwood rise phoenixlike, only the new track will be greatly superior to the old. Cordova noted that while the men in

12638-450: The men who sent their horses there than for great races". Members of the club included William K. Vanderbilt , William Rockefeller , William C. Whitney , Leonard Jerome , Oliver Belmont , Cornelius Bliss , C. Oliver Iselin , Abram Hewitt and Nathan Straus . The membership varied significantly from year to year; reported as over 500 in 1886, it was down to 290 in 1891 and back up to 400 in 1892. Robert Bonner , owner and publisher of

12780-451: The mobile barrier. The horses commence pacing or trotting and line up behind a hinged gate mounted on a moving motor vehicle, which then leads them to the starting line. At the line, the wings of the gate are folded up and the vehicle accelerates away from the horses. Another kind of start is a standing start, where there are tapes or imaginary lines across the track behind which the horses either stand stationary or trot in circles in pairs in

12922-542: The one at Thoroughbred tracks. This "hub rail" was replaced with a row of short pylons (usually of a flexible material), which mark the inside boundary of the course. This change was mainly for safety reasons; it allows a driver to pull off to the inside of the course if necessary, such as when their horse breaks stride but they cannot move to the outside due to being boxed in, thus avoiding injury to himself, his horse, and other competitors. This change allowed another innovation, "open-stretch racing". (As of 2011 open-lane racing

13064-542: The opening of the Nebraska Day ceremonies at the fair, which included a reading of her poem "Nebraska". Among the state buildings present at the fair were California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas; each was meant to be architecturally representative of the corresponding states. Four United States territories also had pavilions located in one building: Arizona , New Mexico , Oklahoma , and Utah . Visitors to

13206-445: The outer track, also known as the position of "death", is a very hard position to run and only very strong horses can win from this position. If a horse completes the race from the "death" position, commentators often point that out when announcing the KM pace of the horse. On short distances (1640 meters), the horse that gets the leading position of the inner track has a very good chance to be

13348-453: The place are bad and hard on the animals. And another cause for the lack of interest in Fleetwood is the fact that the track is not as good as it might be. But I am sure when the new Speedway is completed there will be a decided revival in trotting. By the 1910s, motorcar racing had eclipsed trotting and use of the speedway by carriages had fallen to fewer than 100 per day in 1916 and fewer than 20 per day in 1918. Automobiles were allowed onto

13490-634: The premier trotting night although key events will enjoy broader weekend billing. Important annual races include the Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters, the Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old pacers, and the Breeders Crown series of twelve races covering each of the traditional categories of age, gait and sex. The Hambletonian is part of the Trotting Triple Crown and the Little Brown Jug

13632-563: The property to be developed was the block of Clay Avenue between 165th and 166th Streets, with thirty-two buildings (twenty-eight Warren C. Dickerson –designed semi-detached houses, plus three apartment buildings, and one private residence) erected between 1901 and 1910. In 1994, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated this block the Clay Avenue Historic District. What

13774-643: The race in 2016 was 1 million euros, with approximately half of that to the winner. The horses are entered in the race based on lifetime earnings, unless they have qualified by performing well in the preceding six qualifying races. Sweden is "the locomotive" of harness racing in Scandinavia. It is a professional all-year event, even at very high latitudes during the winter. In Sweden there are 33 racing tracks, and in Finland 43. For comparison, there are only three thoroughbred racetracks in Sweden. One of them ( Jägersro )

13916-426: The record for fastest heat by a four-year-old. Goldsmith Maid (1857–1885) earned an estimated $ 364,200 (equivalent to $ 12,350,000 in 2023) over 13 years, which was a prize-money record for half a century. Jay-Eye-See (1878–1909) and St. Julien (1869–1894) raced against each other on September 29, 1883. Nancy Hanks (1886–1915), owned by John Malcolm Forbes , held a series of world-record times including what

14058-462: The refusal to include an African American exhibit. Frederick Douglass , Ida B. Wells , Irvine Garland Penn , and Ferdinand Lee Barnet co-authored a pamphlet entitled "The Reason Why the Colored American is not in the World's Columbian Exposition – The Afro-American's Contribution to Columbian Literature" addressing the issue. Wells and Douglass argued, "when it is asked why we are excluded from

14200-505: The region, J. D. Dana described Fleetwood Park as "low and nearly flat, except its western side" and theorized this (along with other features of the area) was caused by limestone belts which were subject to easy erosion. Dana writes: The limestone area No. 2   ... joins that already described through the region of Fleetwood Park   ... The northern limit of the belt is about two miles north of McComb's (or Central) Bridge. At this north extremity   ... two valleys come up from

14342-423: The relatively level land. The exact location of his track is unclear; it may have occupied the site which eventually became Fleetwood Park, or it may have been further north, adjacent to what is now Claremont Park. It is unknown how long the Morris track lasted, and there is no further record of racing in the immediate area until 1870. Two other racetracks operated in the Bronx at around the same time. Jerome Park ,

14484-794: The same publication: Several of the State Legislatures have recently manifested an inclination to abolish racing in all its forms, because of the abuses to which it had been subject. Restrictive laws have been passed in Maine, in Connecticut, in New Jersey, and in Illinois   ... In Connecticut the feeling became so powerful that the Legislature absolutely prohibited any public contests of skill or speed in which

14626-530: The same way that the Great Exhibition became a symbol of the Victorian era United Kingdom. Dedication ceremonies for the fair were held on October 21, 1892, but the fairgrounds were not opened to the public until May 1, 1893. The fair continued until October 30, 1893. In addition to recognizing the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the New World, the fair served to show the world that Chicago had risen from

14768-454: The sculptor Edmonia Lewis , a painting exhibit by scientist George Washington Carver , and a statistical exhibit by Joan Imogen Howard . Black individuals were also featured in white exhibits, such as Nancy Green 's portrayal of the character Aunt Jemima for the R. T. Davis Milling Company. The fair opened in May and ran through October 30, 1893. Forty-six nations participated in the fair, which

14910-542: The second volt together with number 8 and higher) may get up a better speed after the turn-around but before the starting whistle sounds. Horses may have different initial speed, but must not exceed the starting line before the start signal sounds. Horses number 6 and 7 can both get a better speed at the starting line, and there are no horses in front of them. Due to this number 6 and number 7 are known as "running tracks" at volt starting. Horses 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, 14, 15 have all horses in front of them. But to get advantage of

15052-466: The seven races the price multiplies as 0.5 × 2 × 5 × 1 × 7 × 7 × 1 × 4 = 980 SEK (approximately 92 euro). The bettors win money if they get all seven, six or five horses right within the system. But the difference between picking all 7 winners and just five is huge, in terms of money to win. V75 races are of distances 1640 m ("short"), 2140 m ("normal"), 2640 m ("long") and rarely 3140 m ("extra long"). The race track's length most usually

15194-485: The south and meet [the more eastern one] passes into Fleetwood Park. The limestone of Morrisania extends westward over three-fourths of Fleetwood Park and then northward   ... The high land between the two valleys forming the western side of Fleetwood Park consists mainly of schist . Horses had been raced in the Fleetwood Park area as early as 1750, on a racecourse built by Staats Long Morris who took advantage of

15336-473: The southwest corner of the track, adjacent to Sheridan Avenue. The clubhouse, a French Second Empire –style building, had a view of the track from above. Valentine's Manual described the park as "the broad acres of that well-known rendezvous of all lovers of the turf"; the New York Times variously described the track as "oddly-shaped" and "queer-shaped". An 1885 map shows it as roughly rectangular with

15478-490: The speedway in 1919. In the mid-20th century it was incorporated into the modern-day Harlem River Drive . Within a few years of Fleetwood's closing, the property was divided into building lots by real estate developers . By August 1900, the clubhouse was the only structure left standing, and the Union Republican Club considered moving the building to their newly purchased property on 164th Street. The first part of

15620-652: The sport is fairly popular in most northern European countries. Practically all races in Europe are trotting races. The Prix d'Amérique at Vincennes hippodrome near Paris is widely considered to be the most prestigious event of the European racing year. Other notable races include the Elitloppet one-mile race in Solvalla track near Stockholm, Sweden and Gran Premio Lotteria di Agnano in Naples , Italy. A yearly Grand Circuit tour for

15762-402: The start the drivers fight to get a good running position . How well this succeeds depends on the horse, the starting position and how the opponents drive their horses. Due to the sulky width and the oval race track overtaking is a far more difficult manoeuver to achieve, in comparison with gallop racing. The "running position fight" during the start and the beginning of the race usually ends in

15904-436: The starting line for a restart which can cause delays in programming and disrupts betting. The sulky (informally known as a "bike", and also known as a spider) is a light, two-wheeled cart equipped with bicycle wheels. The driver (not a "jockey", as in thoroughbred racing) carries a light whip chiefly used to signal the horse by tapping and to make noise by striking the sulky shaft. There are strict rules as to how and how much

16046-496: The structures as "decorated sheds.” The buildings were clad in white stucco , which, in comparison to the tenements of Chicago, seemed illuminated. It was also called the White City because of the extensive use of street lights, which made the boulevards and buildings usable at night. In 1892, working under extremely tight deadlines to complete construction, director of works Daniel Burnham appointed Francis Davis Millet to replace

16188-463: The subbasement walls of the store, got the job to paint the Exposition buildings. Claims this was the first use of spray painting may be apocryphal since journals from that time note this form of painting had already been in use in the railroad industry from the early 1880s. Many of the buildings included sculptural details and, to meet the Exposition's opening deadline, chief architect Burnham sought

16330-400: The suggestive version of the belly dance known as the " hootchy-kootchy ," to a tune said to have been improvised by Sol Bloom (and now more commonly associated with snake charmers) which he had composed when his dancers had no music to dance to. Bloom did not copyright the song, putting it immediately in the public domain . Also included was the first moving walkway or travelator, which

16472-646: The top trotters includes a number of prestigious European races. All notable racing nations also host their own highly regarded premier events for young horses. Monté (races to saddle) have recently been introduced in larger scale in Sweden and Norway , to increase interest and recruitment to the sport. Saddled events are also commonplace in France and though less frequent, they are not considered exceptional in other European trotting nations. World%27s Columbian Exposition The World's Columbian Exposition , also known as

16614-430: The track had reached 25 years of continuous operation that year, outlasting many of the other trotting tracks of its day. The paper noted that $ 200,000 (equivalent to $ 6,300,000 in 2023) had been invested in grading the terrain of the Morris estate to make it suitable for racing. A depression at the southeastern end had been filled and rocks at the northern end had to be removed by rock blasting and cutting . In 1896,

16756-479: The track is the meandering route of 167th Street, which runs along a portion of the old racecourse. Fleetwood Park was located in the town of Morrisania, Westchester County (now the Morrisania section of the Bronx ), on the west side of Railroad (now Park ) Avenue. This area lies between Webster and Sheridan Avenues and 165th and 167th Streets on the modern Bronx street grid. The covered grandstand, clubhouse, judges' stand, and other buildings were clustered along

16898-465: The track. Grant's skill with horses was well-known; he could ride, drive and train them as required. Modern-day Grant Avenue, named after the president, bisects the old racecourse; the track crossed it at what is now East 164th Street. Also named after the president was the Grant Hotel, frequented by the jockeys. This was located across the contemporary College Avenue from Robert Bonner's house, which

17040-465: The whip may be used; in some jurisdictions (like Norway), whips are forbidden. For exercising or training, the drivers use what is known as a "jog cart", which is a sulky that is heavier and bulkier than a racing unit. The Prix d'Amérique is considered to be the number-one trotting race in the world. It is held annually at the gigantic Vincennes hippodrome in eastern Paris late in January. The purse for

17182-524: The winner. At longer races (with rather even competitors) running positions like second or third in the outer track have good chances, especially if the inner track horses get trapped behind a weakening front horse. Though all kind of trot betting in terms of money, is the most popular type of betting in Sweden, attendances at the races do not correspond to this. Even when "the V75 circuit comes to town" attendance rarely exceeds 5000 people. Larger crowds only gather at

17324-582: The world when it ran under its own power again. A Baldwin 2-4-2 locomotive was showcased at the exposition, and subsequently the 2-4-2 type was known as the Columbia . An original frog switch and portion of the superstructure of the famous 1826 Granite Railway in Massachusetts could be viewed. This was the first commercial railroad in the United States to evolve into a common carrier without an intervening closure. The railway brought granite stones from

17466-510: Was "no longer used as [a] shooting ground". In 1889, Fleetwood Park and nearby Claremont Park were considered as possible sites for an 1892 World's Fair . The fair was to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the New World . In 1890, however, the US Congress designated Chicago as the host city for the World's Columbian Exposition . In an 1881 study of the geology of

17608-856: Was 264 feet (80 m) high and had 36 cars, each of which could accommodate 40 people. The importance of the Columbian Exposition is highlighted by the use of rueda de Chicago ("Chicago wheel") in many Latin American countries such as Costa Rica and Chile in reference to the Ferris wheel . One attendee, George C. Tilyou , later credited the sights he saw on the Chicago midway for inspiring him to create America's first major amusement park, Steeplechase Park in Coney Island , New York. The fair included life-size reproductions of Christopher Columbus' three ships,

17750-648: Was Chicago banker Lyman Gage , who raised several million additional dollars in a 24-hour period, over and above New York's final offer. Chicago representatives not only fought for the world's fair for monetary reasons, but also for reasons of practicality. In a Senate hearing held in January 1890, representative Thomas Barbour Bryan argued that the most important qualities for a world's fair were "abundant supplies of good air and pure water", "ample space, accommodations and transportation for all exhibits and visitors". He argued that New York had too many obstructions, and Chicago would be able to use large amounts of land around

17892-576: Was a local train to shuttle tourists from the Chicago Grand Central Station to the fair. The newly built Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad also served passengers from Congress Terminal to the fairgrounds at Jackson Park . The line exists today as part of the CTA Green Line . Forty-six countries had pavilions at the exposition. Norway participated by sending the Viking ,

18034-486: Was an influential social and cultural event and had a profound effect on American architecture , the arts, American industrial optimism, and Chicago's image. The layout of the Chicago Columbian Exposition was predominantly designed by John Wellborn Root , Daniel Burnham , Frederick Law Olmsted , and Charles B. Atwood . It was the prototype of what Burnham and his colleagues thought a city should be. It

18176-453: Was at the foot of modern-day Bonner Place. Many well-known horses competed at Fleetwood. Perhaps the most famous was Maud S. (1874–1900), who held seven world-record times set over the span of six years. She was renowned for the high price Bonner paid for her. Alix (1888–1901), known as the "Queen of the Turf", was the world trotting champion for six years, and Directum (1889–1909) at one time held

18318-402: Was called on to decide the location. New York financiers J. P. Morgan , Cornelius Vanderbilt , and William Waldorf Astor , among others, pledged $ 15 million to finance the fair if Congress awarded it to New York, while Chicagoans Charles T. Yerkes , Marshall Field , Philip Armour , Gustavus Swift , and Cyrus McCormick, Jr. , offered to finance a Chicago fair. What finally persuaded Congress

18460-409: Was claimed to be able to penetrate at 2,200 yards a wrought-iron plate three feet thick if placed at right angles." Nicknamed "The Thunderer", the gun had an advertised range of 15 miles. On this occasion John Schofield declared Krupps' guns "the greatest peacemakers in the world". This gun was later seen as a precursor of the company's World War I Dicke Berta howitzers. The 1893 Parliament of

18602-486: Was closed on Sunday, it would restrict those who could not take off work during the work-week from seeing it. The exposition was located in Jackson Park and on the Midway Plaisance on 630 acres (2.5 km ) in the neighborhoods of South Shore, Jackson Park Highlands, Hyde Park , and Woodlawn . Charles H. Wacker was the director of the fair. The layout of the fairgrounds was created by Frederick Law Olmsted, and

18744-548: Was closing (the university has since developed south of the Midway). The university's football team, the Maroons, were the original " Monsters of the Midway ." The exposition is mentioned in the university's alma mater : "The City White hath fled the earth, / But where the azure waters lie, / A nobler city hath its birth, / The City Gray that ne'er shall die." The World's Columbian Exposition

18886-486: Was designed by architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee . It had two different divisions: one where passengers were seated, and one where riders could stand or walk. It ran in a loop down the length of a lakefront pier to a casino. Although denied a spot at the fair, Buffalo Bill Cody decided to come to Chicago anyway, setting up his Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show just outside the edge of the exposition. Nearby, historian Frederick Jackson Turner gave academic lectures reflecting on

19028-453: Was designed to follow Beaux-Arts principles of design, namely neoclassical architecture principles based on symmetry, balance, and splendor. The color of the material generally used to cover the buildings' façades, white staff , gave the fairgrounds its nickname, the White City. Many prominent architects designed its 14 "great buildings". Artists and musicians were featured in exhibits and many also made depictions and works of art inspired by

19170-880: Was discovered at 8:00   am. Two horses, one worth $ 10,000 (equivalent to $ 339,000 in 2023), perished; another horse and his keeper were injured. Total damages to the buildings and horses was $ 20,000 (equivalent to $ 509,000 in 2023). Forty stalls were destroyed which the club intended to rebuild along with an additional 25 to 30 stalls, bringing the total to about 300. Harness racing In North America, harness races are restricted to Standardbred horses, although European racehorses may also be French Trotters or Russian Trotters , or have mixed ancestry with lineages from multiple breeds. Orlov Trotters race separately in Russia . The light cold-blooded Coldblood trotters and Finnhorses race separately in Finland , Norway and Sweden . Standardbreds are so named because in

19312-523: Was eventually reconstructed and restored and in 1999 it was installed at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art . Architect Kirtland Cutter 's Idaho Building , a rustic log construction, was a popular favorite, visited by an estimated 18 million people. The building's design and interior furnishings were a major precursor of the Arts and Crafts movement . Among the other attractions at

19454-435: Was organized as a cooperative to build homes for "tradesmen, employees, and other persons of small means". "Monticello" was originally chosen as the name for this new settlement, although Fleetwood was one of several in consideration. This was soon changed to "Monticello City", and again in 1851 to " Mount Vernon" . By 1852, newspaper advertisements were being placed which referred to the development as "Fleetwood". In 1855,

19596-554: Was part of trotting's Grand Circuit , one travel guide calling it "the most famous trotting track in the country". The track operated under several managements between 1870 and 1898. Most notable was the New York Driving Club , consisting of many wealthy New York businessmen, including members of the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller families as well as former US president Ulysses S. Grant . Robert Bonner , owner and publisher of

19738-506: Was reshaped to give it a more natural appearance, except for the straight-line northern end where it still laps up against the steps on the south side of the Palace of Fine Arts/Museum of Science & Industry building. The Midway Plaisance , a park-like boulevard which extends west from Jackson Park, once formed the southern boundary of the University of Chicago , which was being built as the fair

19880-454: Was the first world's fair to have national pavilions. They constructed exhibits and pavilions and named national "delegates"; for example, Haiti selected Frederick Douglass to be its delegate. The Exposition drew over 27 million visitors. The fair was originally meant to be closed on Sundays, but the Chicago Woman's Club petitioned that it stay open. The club felt that if the exposition

20022-462: Was the first world's fair with an area for amusements that was strictly separated from the exhibition halls. This area, developed by a young music promoter, Sol Bloom , concentrated on Midway Plaisance and introduced the term "midway" to American English to describe the area of a carnival or fair where sideshows are located. It included carnival rides, among them the original Ferris Wheel , built by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. This wheel

20164-428: Was waived in an attempt to draw spectators. On January 12, 1870, two men were seriously injured when a blasting charge exploded prematurely. The men had prepared the charge and were about to ignite it when it exploded for unknown reasons. On March 2, 1870, there was another explosion. Nitroglycerin —being used to clear rocks the previous day—had leaked into rock fissures beyond the intended location; this exploded when

#840159