Agawam Park
| Location | Agawam, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°03′11″N 72°39′43″W / 42.05306°N 72.66194°W |
| Date opened | 1935 |
| Date closed | 1938 |
Agawam Park was an American horse racing track in Agawam, Massachusetts, that was open from 1935 to 1938, when Hampden County, Massachusetts, voted against parimutuel betting.
Beginnings
[edit]On May 17, 1935, a special town meeting approved rezoning Bowles Agawam Airport for parimutuel horse racing.[1] On May 28, the Massachusetts Racing Commission granted the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association a racing license.[2] James J. Curry was the track's first president, but business pressures forced him to resign before construction even began. He was succeeded by Thomas Wells Durant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 22, 1935.[3]
Opening
[edit]The track opened on October 1, 1935.[4] 15,000 spectators attended the day's races but betting was light.[5] On October 16, Seabiscuit won the $2,500 Springfield Handicap.[6]
Struggles
[edit]The track was deeply in debt after its first year and on March 23, 1936, Judge George Clinton Sweeney approved a reorganization of the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association that saw Anderson T. Herd purchase 15,000 shares in the track for $150,000.[7] After Herd took control, James C. Thornton replaced Lou Smith as the track's general manager and Ed Brennan took over as racing secretary.[8]
The track's second meet opened on May 27, 1936. 8,000 people attended the first day of races, which again was plagued by low betting.[9] On August 17, 1936, the track was put up for auction by the Agawam town collector due to unpaid taxes, however, no one bid on the property.[10] On March 29, 1937, Judge Sweeney gave the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association approval to hold races that summer.[11] That August, Paul Bowser sponsored a Grand Circuit meet at Agawam Park.[12]
On November 8, 1938, Hampden County voters rejected a referendum permitting parimutuel betting on horse racing 22,586 votes to 17,487, forcing the closure of Agawam Park.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Agawam Votes Zoning Change to Allow Track". The Boston Globe. May 18, 1935.
- ^ "Race Permit Given Track at Agawam". The Boston Globe. May 29, 1935.
- ^ "Agawam Ground Broken for Horse Racing Plant". The Boston Globe. July 23, 1935.
- ^ Welch, Eddie (October 1, 1935). "Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing Invades Western Part of State on Major Scale as Agawam Opens Today". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Welch, Eddie (October 2, 1935). "Ladfield Captures Opener at Agawam Before 15,000". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Seabiscuit Wins 'Cap at Agawam". The Boston Globe. October 17, 1935.
- ^ "Herd Comes to Aid of Agawam Track". The Boston Globe. March 24, 1936.
- ^ "Agawam Signs Brennan as its Race Secretary". The Boston Globe. April 29, 1936.
- ^ "Only $92,000 Bet at Agawam Opener". The Boston Globe. April 29, 1936.
- ^ "No Bidders at Auction Sale of Agawam Track". The Boston Globe. August 18, 1936.
- ^ "Agawam to Reopen Again This Summer". The Boston Globe. March 30, 1937.
- ^ "Meeting at Agawam to Draw Fast Field". The Boston Globe. July 17, 1937.
- ^ "Vote Against Betting". The New York Times. November 9, 1939.