June is synonymous with the Belmont Stakes, run annually every June at Long Island’s beautiful Belmont Park. For the Turf History Times, Long Island is also synonymous with its legendary 19th-century track, the Union Course. The Times visited the former site of this course in …
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Featured Series Posts
The Great Match Race Series
The Times brings its readers a four-part series on this celebrated match race of 1823 between American Eclipse and Sir Henry, beginning with Part I, "Napoleon Challenges the North."
New Orleans Eclipse Course Series
The Times brings its readers a five-part series on the inaugural New Orleans Jockey Club races over the Eclipse Course in 1837, beginning with Part I, "Captain Oliver's Triumph."
Recent Articles
May News: It’s Preakness Week!
In honor of Preakness Week, we look back at one of the race’s historic winners from 1946, the improbable Triple Crown hero and “Little Chocolate Galloper,” Assault. Here’s one of our favorite quotes about his victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown: “Assault is the name, but …
April News: Let’s Talk Derby—The First Kentucky Derby, Unhorsed by the Louisville Cup
After last year’s upheaval of the racing calendar due to COVID-19, the Kentucky Derby is back to its rightful date on the first Saturday in May, this year falling on May 1. So let’s talk Derby—the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, which was upstaged by another race held during the …
March News: The Louisiana Derby during the 1918–1919 Spanish Flu pandemic, a visit to the old Louisiana Jockey Club clubhouse, and recognition for a Virginia turfman
The Louisiana Derby during the 1918–1919 Spanish Flu pandemic: The 108th Louisiana Derby will be run on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at the Fair Grounds, which has been closed to general spectators during the 2020–2021 race meet; last year’s Louisiana Derby was also run without …
February News: Celebrating Black History Month and Kentucky Derby-Winning Jockey William “Billy” Walker
As part of its effort to honor Black jockeys and trainers who played a significant role in racing history, particularly during the first 30 years of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs inaugurated a new 6-furlong race for 3-year-olds in 2015 called the William Walker Stakes. Held …
January News: On This Race Day in 1852; and Remembering Louisiana Champion Lecomte
On this day in New Orleans in January 1852, racing was cancelled on account of—snow? Mild winters in New Orleans mean that few days, if any, fall below freezing in a given winter, thus snowfall is a rarity. While nineteenth-century race days were often rescheduled due to …
Handy Rules for Laying Out a Race Course
The following “Rules for Laying Out a Race Course” is shared from an 1833 issue of the American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine. Enjoy! …
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Countdown to Another Event of Equine Stars—the Annual Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland
When the Breeders’ Cup is over and the Keeneland November sale is in full swing, another annual event celebrating exceptional equines is on the horizon—the Sporting Art Auction. Now in its eighth year, the auction is a highly anticipated event offering paintings and sculpture in …
Support Retired Thoroughbreds through TRF’s Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies Event!
The Times is pleased to sponsor the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s (TRF) fundraiser Ponies, Pumpkins & Pies, slated for Sunday, October 25th at Pitney Meadows Community Farm in Saratoga Springs, New York. This event will split its proceeds between Pitney Meadows’ …
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It’s Preakness Week! Revisiting Triple Crown Winner Assault’s 1946 Preakness
In honor of Preakness Week, the Times looks back at one of the race’s historic winners from 1946, the improbable Triple Crown hero and “Little Chocolate Galloper,” Assault. In our Kentucky Derby post in May, we shared one of our favorite quotes about his victory in that first …
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The First Kentucky Derby, Unhorsed by the Louisville Cup
It was the first Kentucky Derby, but the race wasn’t the star attraction of the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association’s six-day inaugural spring meeting in 1875. Opening day on Monday, May 17, 1875, drew more than 12,000 attendees to the new track that would later …
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Kentucky, the First Winner of the Travers Stakes, Immortalized in Oil
It’s Travers Week, and we look forward to crowning the next three-year-old champion of the mile-and-a-quarter “Mid-summer Derby” this Saturday at Saratoga Race Track. The race has amassed 150 winners to date, its earliest titleholder being a colt named Kentucky in its inaugural …
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Remembering Edward Troye, America’s Equine Artist of the 19th century, on His Birthday
Saturday, July 12, marks the anniversary of the birth of Edward Troye (1808--1874), America's preeminent animal painter of the 19th century. During his 40-year career in the U.S., the Swiss-born Troye painted commissions of hundreds of prized Thoroughbreds, and was recognized by …
A Poem for this Weekend’s Epsom Derby: Ode to No More Betting on the Races
Racing schedules have been turned upside-down across the globe due to COVID-19, and this Saturday, July 4, will feature the second leg of Britain’s Triple Crown, the Derby Stakes (officially the Investec Derby) at Epsom Downs Race Course—a race that was first inaugurated in 1780 …
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Virtual Tour of Historic Race Track Bar Neir’s Tavern on Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m. EDT
Here's your chance to attend a free virtual tour of Neir's Tavern in Queens, New York, on Thursday evening. This past winter, the Times reported about this historic race track bar that was opened in 1829 by the proprietor of the nearby Union Race Course. Read more about the …
He was called everything from the “Texas Terror” and “Murder, Inc.” to the “Little Chocolate Galloper”—Learn more about Assault, one of 13 Triple Crown champions competing in Saturday’s Virtual Kentucky Derby
Horse racing fans are lamenting that this week is typically Kentucky Derby Week, with the “Run for the Roses” slated for the first Saturday in May. As the Derby has been postponed to the fall, NBC will broadcast a virtual Derby on Saturday, May 2, featuring 13 Triple Crown …
Hello, Old Friend: A Visit With Lexington (Stallion) in Lexington (Kentucky)
While many businesses and other institutions have temporary closed due to COVID-19, some are offering online services, including museums. The Smithsonian, for example, is now offering a variety of online virtual exhibitions and museum tours—see link for more information. Here …
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The Louisiana Derby in history: Did the Spanish Flu impact the race in 1918–1919?
This Saturday marks the 107th running of the Louisiana Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds at the distance of 1 3/16 miles that for the first time will be contested spectator-free at the Fair Grounds Race Course due to COVID-19. This global pandemic has …
It’s February–Time to Celebrate the Birthdays of Two Leaders of the New Orleans Turf
On February 11, we celebrate the birthdays of two leaders of the nineteenth-century New Orleans turf whom we've written about at length here at the Times, both born on this date: Colonel Adam L. Bingaman (2/11/1793—9/6/1869), originally of Natchez, Mississippi, and Duncan F. …
Historic Race Track Bar in Queens Saved from Closure #NeirsForYears
In follow-up to our previous report of the impending closure of Neir's Tavern due to a rent hike, we are pleased to announce the historic bar located in Queens, New York, will remain open for business. Late Friday, news outlets reported that city leaders assisted Neir's owner Loy …
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Neir’s Tavern in Queens, Opened in 1829 by the Union Race Course, Will Close January 12
While in New York for the 2013 Belmont Stakes, Times staff visited Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven, knowing its unique history and ties to the sport of horse racing. Neir's was originally opened in 1829 as The Blue Pump Room by Cadwallader Colden, track proprietor for the nearby Union …
Support & Talk Horses at the Fall Racing Preview Handicapping Party–and Try a “Turf Times T-bred” Cocktail!
We are pleased to share information regarding this Fall Racing Preview Handicapping Party taking place on Thursday, October 3 in Lexington, Kentucky in advance of opening day at Keeneland Race Course. Benefiting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation that supports critical …
“It was a damned rascally decision!” A racing fan’s account of an 1838 horse race disqualification
Even casual fans of the sport of horse racing will recall this year's disqualification of Maximum Security by state stewards in the Kentucky Derby. Let’s revisit another stewards’ inquiry—this one from 1838 concerning Rule 42 and a horse blanket, enforced by the Adams …
Happy Birthday to America’s Equine Artist, Edward Troye
On Friday, July 12, we celebrate the birthday of Edward Troye (1808--1874), America's preeminent animal painter of the 19th century. Readers who have visited Lexington, Kentucky may have unknowingly seen his work across town as "Big Lex," the big blue horse that was adapted from …
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Revisiting Our Guide to the Louisiana Derby
It's Louisiana Derby Week, with the 106th Louisiana Derby slated for Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Fair Grounds Race Course. Brush up on the race's history here in our guide that we contributed to Lady and the Track and US Racing last year. Back again this year for Derby Day will …
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Happy Birthday to Two Pillars of the New Orleans Antebellum Turf
On Monday, February 11, 2019, we celebrate two leaders of 19th c. racing in New Orleans who were born on this day: Colonel Adam L. Bingaman (1793--1869) and Duncan F. Kenner (1813--1887). Read more about their contributions to the sport by revisiting the 1837 Eclipse Course …
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New Year, New Site
The Times is pleased to announce the launch of its upgraded website that offers an improved online and mobile experience for readers. We hope you enjoy it (and agree that it looks stunning) as much as we do! …