The Kentucky Association (also known as the Kentucky Racing Association[1]) was formed on July 23, 1826, to promote the breeding and racing of Thoroughbred horses in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. The "oldest turf organization in America",[1] it was founded by a group of prominent locals, who included planter and politician Henry Clay, Jesse Bledsoe, Dr. Elisha Warfield, and Thomas F. Marshall. Between 1828 and 1834, the Association acquired 65 acres of land in an area of the city of Lexington, Kentucky that today is the east end of 5th Street at Race Street. On the property, the Association built a one-mile dirt racetrack with grandstand and stables to host Thoroughbredflat racing events.
After more than six decades of success, financial problems led to the track being sold in 1890 to a group of investors. The economic depression following the Panic of 1893 was a serious blow, and financial difficulties plagued the new owners. Given the low economy, they had difficulty attracting horses for important events such as the 1896 Ashland Oaks, which the New York Times described as a farce after it drew only two entries.[2] Facing imminent foreclosure, on March 18, 1897, the track was put up for sale.[3] The status of the track remained in limbo for four years until Charles Green of St. Louis, Missouri, who had been a Trustee for the stockholders, purchased the track in 1901 for $1 plus other considerations.[4]
April 1906 fireedit
In April 1906 a fire broke out at the track, which quickly spread to the surrounding private residences. Eighteen area homes were destroyed.
On January 27, 1921, the champion stallion Man o' War arrived in Kentucky. Prior to beginning stud duty at Hinata Farm near Lexington, he was installed at Edward R. Bradley's stable at the Kentucky Association racetrack. A crowd gathered to watch him exercise gallop.
Management and new ownershipedit
Past presidents of the racetrack include John C. Breckinridge and General Leslie Combs.
During 1918–1919, the Kentucky Jockey Club was created to take over the four racetracks in the state, consisting of the Kentucky Association, Churchill Downs, Latonia Race Track, and the Douglas Park Racetrack.[5]
The Kentucky Association racetrack closed in the spring of 1933 and its facilities were torn down in 1935. On April 17, 1933, articles of incorporation were filed for the Keeneland Association; their new racecourse opened in 1935, located about six miles outside of Lexington. Today city roads Versailles and Man O' War Boulevard intersect at one corner. The Kentucky Association racetrack's historic gates were replicated at the Keeneland Race Course.
The historical records for the Kentucky Association (1828 to c.1935) are maintained at the University of Kentucky library's Special Collections & Digital Programs Division.
Referencesedit
^ abE. Polk Johnson, A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities, Volume 2 (Google eBook), Lewis Publishing Company, 1912, p. 758
^"A RACE COURSE TO BE SOLD.; The Kentucky Association in Arrears on Its Interest". The New York Times. 1897-03-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
R. Gerald Alvey (1992). Kentucky Bluegrass Country. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN978-0-87805-544-9.
John Dean Wright (1982). Lexington: Heart of the Bluegrass. Lexington Historical Pub. ISBN978-0-912839-06-6.
The University of Kentucky library's Special Collections & Digital Programs Division
December 20, 2023
kentucky, association, 04639, 48000, 04639, 48000, racetrack, 1920the, also, known, kentucky, racing, association, formed, july, 1826, promote, breeding, racing, thoroughbred, horses, bluegrass, region, kentucky, oldest, turf, organization, america, founded, g. 38 02 47 N 84 28 48 W 38 04639 N 84 48000 W 38 04639 84 48000 Kentucky Association racetrack 1920The Kentucky Association also known as the Kentucky Racing Association 1 was formed on July 23 1826 to promote the breeding and racing of Thoroughbred horses in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky The oldest turf organization in America 1 it was founded by a group of prominent locals who included planter and politician Henry Clay Jesse Bledsoe Dr Elisha Warfield and Thomas F Marshall Between 1828 and 1834 the Association acquired 65 acres of land in an area of the city of Lexington Kentucky that today is the east end of 5th Street at Race Street On the property the Association built a one mile dirt racetrack with grandstand and stables to host Thoroughbred flat racing events Contents 1 Financial difficulties and sale 2 April 1906 fire 3 Notable events 4 Management and new ownership 5 ReferencesFinancial difficulties and sale editAfter more than six decades of success financial problems led to the track being sold in 1890 to a group of investors The economic depression following the Panic of 1893 was a serious blow and financial difficulties plagued the new owners Given the low economy they had difficulty attracting horses for important events such as the 1896 Ashland Oaks which the New York Times described as a farce after it drew only two entries 2 Facing imminent foreclosure on March 18 1897 the track was put up for sale 3 The status of the track remained in limbo for four years until Charles Green of St Louis Missouri who had been a Trustee for the stockholders purchased the track in 1901 for 1 plus other considerations 4 April 1906 fire editIn April 1906 a fire broke out at the track which quickly spread to the surrounding private residences Eighteen area homes were destroyed Notable events editThe Phoenix Stakes now the oldest stakes race in the United States was first run in 1831 as the Phoenix Hotel Handicap at the Kentucky Association track Other important races inaugurated there and still run today include the Ashland Oaks revived as the Ashland Stakes which was named for Henry Clay s Ashland estate plus the Breeders Futurity Stakes 1910 the Blue Grass Stakes 1911 and the Ben Ali Stakes 1917 Some of the notable events that took place at the Kentucky Association Racetrack include On September 16 1876 future Hall of Fame jockey Isaac Burns Murphy earned his first win In 1898 Hall of Fame jockey Jimmy Winkfield got his start On January 27 1921 the champion stallion Man o War arrived in Kentucky Prior to beginning stud duty at Hinata Farm near Lexington he was installed at Edward R Bradley s stable at the Kentucky Association racetrack A crowd gathered to watch him exercise gallop Management and new ownership editPast presidents of the racetrack include John C Breckinridge and General Leslie Combs During 1918 1919 the Kentucky Jockey Club was created to take over the four racetracks in the state consisting of the Kentucky Association Churchill Downs Latonia Race Track and the Douglas Park Racetrack 5 The Kentucky Association racetrack closed in the spring of 1933 and its facilities were torn down in 1935 On April 17 1933 articles of incorporation were filed for the Keeneland Association their new racecourse opened in 1935 located about six miles outside of Lexington Today city roads Versailles and Man O War Boulevard intersect at one corner The Kentucky Association racetrack s historic gates were replicated at the Keeneland Race Course The historical records for the Kentucky Association 1828 to c 1935 are maintained at the University of Kentucky library s Special Collections amp Digital Programs Division References edit a b E Polk Johnson A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce Industry and Modern Activities Volume 2 Google eBook Lewis Publishing Company 1912 p 758 https timesmachine nytimes com timesmachine 1896 05 05 105748304 pdf New York Times A RACE COURSE TO BE SOLD The Kentucky Association in Arrears on Its Interest The New York Times 1897 03 19 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 02 06 https timesmachine nytimes com timesmachine 1901 03 06 117956523 pdf New York Times 2007 R Gerald Alvey 1992 Kentucky Bluegrass Country University Press of Mississippi ISBN 978 0 87805 544 9 John Dean Wright 1982 Lexington Heart of the Bluegrass Lexington Historical Pub ISBN 978 0 912839 06 6 The University of Kentucky library s Special Collections amp Digital Programs Division Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kentucky Association amp oldid 1177096096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
