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Devonshire Downs

Devonshire Downs, sometimes informally called The Downs, was a horse racing track and multipurpose event facility in Northridge, California. It was located at the southwest corner of Devonshire Street and Zelzah Avenue, east of Reseda Boulevard. The site is now owned by the California State University, Northridge (CSUN), which renamed it North Campus, and leased in part to Medtronic MiniMed.[1][2][3]

1940s edit

In 1943, Helen Dillman and Pete Spears purchased 40 acres for $80,000 with plans to construct a harness racing track, but a wartime construction moratorium temporarily put the project on hold. Weekly Sunday afternoon harness races, called matinees, began in 1946. The State of California bought the property for $140,000 in 1948, at which time it also became the home of the 51st District Agricultural Association's annual San Fernando Valley Fair.

1950s edit

During the 1950s, as the San Fernando Valley's population boomed and tract housing rapidly replaced Northridge's citrus groves and small ranches, the venue increasingly served to host a wide variety of mostly non-equestrian expositions, festivals, carnivals, concerts, swap meets, rallies and other events.[4] These alternative uses eventually predominated. A new California State College campus was built on adjacent land and opened in 1958 as San Fernando Valley State College, which soon became the owner of Devonshire Downs.

1960s edit

During the 1960s, poor track maintenance and declining interest in the sport led to the end of horse racing at the facility. The last race horse was removed in 1971.[5] In the same year, the college, which became California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1972, built a football stadium on some of the acreage. Other parts of the property continued to be put to diverse uses. During the first half of the 1980s, Devonshire Downs was the venue for numerous hardcore punk rock shows. Devonshire Downs is most widely known for hosting the three-day Newport Pop Festival in June 1969, also known as Newport '69, featuring Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker and nearly thirty other top acts.[6] With over 200,000 people attending the festival over three days, it was the by far the largest music event in the United States up to that time.[7]

1970s edit

While the San Fernando Valley Fair utilized Devonshire Downs as its venue as early as the 1950s,[8][9] the fair hit its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s,[10] finally moving away from Northridge in the late 1980s.[11][12]

Later years edit

In 2001, the football stadium and practically everything else was razed and most of the land was leased out for development as a private industrial park.[13] CSUN also developed part of the property for housing needs related to the University.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ "North Campus Development Corporation". California State University, Northridge. 18 April 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Gregory J. Wilcox for the LA Daily News. 11 June 2015 Medtronic Diabetes laying off more than 400 at Northridge site
  3. ^ Lucas, Michael P. (May 9, 2000). "CSUN and MiniMed Seek Synergy on Campus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  4. ^ An undated flier touts the facility's amenities and versatility. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  5. ^ Murphy, J. "The Downs: Though Harness Racing's Bustling Sights and Shrill Sounds Have All Faded, Sparkling Memories of the Sport Linger On". The Los Angeles Times, 1985-10-27. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  6. ^ Beardsley, J. "Newport '69, a retrospect". LA Observed, 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  7. ^ Wharton, David (August 6, 1989). "The Lost Love-In : It was the Woodstock they forgot: Newport '69, Los Angeles' own weekend of music, masses and mayhem". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  8. ^ "San Fernando Valley's Fair Opening Today". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 1951. p. 32.
  9. ^ "Devonshire Downs Fair Will Open Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. August 27, 1952. p. B9.
  10. ^ O'Shaughnessy, Lynn (July 18, 1985). "Beginning Four-Day Run : Fair Officials Stay Hopeful Despite Cloudy Past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Lozano, Carlos V. (July 12, 1988). "Fair Opens for a Last Fling at the Old Stand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Puig, Claudia (February 12, 1988). "Valley Fair to Be Held at CSUN; Move to Pierce College Delayed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Kowalick, Vince (September 16, 2000). "Northridge Preparing to Leave Shabby Home". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Senzee, Thom (November 2007). "Remember the Ponies at Devonshire Downs? They're Coming Back -- Or at least the Downs Are" (PDF). Community News. Retrieved September 1, 2023.

devonshire, downs, sometimes, informally, called, downs, horse, racing, track, multipurpose, event, facility, northridge, california, located, southwest, corner, devonshire, street, zelzah, avenue, east, reseda, boulevard, site, owned, california, state, unive. Devonshire Downs sometimes informally called The Downs was a horse racing track and multipurpose event facility in Northridge California It was located at the southwest corner of Devonshire Street and Zelzah Avenue east of Reseda Boulevard The site is now owned by the California State University Northridge CSUN which renamed it North Campus and leased in part to Medtronic MiniMed 1 2 3 Contents 1 1940s 2 1950s 3 1960s 4 1970s 5 Later years 6 References1940s editIn 1943 Helen Dillman and Pete Spears purchased 40 acres for 80 000 with plans to construct a harness racing track but a wartime construction moratorium temporarily put the project on hold Weekly Sunday afternoon harness races called matinees began in 1946 The State of California bought the property for 140 000 in 1948 at which time it also became the home of the 51st District Agricultural Association s annual San Fernando Valley Fair 1950s editDuring the 1950s as the San Fernando Valley s population boomed and tract housing rapidly replaced Northridge s citrus groves and small ranches the venue increasingly served to host a wide variety of mostly non equestrian expositions festivals carnivals concerts swap meets rallies and other events 4 These alternative uses eventually predominated A new California State College campus was built on adjacent land and opened in 1958 as San Fernando Valley State College which soon became the owner of Devonshire Downs 1960s editDuring the 1960s poor track maintenance and declining interest in the sport led to the end of horse racing at the facility The last race horse was removed in 1971 5 In the same year the college which became California State University Northridge CSUN in 1972 built a football stadium on some of the acreage Other parts of the property continued to be put to diverse uses During the first half of the 1980s Devonshire Downs was the venue for numerous hardcore punk rock shows Devonshire Downs is most widely known for hosting the three day Newport Pop Festival in June 1969 also known as Newport 69 featuring Jethro Tull Jimi Hendrix Joe Cocker and nearly thirty other top acts 6 With over 200 000 people attending the festival over three days it was the by far the largest music event in the United States up to that time 7 1970s editWhile the San Fernando Valley Fair utilized Devonshire Downs as its venue as early as the 1950s 8 9 the fair hit its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s 10 finally moving away from Northridge in the late 1980s 11 12 Later years editIn 2001 the football stadium and practically everything else was razed and most of the land was leased out for development as a private industrial park 13 CSUN also developed part of the property for housing needs related to the University 14 References edit North Campus Development Corporation California State University Northridge 18 April 2013 Retrieved February 4 2022 Gregory J Wilcox for the LA Daily News 11 June 2015 Medtronic Diabetes laying off more than 400 at Northridge site Lucas Michael P May 9 2000 CSUN and MiniMed Seek Synergy on Campus Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 1 2023 An undated flier touts the facility s amenities and versatility Retrieved 2013 11 06 Murphy J The Downs Though Harness Racing s Bustling Sights and Shrill Sounds Have All Faded Sparkling Memories of the Sport Linger On The Los Angeles Times 1985 10 27 Retrieved 2013 11 05 Beardsley J Newport 69 a retrospect LA Observed 2009 06 17 Retrieved 2013 11 05 Wharton David August 6 1989 The Lost Love In It was the Woodstock they forgot Newport 69 Los Angeles own weekend of music masses and mayhem Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 1 2023 San Fernando Valley s Fair Opening Today Los Angeles Times August 30 1951 p 32 Devonshire Downs Fair Will Open Tomorrow Los Angeles Times August 27 1952 p B9 O Shaughnessy Lynn July 18 1985 Beginning Four Day Run Fair Officials Stay Hopeful Despite Cloudy Past Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 1 2023 Lozano Carlos V July 12 1988 Fair Opens for a Last Fling at the Old Stand Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 1 2023 Puig Claudia February 12 1988 Valley Fair to Be Held at CSUN Move to Pierce College Delayed Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 1 2023 Kowalick Vince September 16 2000 Northridge Preparing to Leave Shabby Home Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 1 2023 Senzee Thom November 2007 Remember the Ponies at Devonshire Downs They re Coming Back Or at least the Downs Are PDF Community News Retrieved September 1 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Devonshire Downs amp oldid 1173390771, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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