Rockingham Park, sad, . . .

[beaujolais]

Below is a link to a great article. Also, click on the word “here” which is a hyperlink, above the Cairo Prince ad, for some great/chilling/sad/artistic photos. (I have a thing too, for exploring & photographing old raceways, even though it is sad & tragic. I guess I see it as a way of remembering/holding onto what is left.)

Who’s been to Rockingham? I was back when they had harness racing. I thought it was adorable, with New England charm, even if it was little beat up.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/one-last-look-110-year-old-rockingham-park/

[Shammy_Davis]

Looks like RP will be distantly competing for fans along with Laurel and PARX this weekend. Sadly, an auction and not racing.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/215185/auction-planned-at-rockingham-park

Here is a dated article with some memories of its 110 year history.

http://nhpr.org/post/remembering-rockingham-park-story-prestige-and-decline

[beaujolais]

Thank you for the articles. Near apocalyptic . . .

[Shammy_Davis]

[QUOTE=beaujolais;8855136]
Thank you for the articles. Near apocalyptic . . .[/QUOTE]

Nice TDN article earlier in the year

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/reflecting-on-rockingham-park/

And the bigger and sadder picture.

https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/looking-back-lost-tracks-new-england/

[cayuse]

I remember going to RP when I was a kid with my neighbors who raced stbs. I never saw a race there though. When I went it was to pick up or drop of a horse or watch a workout.
I was about 10 or 12. It was in the '70’s and seemed shabby around the edges back then but it had personality. A friend of mine’s dad worked there as a mechanic or something like that back in the 90’s. I think he worked there until retirement. Thinking about the Rock makes me melancholy and wishing for my youth.

[chancellor2]

We used to go with my grandfather and my parents. My father and my grandfather (my mother’s father) would bet on who would come in last.

That photo blog was rather sad.

[Shammy_Davis]

Requiem.

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/requiem-for-a-racetrack/

[beaujolais]

It always feels like a hard & sickening punch to the stomach to lose another one.

I used to go to Green Mountain Raceway way back when I’d go skiing in Vermont. It was another great place.

[CFFarm]

It was a pretty, laid back, lovely track. So sad.

[Shammy_Davis]

Lot’s of articles reviving memories.

http://www.thisishorseracing.com/news/index.php/racing-news/3770-guest-column-remembering-rockingham

Out of print, Paul Jesep’s “Rockingham Park 1933-1969” is an interesting read too. A few is ted on the used books sites.