HORSE RACING GREAT SPORT HERE even before DRIVING PARK WAS ESTABLISHED

FIRST TRACK LOCATED WHERE VASSAR STANDS

Later Doty's Union Park was Established at ARLINGTON
Them Came Present Park Which Colonel Ruppert Wishes to Dispose Of

With Colonel Ruppert advertising the Hudson River Stock Farm, more generally
know as the Hudson River Driving Park, for sale and determined to dispose of
the property, there have come from all sides suggestions for saving the
property, at least that part of it useful for park purposes for the
Poughkeepsie public.

Colonel Ruppert wants to dispose of his thousand acres there.  It has been
announced that the Grand Circuit meet recently held there was the last which
will be staged on the famous Poughkeepsie track.  It is the only one-mile
track in this section of the state.  It is one of the finest tracks in the
country, horseman say.

Whether the closing of the track at the Hudson River Driving Park will
eliminate horse racing this section is doubtful.  Horse racing is a special
sport in Dutchess County.  The automobile has not killed off this fine sport
and it is likely to go on forever.

An Ancient Sport

Horse racing was popular years before the Hudson River Driving Park came
into its own.  The property on which Vassar College is now located was once
a race course, where the old-timers matched their best in trotting and
pacing.

Later in 1870, horse racing was apparently a much more popular sport than it
is today.  Then there were two tracks here, one known as Doty Union Park and
the Poughkeepsie Driving Park.  Old newspapers made reference to the latter
park as "a short distance from the city on the plank road."

The Doty track was located east of Raymond Avenue south of Main Street.
This section is now built up and forms the larger part of Arlington. This
track was laid out before the earlier track and grounds were purchased by
Matthew Vassar as a site for the college which today bears his name.

It was just after the close of the Civil War that the Poughkeepsie Driving
Park was developed by A. Vanderburgh, who established there a half-mile
track.

Planned Big Meetings

In 1872 there was put under way a movement for the formation of a Hudson
River Agricultural and Mechanical Association.  The plans was to have a
large track and attractive grounds where might be held races and fairs.
Those behind the plan hoped to make it the central point of activities along
these lines for all the counties in the Hudson River Valley.  The plan never
went through in this form, but  out of the suggestion came the formation of
the Hudson River Driving Park Association.  The mile track was established,
grandstand and exhibition hall were erected and for years the Dutchess
County Fair, previously held a Washington Hollow, was held there.

The original plans of the men who wanted to established [sic] the Hudson
River Agricultural and Mechanical Association called for the establishment
of a race track in that section where Innis Avenue and the Salt Point Road
now connect.  A mile track could not be well established there and the plan
was abandoned.  The directors for the start in this plan were George
AYRAULT, who was a famous breeder of large cattle, and J. O. WHITEHOUSE,
Thomas DOTY, W. W. HEGEMAN, John I. PLATT, E. B. OSBORNE, Harvey G. EASTMAN, James SMITH, H. N. AVERY, and James COLLINGWOOD, of Poughkeepsie; Henry MYERS, of Pine Plains; Samuel JOHNSON, of Wappingers Falls; Thomas MORTON, of Newburgh; Nathaniel HALLOCK, of Milton, and Peter N. BERRY, of Stormville.

Opened in 1874

The Hudson River Driving Park was opened as such in the Fall in 1874.  It
was in October.  A great event it was.  Governor John A. DIX was here to
review the Fifth Division of the New York State Nation[sic] Guard at the
Driving Park.  The division was commanded by General James W. HUSTED.

The first fair of the Hudson River Agricultural and Driving Park Association
was held at that time.  This was the first that a fair of this kind was ever
held at Poughkeepsie.  It was followed by the holding of the annual county
fair there.  It brought a throng to the city.  It was a new thing.  But the
novelty wore off and in later years there were frequent complaints that the
fairs held  here were not successful in a financial way.

A few years ago the Dutchess County Fair was removed to Springbrook Park.
Here it has been a success they say.