Goshen Historic Track boasts over 175 years of sporting tradition. The famous half-mile oval has hosted some of the greatest standardbreds including Messenger, after whom the great oak tree at the head of Historic Track’s stretch run is named, Uhlan, Speedy Rodney, Greyhound, Titan Hanover, Proximity, Tassel Hanover, Star’s Pride, Matastar, and Goldsmith Maid. Hambletonian, a grandson of Messenger, was shown here over a century ago. The list is a who’s who of standardbred racing.
Historic Track is the oldest active trotting track in the world. It was the first half-mile track to host a sub two-minute mile (Greyhound’s 1:59 ¾ in 1937), the first track in New York State to have pari-mutuel betting and the first half-mile track to join the Grand Circuit in 1911. That year, Mrs. Mary Harriman donated the grandstand. Thousands of racing fans have watched the greats of harness racing from that grandstand. Historic Track is certainly one reason why Goshen and the surrounding area are known as “The Cradle of the Trotter”.
Cache art by Mike Jaroszko