Kite Track

The Kite Track was an American harness racing track in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

Kite Track
Kite Track, Old Orchard Beach, Maine
LocationOld Orchard Beach, Maine
Coordinates43°31′39″N 70°22′23″W
Date opened1892 (original)
1936 (reopening)
Date closed1902 (original)
1949 (reopening)
Race typeHarness racing
Course typeKite track

Beginnings

In the winter of 1891, New England trotting horse owners, who had desired for many years to race in Maine, began working on establishing a track in the state.[1] After being unable to find a suitable location in Portland, Maine, the focus turned to Old Orchard Beach, which believed a horse track would contribute to its success as a resort town.[1][2] On December 29, 1891, the directors of the Mile Track Association of Maine held a meeting to discuss the proposed track and the vast majority of members opposed it, believing that the season would be too short and being so close to the ocean would be dangerous to the horses' cooling-off process.[2] As a result of the inability to agree on a location, one faction of horsemen, led by John F. Haines and M. F. Porter began work on the Old Orchard Beach Kite Track while the Mile Track Association worked on a track in Portland.[1] In 1893, Rigby Park opened in South Portland, Maine.[3]

The track had only one turn and its stretches converged at a point, forming a kite-like shape. It was one of a few tracks built in this shape, which was faster than a traditional oval.[4]

The track's opening day was scheduled for July 4, 1892, however it was postponed due to rain.[5] On July 7, the track's first day of racing saw 3,000 patrons turn out to the unfinished grandstand to watch three races.[6] In 1900, the New England Agricultural Society moved its annual cattle show and fair to the Kite Track, which resulted in the construction of a new exhibition hall, ticket office, barns, business office, stage, and bandstand.[7] In 1903, after several years of poor weather and small entry lists, the track closed.[8][9]

Revival
Kite Track, Old Orchard Beach, Maine

In 1935, Maine legalized parimutuel betting. The following summer, racing returned to the Kite Track when the Grand Circuit chose Old Orchard Beach to host its pre-Hambletonian races.[10] The track closed with the opening of nearby Scarborough Downs in 1950.[4] The grandstand was eventually torn down and the lights relocated to Scarborough Downs.[11] In 1973 the property was purchased by the State of Maine, it is now a game management area.[12]

References
  1. "Maine's Kite Track". The Boston Globe. June 6, 1892.
  2. "Maine's Kite Track". The Boston Globe. December 30, 1891.
  3. "The New Rigby Park at Portland". Board of Trade Journal. VI (7): 206. November 1893. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. Welch, Eddie (June 18, 1950). "Scarborough Downs Opens Season July 1". The Boston Globe.
  5. "First Circuit Done". The Boston Globe. July 4, 1892.
  6. "Grew Better". The Boston Globe. July 8, 1892.
  7. "Fair to Open at Old Orchard". The Boston Globe. August 26, 1900.
  8. "Old Saugus Race Dates". The Boston Globe. February 16, 1903.
  9. "Editorial Notes". The Boston Globe. July 27, 1903.
  10. Trott, Frank (July 26, 1936). "Maine Harnessmen Realize Hope of Years in Grand Circuit Meet at Old Orchard This Week". The Boston Globe.
  11. "Where, Oh Where". Portland Press Herald. April 4, 2002.
  12. Blaney, Daniel E. (2007). Old Orchard Beach. Arcadia Publishing. p. 92. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
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