Teach
03-10-2008, 03:52 PM
Many of you who are over 50 may remember The Beatles' hit: "In My Life."
There are places I remember
I was teaching on Long Island in the mid-1960s when I decided one summer afternoon to trek south to northern Delaware. I recall it was a long drive down the New Jersey Turnpike and through Philadelphia to Brandywine Raceway. I believe it was in Wilmington, DE
Well, I remember arriving at Brandywine about 6 PM. What a beautiful track! I recall seeing a large pool of water in the infield. I also remember having a most enjoyable time. There's not too much I can recollect about the actual racing itself, except that I do remember wagering on a reinsman whose last name was Cote; he went from last to first, an exceptional drive.
The last I heard the track had been torn down over a dozen years ago to make way for a huge retail outlet.
All my life, though some have changed
One of the first tracks I ever visited was Suffolk Downs in East Boston, MA. It's a thoroughbred track that used to run a fall, 30-day harness meet. Interestingly, I taught for two years at East Boston High School. As the school was located on a hill, I could practically see the track (I could definitely see nearby Logan Airport).
Many was the day that I'd leave the school building in the late afternoon and head directly to Suffolk for an evening of harness racing. What a great way to unwind and top off the day. I recall that Harry Burright and Bob Farrington drove there. Gil LeVine called the races. They don't race standardbreds at Suffolk, anymore.
Some forever not for better
Another track I'd occasionally visit was Hinsdale Raceway in southwestern NH. It was a difficult place to get to. From where I lived, you could head west on the Massachusetts Turnpike and then swing north on I-91. Once you crossed into NH you were almost there. It was nearly directly east of Brattleboro, VT.
The one thing I remember most about Hinsdale was that when I first saw it --- I thought it looked like somebody's backyard. It had that small feel to it. The grandstand couldn't have seated more than a few hundred people. Yet, there was good racing. I only visited Hinsdale a handful of times; yet, I thoroughly enjoyed each visit. Today, Hinsdale runs greyhound races.
Some have gone and some remain
Oh, my favorite was Foxboro Raceway. It was called by different names at different times: Bay State Raceway and also New England Harness Raceway.
I saw my first race there in 1958. I was just 15 years old. I have to tell you I loved the place. It wasn't so much the clubhouse, the grandstand or the racetrack itself, but the people who worked there and the people who went there. There were also the drivers and the horses.
As for drivers, I had the pleasure of talking with Clifford "Tug" Boyd, Leroy Copeland, Alfred "Bucky" Day, Willard Beckwith, Ted Wing and a host of others. My favorite horse was a roan gelding named Ivan Chief.
As I think back, when the meet started up in June, it was like homecoming weekend at college or a camp reunion. It was simply wonderful. I had a chance to renew acquaintances with the many people who worked there and the dozens of harness racing fans I'd socialize with. It was just a wonderful time filled with beautiful memories.
All these places had their moments
Then, there was Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island. I visited there frequently when I taught social studies at Manhasset, NY's Junior-Senior High School. What a beautiful place. So many levels. It seemed that there were glass windows and partitions, everywhere. I loved the track's buffet. As I think back, some of the best drivers in the world campaigned there. I particularly remember Lucien Fontaine. What a master he was.
One of things that stands out in my mind was how packed the place was. Thousands and thousands of people would make their way east on the Long Island Expressway. It was a mecca for harness racing. Today, it's a large shopping complex.
With lovers and friends I can still recall
I was only there once...in the mid-1960s. It had opend a couple years earlier. The thing I remember most about it was that they ran on Sundays. I think it was only track that did so in that era. I remember it was located in a little town called Pownal, VT, not far from Bennington. It was in the extreme southwest corner of the state, near the NY border.
As I recall, desperate for harness racing action, my friends and I drove up there on a Sunday. If I'm not mistaken, the track had an unusal configuration. I don't remember much about my visit, save for the fact that it was a long ride and that Dick Manzi of the Manzi clan came over from Monticello to campaign there.
Some are dead and some are living; in my life I loved them all
Now, that's all that's left in my neck of the woods is Plainridge Racecourse (there is Rockingham Park in southern NH that runs a summer meet). Yet, Plainridge will need an infusion of funds if it is to survive. There had been talk that the MA tracks might become racinos, but with the interest now shifting to casinos here in MA, there seems little likelihood -- at least in the near future -- that that will occur.
Oh, how I miss the ol' days. I know I can't bring them back, but I can certainly reflect upon them.
In My Life, I Loved Them All
There are places I remember
I was teaching on Long Island in the mid-1960s when I decided one summer afternoon to trek south to northern Delaware. I recall it was a long drive down the New Jersey Turnpike and through Philadelphia to Brandywine Raceway. I believe it was in Wilmington, DE
Well, I remember arriving at Brandywine about 6 PM. What a beautiful track! I recall seeing a large pool of water in the infield. I also remember having a most enjoyable time. There's not too much I can recollect about the actual racing itself, except that I do remember wagering on a reinsman whose last name was Cote; he went from last to first, an exceptional drive.
The last I heard the track had been torn down over a dozen years ago to make way for a huge retail outlet.
All my life, though some have changed
One of the first tracks I ever visited was Suffolk Downs in East Boston, MA. It's a thoroughbred track that used to run a fall, 30-day harness meet. Interestingly, I taught for two years at East Boston High School. As the school was located on a hill, I could practically see the track (I could definitely see nearby Logan Airport).
Many was the day that I'd leave the school building in the late afternoon and head directly to Suffolk for an evening of harness racing. What a great way to unwind and top off the day. I recall that Harry Burright and Bob Farrington drove there. Gil LeVine called the races. They don't race standardbreds at Suffolk, anymore.
Some forever not for better
Another track I'd occasionally visit was Hinsdale Raceway in southwestern NH. It was a difficult place to get to. From where I lived, you could head west on the Massachusetts Turnpike and then swing north on I-91. Once you crossed into NH you were almost there. It was nearly directly east of Brattleboro, VT.
The one thing I remember most about Hinsdale was that when I first saw it --- I thought it looked like somebody's backyard. It had that small feel to it. The grandstand couldn't have seated more than a few hundred people. Yet, there was good racing. I only visited Hinsdale a handful of times; yet, I thoroughly enjoyed each visit. Today, Hinsdale runs greyhound races.
Some have gone and some remain
Oh, my favorite was Foxboro Raceway. It was called by different names at different times: Bay State Raceway and also New England Harness Raceway.
I saw my first race there in 1958. I was just 15 years old. I have to tell you I loved the place. It wasn't so much the clubhouse, the grandstand or the racetrack itself, but the people who worked there and the people who went there. There were also the drivers and the horses.
As for drivers, I had the pleasure of talking with Clifford "Tug" Boyd, Leroy Copeland, Alfred "Bucky" Day, Willard Beckwith, Ted Wing and a host of others. My favorite horse was a roan gelding named Ivan Chief.
As I think back, when the meet started up in June, it was like homecoming weekend at college or a camp reunion. It was simply wonderful. I had a chance to renew acquaintances with the many people who worked there and the dozens of harness racing fans I'd socialize with. It was just a wonderful time filled with beautiful memories.
All these places had their moments
Then, there was Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island. I visited there frequently when I taught social studies at Manhasset, NY's Junior-Senior High School. What a beautiful place. So many levels. It seemed that there were glass windows and partitions, everywhere. I loved the track's buffet. As I think back, some of the best drivers in the world campaigned there. I particularly remember Lucien Fontaine. What a master he was.
One of things that stands out in my mind was how packed the place was. Thousands and thousands of people would make their way east on the Long Island Expressway. It was a mecca for harness racing. Today, it's a large shopping complex.
With lovers and friends I can still recall
I was only there once...in the mid-1960s. It had opend a couple years earlier. The thing I remember most about it was that they ran on Sundays. I think it was only track that did so in that era. I remember it was located in a little town called Pownal, VT, not far from Bennington. It was in the extreme southwest corner of the state, near the NY border.
As I recall, desperate for harness racing action, my friends and I drove up there on a Sunday. If I'm not mistaken, the track had an unusal configuration. I don't remember much about my visit, save for the fact that it was a long ride and that Dick Manzi of the Manzi clan came over from Monticello to campaign there.
Some are dead and some are living; in my life I loved them all
Now, that's all that's left in my neck of the woods is Plainridge Racecourse (there is Rockingham Park in southern NH that runs a summer meet). Yet, Plainridge will need an infusion of funds if it is to survive. There had been talk that the MA tracks might become racinos, but with the interest now shifting to casinos here in MA, there seems little likelihood -- at least in the near future -- that that will occur.
Oh, how I miss the ol' days. I know I can't bring them back, but I can certainly reflect upon them.
In My Life, I Loved Them All