Welcome to my nifty Dreambook, a free guestbook service from New Dream Network and the DreamHost!If you have a minute, please add your entry to those below by signing my Dreambook!
| Name: | Laura |
| E-mail address: | lorason61@cox.net |
| Comments: | Hi,
There is a horse racing site "Colin's Ghost" which has the DRF (Daily Racing Form) archives. ALOT of Narragansett charts, news, photos. It's free to read & being updated as a work in progress at this point in time, but well worth a look. Owners, Trainers, Jockeys, & Horses from every year !!! Year by Year ! Pls see this ! |
| Name: | tracey (holland)black |
| E-mail address: | tbirishwitch@cox.net |
| Comments: | I remember visiting the track when I was a little kid. My uncle,Kevin O'brien, rode there. My grandparents lived in Rumford Dr. and Mrs. John O'brien. I remember the stories and how my uncle loved the horses. |
| Name: | Leanne Medici |
| E-mail address: | leannehank68@verizon.net |
| Comments: | I absolutely love this website. Thank you so much for working so hard to preserve the history of such a magnificent place. It's very sad to think of the possibility of the final building not being there. I hope Building 19 doesnt choose to let this go. If anyone works on preserving it, count me in! Thanks again! |
| Name: | cheryl |
| E-mail address: | blondie_10@comcast.net |
| Comments: | great website...my fiance remembers the park quite well he went ther as a boy with his mother during the seventieshe has some memborbiliaand kept all the programs as a boy.he was the the final day in 78 and remembers the last horse that won openthegap.......... |
| Name: | Joseph Provost |
| E-mail address: | joecool057@aol.com |
| Comments: | Visited the park in the late 60's and early 70's. My brother Joe Provost worked at the track |
| Name: | Leanne Medici |
| E-mail address: | leannehank68@verizon.net |
| Comments: | Loved the website! |
| Name: | Kevin McCarthy |
| E-mail address: | kmccar2@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I was a regular since I was a kid for the 1960's when I was a teenager until Gansett closed. I went to the track with my mother, father, and brothers. We were two dollar bettors, but loved going. It was nice to see the track again through your Youtube video. |
| Name: | E J Finocchio, D.V.M. |
| E-mail address: | Chieftain8@aol.com |
| Comments: | Hi:
It was great to read all the posts of times gone by. I started practice at Narragansett Park on June 3, 1969. My father and uncle were trainers who started at Pascoag Park in Burrillville after they returned from WW-ll. I started walking hots for my father at 6 years of age in 1949 at the Annex at Lincoln Downs. Gansett was the Saratoga of New England back then. I remember the trains coming right to the track and seeing all the people impecable dressed, men in suits and top hats and women dressed to the nines. It wasn't unusual to see 25,000 patrons wager over 1 million dollars. Imagine that back then. As a kid I would hustle some extra cash by reselling programs and the racing form to in coming patrons. I have some very old programs from Gansett and lots of win pictures. I was also there the night of the fire which was a sad site. I still see some of the old trainers, owners and jockeys. Milton Briggs who is close to 90 is still alive and has some fasinating memorabilia from days gone by. He lives in Chepachet. My dad is 91 and still with us. EjFinocchio, D.V.M. |
| Name: | Tracy Cassidy |
| E-mail address: | judds1@cox.net |
| Comments: | My dad was a Jockey at this park - and then a trainer I have pictures of him there with the horses he trained. His name was John Marrocco and sadely he passed away when I was 8. Thanks |
| Name: | Laurie Nash |
| E-mail address: | LaurieNash1@aol.com |
| Comments: | Hi
My father Bernard J nash rode at Narragansett for one year in 1942. He was under contract at the time to ride for trainer/owner Bedwell as well as the Jacobs brothers and another man who's name escapes me at the moment. I spoke to my father today about this website and he looks forward to me coming over to his house with my laptop so he can take a look at your site. We will go through his many piles of pictures from back in the day and if we come across any winners circle photos or anything related to narragansett, I'll try to get them scanned and sent out to you for your site. thanks for putting together a nice site to remember a wonderful era of horse racing. my father who is 82 yrs old, never rode whirlaway but was around at the time and I believe he is one of the few jockys still alive that can proudly say they saw whirlaway run.. He was interviewed several years back for a documentary that espn did on whirlaway and my dads piece ran on espn. He has so many wonderful memories from riding days... he tells them over and over and the smile on his face never gets smaller as the stories are repeated. Please feel free to contact me at my email address in regards to possibly contributing photo's to your website. Best regards Laurie Nash |
| Name: | Laurie Nash |
| E-mail address: | LaurieNash1@aol.com |
| Comments: | wonderful website. my father Bernard J Nash rode at narragansett back in the 40's...those were special years for him so I know he will love this website as well. I will go through his old memorbilia and see if he has any winning circle photo's in his stuff that I can scan and send to you. feel free to write me if you like |
| Name: | Laurie Nash |
| E-mail address: | LaurieNash1@aol.com |
| Comments: | wonderful website. my father Bernard J Nash rode at narragansett back in the 40's...those were special years for him so I know he will love this website as well. I will go through his old memorbilia and see if he has any winning circle photo's in his stuff that I can scan and send to you. feel free to write me if you like |
| Name: | EDDIE SCHUPP |
| E-mail address: | Rschuppjr@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://Comcast.net |
| Comments: | I miss the old track my Uncle Evan {SMOKEY} Anyon rode
there for years when it was open. He died just last November 2008 at his home in Hollywood Florida. |
| Name: | Bill Lepere |
| E-mail address: | spitfire6@prodigy.net |
| Comments: | Charlie Boy was my favorite. I went to Gansett the day they buried him. I turned to greyhounds when the track closed. Today I learned that Lincoln might close at the end of the month. Great reading. |
| Name: | Former RIer |
| E-mail address: | Me@me.com |
| Comments: | Unfortunately, the race track is a metaphor for the entire state; once great, now a sh*t hole Building 19. |
| Name: | Frank Howard |
| E-mail address: | Howard86@cox.net |
| Comments: | Hello, I enjoyed your presentation on Gansett. I am 58 years old and my wife and I are very nostalgic about all the parks and drive-in theatre's that were at one time numorous in R.I. and nearby Mass. At one time I believe we had at least 4 major amusement Parks we could go to within 45 minutes from Providence. I remember taking a bus into downtown Providence and it was very busy and exciting. There were at least 5 movie theatre's running all the time.It was great going to the Outlet Company and have lunch at the snack bar with my girlfriend who is now my wife. And life was very simple.Now the city is nothing but a Ghost town. And I am not convinced that we are a lot better off with all our technical no-how.
I currently live in Riverside not far from what used to be Crescent Park. I can remember hearing the sound of the roller coaster and people screaming when I go down Bullock's Point avenue. When I was 18 years old I worked at a store called Brodsky's in Pawtucket. I was a stock boy and my boss named Guido was a small time bookie. Every day at lunch he would go around and take bet's for the afternoon race's at Gansett. I remember him calling them in just before post time. The bet's were never more than 1 or 2 dollars. BTW. Whenever I watch the movie "The Sting" I get a laugh when I hear them call the race from Gansett on the ticker tape they get from western Union. Well, Thank's for keeping putting this site together I enjoyed very much. Truly, F.Howard |
| Name: | Denise Boudrot Hopkins |
| E-mail address: | deni@vermontel.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.equinetrickster.com |
| Comments: | Hi all, I rode at Lincoln and Gansett. I loved both tracks.
The banked turns were the best! Anyone reading this that remembers me, send an e-mail. Denise Boudrot |
| Name: | Jerry |
| E-mail address: | jnesco5476@aol.com |
| Comments: | This site brings back so many great memories. I spent most of the late 60s and early 70's at Naragansette. I would love to get a list of some of the jockeys that rode there in those years (60s-70s ).It was a great unforgetable time in my life. Thank you so much. |
| Name: | Laura |
| E-mail address: | lorason61@cox.net |
| Comments: | A girl I used to work with ..her uncle was a trainer. She mentioned B.A. Dario and his wife Sylvia. Curious.... |
| Name: | deborah angus |
| E-mail address: | dangus@healthenterprises.com |
| Comments: | Well my sister told me about this site. It brings back memories. She and I spent a great deal of out younger years at Gansett & Lincoln. We should try to do some kind of reunion. My dad trained, my mom owned. I see people still around R.I. that were affiliated somehow. Jockeys, trainers and children of them. It is too bad that it all had to go to just a memory.
Thank you for keeping the memory alive. |
| Name: | tim tullock |
| E-mail address: | jtullock@comcast.net |
| Comments: | WOW!!!!!!!!! I grew up in Mass near the fairs, and never went to gansett. I was however working for Joe Cesarini at Northampton Fair when gansett closed down. Remember getting word at Hamp that it was over. Joe showed up a few days later with alot of horses. You have done a wonderful thing with your efforts to keep the memory of a old freind to many alive and I'm sure everyone appriciates it.I wathched the fairs die and I'm still not over it,I'm pretty sure I'm watching Maryland racing die also. thank you for sharing this with all of us. |
| Name: | Star Diner/Keenan's Diner |
| E-mail address: | TheStarDiner@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://stardiner.wordpress.com |
| Comments: | In 1951 Keenan's Diner opened at 140 Newport Ave. near the entrance to the track. The diner became a Chinese restaurant in 1964. We have lovingly restored the diner back to it's original condition and have named her the Star Diner. Please check out our website that includes the topic of Narragansett Park. We will be planning an event related to the History of Narragansett Park at the diner in the future and will keep you posted on the date and time. We are also interested in any information you may have on the history of the diner. Please email us at TheStarDiner@gmail.com or post your memories below the website article of going to Keenan's Diner. When it opened. Stop by and say hello when you are in the area. |
| Name: | Star Diner |
| E-mail address: | thestardiner@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://stardiner.wordpress.com |
| Comments: | Great website. Please check out our website and the related story of Keenan's Diner at 140 Newport Ave. if anyone has additional information on the history of our diner please email us. Thank You |
| Name: | Star Diner |
| E-mail address: | thestardiner@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://stardiner.wordpress.com |
| Comments: | Great website. Please check out our website and the related story of Keenan's Diner at 140 Newport Ave. if anyone has additional information on the history of our diner please email us. Thank You |
| Name: | Dave bennett (twin) |
| E-mail address: | baysidecrete@aol.com |
| Comments: | Hi,
I have read the entries of your dreambook, and have recognized some of the names in it. Won my first race as a jockey there in the 70's and i still have so many memories of the track,,, First, from selling programs and the racing form, then mucking stalls, walking horses to exercising to becoming a jockey... My brother and I both became jockeys, and were the second set of twins to ride at the same time at Narragansett... The first as I recall being told, were Ronald and Donald Burt, i believe those were the names given, I will look further into that as i have some pictures to help build your site up more, with more information.. I could go on and on with info, so I'll end this here for now,, Thank you for keeping a memory alive! |
| Name: | Jeanie |
| E-mail address: | jean_desro@comcast.net |
| Comments: | I just got off the phone with Claudio Hubberman. He lives in Ocala Fl. What a nice guy. He filled me in on his riding days and was so happy to have someone to listen. I am at work and he ordered something from my company. I did a google on him and found this link. Just wanted to share this with you all.
Jeanie |
| Name: | Jeanie |
| E-mail address: | jean_desro@comcast.net |
| Comments: | I just got off the phone with Claudio Hubberman. He lives in Ocala Fl. What a nice guy. He filled me in on his riding days and was so happy to have someone to listen. I am at work and he ordered something from my company. I did a google on him and found this link. Just wanted to share this with you all.
Jeanie |
| Name: | BombsAway Bob Grant |
| E-mail address: | bobgrant3@comcast.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.myspace.com/bobgrant3 |
| Comments: | Great Site. I'll be sending you a nice Winners Circle photo of my Grandfathers' horse winning @ Gansett in a 4th of July card in 1950. It's also at my myspace page. Peace, Bob |
| Name: | Sherry Finn |
| E-mail address: | sherry_l_finn@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Great webpage. Narragansett was my favorite race track of the New England curcuit. My Dad, Richard Angus, was a trainer and my Mom, Ethel Angus, was an owner. My sister, Debbie, and I worked for my Dad. We ponied, galloped, groomed and ran the horses. We had many horses over the years. Some may remember a few of them. Yarak, Bye Bye Bird, Bagoose and English Gin just to name a few. I remember many trainers there like "Cappy" Jacavone, Kirk Steen, Floyd Duncan, Jerry and Art Taylor, Eddie Vashey, Hughie Bray, Arthur Duffy, Bill Siravo and many more.
It's sad that it closed. It's nice that you have this Website and guest book. Thank you! |
| Name: | Bob Dooley |
| E-mail address: | dooleyrt@verizon.net |
| Comments: | Thank you for your wonderful site. I am the grandson of Judge James E. Dooley and worked at the track for a number of years. My father was Ted Dooley, J. Alden's brother, and Ted was racing secretary there and at many other tracks for many years. The racing secretary is in charge of all the daily racing operations. I will look to see what I have left of track memorabilia. You brought back many memories and thanks again. Bob |
| Name: | Kathy Valdes |
| E-mail address: | kdvaldes1@aol.com |
| Comments: | Thanks. Enjoyed website. My dad was a jockey and rode at Narragansett from about 45 until 60's. We lived in the trailer park and I remember the track very well.
Thanks |
| Name: | John W.Donahue |
| E-mail address: | irishjwd@aol.xom |
| Homepage URL: | http://eliteracingpartners.net |
| Comments: | IT WAS VERY NICE LOOKING AT YOUR WEB PAGE I WAS A JOCKEY AT NARRAGANSETT FROM 1059 TO 1965 |
| Name: | Rita |
| E-mail address: | imnikey777@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I FORGOT TO MENTION SHE STILL HAS AN ORGINAL GLASS FROM NARRAGANSET THAT THEY USE SERVE BEER IN.HAD TO MENTION IT.THANX FOR REMEMBERING THE THE PARK! |
| Name: | RITA |
| E-mail address: | IMNIKEY777@YAHOO.COM |
| Comments: | WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL MY FATHER WOULD TAKE MY SISTER TO THE PARK AND HOLD HER ON HIS SHOULDERS TO SEE THE RACE,MY PARENTS WOULD GO AND I WAS TO LITTLE TO GO BUT DO REMEMBER THEM GOING BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY BROUGHT ME BACK,..THE BIG BAG OF PINK POPCORN...MY SISTER HAS WONDERFUL MEMORY'S,AND SHARE THEM,SHE ALSO WORKED AT BUILDING 19..LOL..AND SHE HAS ALOT OF INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT THE UPSTAIRS OF THAT BUILDING TODAY. |
| Name: | Sean Gill |
| E-mail address: | sean.gill@hamiltonrelay.com |
| Comments: | I remember the grandstand as a kid,, my family is from Pawtucket and alot of the land before 1934 was owned by my great grand mother, I dont know the full story but Id give it my best shot.
thanks and I truely wish you all the best |
| Name: | bobby |
| E-mail address: | seabiscuit2@cox.net |
| Comments: | great memories,,,I worket there till it cosed ,,I rubed horses in the morning then in the aftrenoos I worked for tony cimini at the feed store and delivered hay and grain in the afternoon then ran and took horses to the post at night ,,,,, now I go to building 19 in the old grandstand and I feel like im still there and find myself just looking around,,,, |
| Name: | john |
| E-mail address: | jmac147@aol.com |
| Comments: | I could write forever of the most fantastic memories I have
at the track. i lived less than a mile away and would walk the rail road tracks every day after school when the meet was running. I was 12 years old at the time. I am now 50. there is a part of Gannsett that still exists, The foundation of the hay barn right beside the rail tracks. I go there on a frequent basis. sit on the cement with my legs hanging over the edge. I lament of the hundreds and maybe over the thousand hours of the best years of my life. Mucked, groomed, hot walked and playing pool in the kitchen for .25 cents a game. there is a documentury of the "history of Narragansett" playing at 5:00pm on the cox network. I am a comcast subscriber. If anyone out there has a copy of this event , PLEASE!!!!! if possible get me a copy. I will pay a million dollars if i had that kind of money. thank you in advance. Nov 30th 08 |
| Name: | john |
| E-mail address: | jmac147@aol.com |
| Comments: | I could write forever of the most fantastic memories I have
at the track. i lived less than a mile away and would walk the rail road tracks every day after school when the meet was running. I was 12 years old at the time. I am now 50. there is a part of Gannsett that still exists, The foundation of the hay barn right beside the rail tracks. I go there on a frequent basis. sit on the cement with my legs hanging over the edge. I lament of the hundreds and maybe over the thousand hours of the best years of my life. Mucked, groomed, hot walked and playing pool in the kitchen for .25 cents a game. there is a documentury of the "history of Narragansett" playing at 5:00pm on the cox network. I am a comcast subscriber. If anyone out there has a copy of this event , PLEASE!!!!! if possible get me a copy. I will pay a million dollars if i had that kind of money. thank you in advance. Nov 30th 08 |
| Name: | john mcenery |
| E-mail address: | jmac147@aol.com |
| Comments: | I could spend hours writing about my experiances at Narragansett. I lived less than a mile away and would walk down the railroad tracks every day after school and get in the stables right near the hay barn. I could go on forever. right now Nov 30th there is a documentary playing on Cox cable chaneel 3 at 5:00pm. I am a comcast customer and I am unable to get the show. it would be unbelievable if someone some where were to be able to get me a copy of this "history of Narragansett". Please!!!!, I beg of you.
E-mail if at all possible. john mcenry. thanks in advance. There is part of the track that still exists. the foundation of the hay barn. I am 50 now and walk down the tracks, sit on the cement with my legs hanging over the edge and lament of the hundreds, or mabey thousands of hours of the most memorable times of my life. |
| Name: | TITO L. RIVERA |
| E-mail address: | lharrop@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I Worked at the track in the 1970's.Gansett was the best
track in town.Alot of history went down when the track closed.It was nice when we could go from Gansett to Lincoln Downs and back.WE had it all.GOLDEN ARROW,RUNNING BEAR,MIZE SLOOP,PILOT KNOB,COUNT OF WINLOC,BAYOU TECHE and so many more,ran at the track.A.Ricci,N MERCIER,M.LAPENSEE,TO MANY to name all road at gansett,All the memories.IF WE COULD BRING BACK TIME. |
| Name: | john |
| E-mail address: | john@jdrealty.com |
| Comments: | Just found your site via equidaily. Looks good. I was in high school when Narragansett closed. I believe I won the final race trifecta on closing day, it didn't pay much. We used to bet a horse named Whitey the Ghost because it was easy to see him during the races at night. Also for years I kept a sign that I took on closing day that was for the $2 win betting window, however I think it is long gone. Thanks for the site! |
| Name: | Herschel |
| E-mail address: | drib1364@aol.com |
| Comments: | As a student at Brown University in the mid '60's, I discovered horse racing at Narragansett. Your website has rekindled so many memories. We used to go out to the track for the last three races (free admission). As an owner, my first winner (and first starter) was Miss Crawford (jockey Gene Ho) in 1974 at 'Gansett. Funny, but I noted another guest mentioned Duke of Abruzzi. I was one of several owners of that tough hard hitting gelding.
A particularly humorous episode happened in the twilight years. There was an owner/trainer whose family ran the drugstore on Thayer Street in Providence (Greek name which I have forgotten). He got the bright idea of administering oxygen to his horses pre-race. As you can tell from photos, the barn area location meant all starters were led to paddock across the infield. I will never forget the sight of horses being led with oxygen masks held to their noses.....needless to say, his winning % did not increase |
| Name: | Laura |
| E-mail address: | lorason61@wmconnect.com |
| Comments: | Hi,
Well done !!! Labor Day 1978 was 30 years ago. Attendance was less than 1500 (give or take)... I was 13YO and "minors not allowed". Same with Lincoln Downs, and too, Suffolk Downs. Mom paid the security guard $20 to let me in with her....it was fun, I was 9 YO. My mom took me to Saratoga, AQE, & Belmont Park, which at the time circa 1973 allowed "minors".. In 1978, I was a 13yo who read the Daily Racing Form non stop. I saw Seattle Slew & Affirmed win the TC. June 10, '77 & June 11 '78. I was there with mom & dad. I knew of 'Gansett & Lincoln Downs, but due to age restriction, we went instead to Marshfield Fair,Great Barrington, and always the Northampton/3 County Fair, held on Labor Day Weekend. But I must say, I wish I could have been born 10 yrs earlier. 'Gansett was a fine track indeed. Thank you Corrie, for a FANtastic site !! Here Here !!! Laura |
| Name: | Ray Tessaglia |
| E-mail address: | coactess@aol.com |
| Comments: | first went to 'Gansett in '71 as a h. s. freshman...sneaking into the track was memorable,as was hanging around the $50.00 window looking to hear some big plays....Although beginning to decline it was a great place..Remember Duke of Abbruzzi,Claudio Hubberman,Chevron and 4 winds farm,Gus Del Farno,Bon Secours,just knighted,Veiled Thhreat,and on and on................... |
| Name: | Chris |
| E-mail address: | fc8tgb@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I grew up in Pawtucket, a few miles from Narragansett Park. Back in the mid 70s, when I was around 10 years old, my father, my brother and I used to launch our model rockets in the track's parking lot, which was located just off of Newport and Beverage Hill Avenues, on days when the track was closed. We only lost one of our rockets at "Cape Gansett", when an unexpected gust of wind carried it away and caused it to land on top of the grandstand building.
The industrial park and the retail stores that they put in at the site in the 80s have just about erased all traces of the place, though there is a loop of roads (Narragansett Park Drive) in the park that roughly approximates where the original track used to be. Also, the city of Pawtucket named a few of the local roads adjacent to the park in honor of the area's horse racing heritage (Seabiscuit and Whirlaway Place). For a brief period of years between 1978 and when Building 19 moved in, there was a giant flea market held every weekend in and around the old grandstand building. The Burger King restaurant that is located across Newport Avenue from the park site used to feature a Narragansett Park theme, including displays of some old programs and blowups of old photographs from the park's past. What a great website! Once again, it falls to ordinary people to preserve our history. |
| Name: | Kevin |
| E-mail address: | kmart1944@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.colinsghost.org |
| Comments: | Hello: What a great site! I found it via a link at equidaily. I have linked to you from my site. Thanks, Kevin |
| Name: | jack taylor |
| E-mail address: | wirelive@adelphia.net |
| Comments: | i use to take the GANSETT SPECIAL from WESTWOOD, Massachusetts, down to the track when i was like 17,18.i am 67 now , i can remember listening on RADIO at my UNCLE HOME in LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, it was in the fiftes i think, it was a DEAD HEAT in THE GANSETT SPECIAL, LARRY ADAMS was one of the riders i think and the horses name was OCRLOCK or something like that, anyone have any info on that????????????? I think my first double i hit was at GANSETT, Jerrys GEM and EASY STREET, CARROLL BIERMAN RODE one of them, MY UNCLE WORKED for a BOOKIE name TONY,WHATELSE, they use to BROADCAST the daily double every day on RADIO in LOWELL, i thing the ANNOUCER was JIM HINES, GOOD LUCK |
| Name: | Jane H Brooks |
| E-mail address: | jhb2061@aol.com |
| Comments: | I'm originally from Mass. and heard stories all my life about Narragansett. I have a couple of race horses and live in KY now. Love to look at old barns and the history of racing. Glad your trying to save the bits and pieces! |
| Name: | Carolyn |
| E-mail address: | kevcar35@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My dad and his family grew up near the track. My Uncle was a horse trainer there.Unfortunatly there doesn't seem to be any pictures left of his trainer days. My mom and dad talked of riding the practice ponies to give them exercise when they were kids. |
| Name: | Adam Palagi |
| E-mail address: | lakeshow65@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Wow great job. My grandfather will love this. |
| Name: | R Dorsey |
| E-mail address: | lincolndn@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I really enjoyed your presentation. It was EXCELLENT!!!!!!!! |
| Name: | ray dorsey |
| E-mail address: | naragansettpk@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | This is excellent!!!!!!111 You did a fine job of bringing back great memories. |
| Name: | Bill and Maureen |
| E-mail address: | whw6874@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | What a wonderful tribute to such a historic local landmark.
Corrie, extremely well done. |
| Name: | Jim Manocchia |
| E-mail address: | fairpm@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My very first job was working weekends at Narragansett Park back in 1967. I enjoyed it there and although Gansett was falling into disrepair it was fun to spend time watching the races and knowing the history that was seen there. |
| Name: | Don |
| Homepage URL: | http://echofarmracing.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for preserving the memory of this great old track. You've done a great job of presenting the history.
Don |
| Name: | frank |
| E-mail address: | vedo6@aol.com |
| Comments: | If you go in the store there are some great pictures and some cool sights. Is there any information on the fire that happened there in the 60's? |
| Name: | Lucy Jones |
| E-mail address: | ldjones@tampabay.rr.com |
| Comments: | Thank you so much for putting together this website and preserving the history of one of our old racetracks. |
| Name: | Karen Kees Raymond |
| E-mail address: | kr1209@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Your web-site is beautiufl. I was searching for history of the trace and up it pops. My grandfather, Harry H. Kees helped build the track along with working at Old Lationa, in Kentucky, He also helped build a track in Havana Cuba as well as Hialeah in Miami. He was born in 1883 and died in 1965. There was a huge floral piece in the shape of a horseshoe, at his funeral from his "cronies" at a bar in Lationa. My father, William Kees was a young single man at the time of the building of the track and he accompanied his father to Rhode Island during the build. My grandfather was a carpenter and also had lots to do with the laying of the actual track. I can remember my father talk about the laying of the sand beds being covered with dirt and disc until my grandfather was satisfied. My cousin has a picture of the group of men standing in front of the "woody" station wagon that has the Naragansett logo on the door. There were many stories told about the men who worked on the track. |
| Name: | Mary Pitt |
| E-mail address: | runningstag@btinternet.com |
| Comments: | Excellent site. Nice to see the track is still remembered. I used to be the New England correspondent for The Blood-Horse magazine and I did a feature several years ago on the O'Hara-Quinn episode. I spent hours in the Boston Public Library's microfilm department researching the events that unfolded. I have to admit it still fascinates me. I never got to the track, but have been to the Building 19 to see the memorabilia. Seeing the shell of what it once was is rather sad. |
| Name: | bruce walter |
| E-mail address: | waltbuknkd@aol.com |
| Comments: | I love what you have done. I love old race tracks. I spent many many enjoyable nights at the old Foxboro race track with my mother and wish someone would start something like you have done for Foxboro (where Gilette Stadium is now located). Best of Luck |
| Name: | Amanda Redinger |
| E-mail address: | redingerster@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I'm only 21 and have no personal history with this park whatsoever, but I've lived all my life in RI and never heard a whisper about the existence of this track until a few years ago, when I read Laura Hillenbrand's book. And now there's this wonderful website! Does anybody know if there are any efforts being made to save the building 19/grandstand? If not, would anybody be interested in trying to start one? It would be awful to let the vestiges of actual culture get sucked up by an industrial park. |
| Name: | DeAnna g. |
| E-mail address: | PharLap193279@aol.com |
| Comments: | My mom work @the Park as Hot walker and pony rider 68-70
Anyone remember Her, she rode a Buckskin Morgan/QH name Joker She had great times @the park |
| Name: | Tiffany J Taylor |
| E-mail address: | circletoutfit@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I think you are doing a great job! I used to work for a Harness Trainer in Chicago and went to Sportsmens Park,(now gone)sometimes I wish I could get those days back.You don't know a good thing untill its gone. |
| Name: | Kimberly VanHeste |
| E-mail address: | kimpozzible@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My grandfather came from England as a young man. He left North Dakota and moved to Pawtucket where my father was born. My grandfather Hodson rode steeplechase here at Narragansett park. I came to this website to remember him. Thank you. |
| Name: | Michelle |
| E-mail address: | michie_02_17@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I would 1st like to say, how happy I am to see history come alive once again in our little state of RI. Unfortunately, I was not born yet to have witness the track when it was up and running. But my mother was... She actually lived next door to the track, when the fire broke out. She had witness the devistating events which occured that night. I am always trying to find photo's and stories about the track, especially at the time of the blaze. So if anyone knows anywhere I could find photo's and more info. please e-mail me. Once again, Thanks for keeping the history ALIVE! :) |
| Name: | Bob Brackett |
| E-mail address: | brackettbob@gmail.com |
| Name: | John |
| E-mail address: | jtm57_18938@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://theraceisnottotheswift.blogspot.com/ |
| Comments: | Nice site.
I never got to Narraganett so it's nice to see someone is trying to keep the memory of it alive. |
| Name: | lou alfieri |
| E-mail address: | la662@aol.com |
| Comments: | Hello, my grandfather Mike Giordano was Narragansett track superintendant in the 1970s. Would love to know more info on the track.
Thanks |
| Name: | Pamela DeMaio |
| E-mail address: | Demaio@msn.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://pamelademaio@msn.com |
| Comments: | I work for The Arc of Blackstone Valley on the land that used to be th Narragansett Park. The building we are in is a work shop for developmentally challanged adults. When I drive around the area I feel so bad. I think something should be done to preserve the final building. It is a majoy piece of our heritage and I am ashamed to think we will just let it fade away. I took the exact ride you have in your video, and almost felt the people and horses who were once so proud and happy there. I hope something can be done and I wish there waws some way I could help in the retoration. I love your video and the music.........thank you. |
| Name: | nick harty |
| E-mail address: | BHStables@metrocast.net |
| Comments: | watching the narragansett park video brought back a lot of memories of the summers that i worked with the horses at the track. It was quite a place. I was there during the 1954 hurricane "Carol" that destroyed many barns and created much damage. I was never so scared in my life. I was 14 years old.
I felt sad looking at what became of the race track. |
| Name: | Bill Weigold |
| E-mail address: | ygold6@zoominternet.net |
| Comments: | After showing me this at your home, I looked at it again back home. You did a very professional job. You need to include this in some type of resume and go into business doing this kind of work.
|
| Name: | Chuck Erb |
| E-mail address: | smoritz@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I'm 48 years old and tranport horses for a living. I enjoyed your website very much.I have been to many racetracks all over the country .I am based in calif. and go to santa anita ,hollywood,bay meadows and golden gate on a regular bases.I am really into the history of the racetracks.Seeing the decline of racing these days is sad. Seeing how they may not be racing at bay meadows in a few years is depressing. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your photos. |
| Name: | Don |
| Homepage URL: | http://echofarmracing.com |
| Comments: | Great site! Well done and interesting. Keep up the good work! |
| Name: | Joe |
| E-mail address: | aksarben2@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.ak-sar-ben.com |
| Comments: | Wonderful website. Thanks for the memories. Great job! |
| Name: | Michelle Padgett |
| E-mail address: | mpadgett7@triad.rr.com |
| Comments: | It's a sad thing when a racetrack dies and is razed. I watched it happen to the Detroit Race Course. You've done a good thing by building this site, your work is appreciated. |
| Name: | Bill Weigold |
| E-mail address: | whw6874@yahoo.com |
| Name: | EjFinocchio, D.V.M. |
| E-mail address: | Chieftain8@aol.com |
| Comments: | Hi Corrie:
This is a great site especially for those of us who grew up loving the sport of kings even though we were paupers but never relinquished the dream of seeing our horse coming down the homestretch.The track in its day was the Saratoga of New England. I have very good memories from the early 50's to closing time. Good job. |
| Name: | dan keough |
| E-mail address: | dannykeno@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | The year was 1982 I was at northhampton fair watching the live horse racing,when a old timer said to me look at the 8 horse in the race. The horse was named dark salt he was running for the first time in 7 years, The old timer then pulled out a daily racing form, the date of the form was 1975. There in the form was gansett park and dark salt.
looking at dark salt i seen that he won 3 10k claiming racing in a row there. the old timer said if he gets out he will win this race. in the end i put 10 bucks on him and he won and paid 54 bucks gave to old timer 10 bucks and never saw him or that horse again. Later someone told me that that guy was the owner of the horse and a big local trainer at gansett who was down on his luck, never did catch his name. |