View allAll Photos Tagged backstretch
GTP side by side with Camaro on backstretch during Rolex 24. GTP car pulls far away in next two frames of sequence btw. D200 with a 70-210 Nikkor zoom lens at f4
Down the Backstretch
From left to right:
Raisin Gin (#7)
Dr: Kody Massey
Tr: Jerry Seekman
Atomic Rei (#4)
Dr: Eric Carlson
Tr: Al Tomlinson
Dastardly Dick (#3)
Dr: Mark Headworth
Tr: Randy McConnell
Chatty Katty (#9)
Dr: Lindsay Moen
Tr: Tricia Shepard
Waco Shark (#8)
Dr: David Lake
Tr: Gerald Mijal
Virtual Sarah (#5)
Dr: R J Williams III
Tr: Krista Williams
Mocha Magic (#6)
Dr: Larry Lake
Tr: Kenneth Phillips
On June 6, 2012, Hofstra University’s Axinn Library hosted the exhibit,“PRIDE - Celebrating the Art of the Backstretch Workers of Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack,” a joint effort between the Library’s Special Collections department and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), a non-profit dedicated to meeting the health and social needs of the almost 3,000 workers of the major horse racing tracks in New York State.
The room was packed as the event kicked off with opening remarks from Geri Solomon, Assistant Dean of Special Collections and Hofstra University Archivist, and Bronwyn Hannon, Acquisitions Curator. The administrators spoke about the diverse collection of Hispanic and Latino materials at Hofstra and the advantages of the partnership between B.E.S.T and the university.
Paul Ruchames, Executive Director of B.E.S.T., and Stella Cardenas, Community Outreach Director, then highlighted the work of B.E.S.T., the workers it represents and the art they created. An award and tribute ceremony recognizing all the artists, including the budding artists of Anna’s House, the daycare facility for racetrack workers’ families, ended the opening ceremony.
The three-hour event, which featured music from Grammy-nominated flautist Jay Rodriguez, welcomed more than 90 guests. The evening was enjoyed by all, and organizers hope that their exciting partnership will bring an annual exhibit to Hofstra.
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
Fairgoers already have their chairs chained up on the backstretch awaiting the 66th running of The Little Brown Jug.
USTA Photo / Mark Hall
Cpl. Rahsjay Murray with the 438th Military Police Company secures a gate along the backstretch of Churchill Downs prior to the running of the 144th Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky., May 5, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Scott Raymond)
A lot of equipment is need to put on a Nascar race. One of the Sprint hauler parted outside the backstretch.
I liked the look along with the flag.
4-6-2-13
Riverside International Raceway . . .
AKA: RIR, Riverside Raceway, Riverside International Motor Raceway.
The track was built to accommodate several different races.
By closing off certain sections of the track, the route drivers had to follow could be altered.
The three options on the Riverside Raceway were the long course (3.27 miles or 5.25 km), the short course (2.5 miles or 4.16 km), and the NASCAR (2.5 Mi. or 4.16 km) course.
The original racetrack had a 1.1 mile backstretch from 1957 to 1968.
When the track was redesigned in 1969, turn 9 (bottom) was made wide and a dogleg was added because of safety concerns.
Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Year: 1989
Place: Riverside, California
Doing a little "countdown to 2010" on my facebook, thought i'd toss this up
#6 -- Giving props to extreme bursts of athleticism that seldom get noticed.
(from left to right Monmouth Park 8.1.10, Pimlico (Diva Delight) 5.15.10, Saratoga 8.18.10)
Ever wonder what happens to that loose horse? He doesnt just stop on his own! You always see the outriders both leading and coming up the rear of the post parade (you can tell by their red vests) They are also stationed directly after the break and on the backstretch incase something where to happen. More often than not, when a horse gets loose, you never see the extreme bits of balance these stoic guardians can muster.
Lets face it, I am not a rider. When I get on my friends OTTB, I feel as if I am going about 8,000 miles an hour -- and hes just walking. I cannot imagine both the adrenaline rush and sheer terror that goes through both horse and riders head as their ponies go from standing to a full blown sprint in about three strides. The fact that you are dangling over your own mount, trying to grab the reins of a horse who you have no idea what or where he is going.. I cannot imagine.
These three photos are those of those moments of sheer uncertainty. There are many of these moments in our sport and because of the sheer bravery (or lunacy) of these under appreciated riders, the outcome of a bad situation is often made safe again.
I do remember the one at Pimlico quite vividly, the crowd cheered Clark and Larry as he wrangled Calvin's mount in the Black Eyed Susan. These three made it look easy.
So the next time you see an outrider, give them thanks for all they do, because who knows the mayhem they have averted. (and give their pony a nose noogie, they love that.)
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
#55 Benjamin Pedersen accelerates into the backstretch near a Barber Motorsports Park sculpture, one of many around the circuit.
These apartment buildings would have been located on the backstretch after the first turn. The road I am driving on roughly follows the shape of the original track, with the fenced apartment complex inside the original track oval.
------------------------
Benning Race Track opened in 1890, on the east side of Washington, DC, across the Anacostia River and slightly to the northeast of what is now RFK Stadium. Approximately 2,000 people came out to the races that day.
Legalized gambling ended in 1908, and the grandstand was burned to the ground in 1915. However, horse training and car racing continued here for another couple of decades. Attempts to bring horse racing back to Benning in the mid to late 1930s were a failure.
150 acres of the race track property were sold in 1928 to develop Eastland Gardens. A Howard University architecture professor bought the land on which the track sat in 1942, to build the Mayfair Mansions garden apartment complex. Mayfair Mansions opened in 1946, providing housing options for working and middle class African Amrerican families. The site was listed with the Mational Register of Historic Places in 1989.
For a good article on the history of the track: greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4702/lost-washington-be...
To view a satellite image of the site as it looks today: mapq.st/GPmr4F
To view a map of the original track location: www.flickr.com/photos/dckaleidoscope/4300704617/
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
Steve Asmussen trainee Justin Phillip runs the wrong way up the stretch after dumping jockey Garrett Gomez before a maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. 8.7.2010
The 2-year-old ended up jumping the rail on the backstretch, but remarkably, nobody was hurt.
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
Charlie Kimball heads down the backstretch during practice for the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston
The new Los Alamitos backstretch includes a hill and slight right-hand turn where the original oval meets the expansion at Los Alamitos Race Course in Los Alamitos, California, U.S.A. (July 5, 2014)
Photo © 2014 Marcie Heacox, all rights reserved. FOR PERSONAL VIEWING OR EDITORIAL PURPOSES ONLY. Contact mheacox87 [at] hotmail.com for permission.
On June 6, 2012, Hofstra University’s Axinn Library hosted the exhibit,“PRIDE - Celebrating the Art of the Backstretch Workers of Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack,” a joint effort between the Library’s Special Collections department and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), a non-profit dedicated to meeting the health and social needs of the almost 3,000 workers of the major horse racing tracks in New York State.
The room was packed as the event kicked off with opening remarks from Geri Solomon, Assistant Dean of Special Collections and Hofstra University Archivist, and Bronwyn Hannon, Acquisitions Curator. The administrators spoke about the diverse collection of Hispanic and Latino materials at Hofstra and the advantages of the partnership between B.E.S.T and the university.
Paul Ruchames, Executive Director of B.E.S.T., and Stella Cardenas, Community Outreach Director, then highlighted the work of B.E.S.T., the workers it represents and the art they created. An award and tribute ceremony recognizing all the artists, including the budding artists of Anna’s House, the daycare facility for racetrack workers’ families, ended the opening ceremony.
The three-hour event, which featured music from Grammy-nominated flautist Jay Rodriguez, welcomed more than 90 guests. The evening was enjoyed by all, and organizers hope that their exciting partnership will bring an annual exhibit to Hofstra.
TALLADEGA, AL - MAY 05: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, and Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet, lead the field down the backstretch during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2013 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
2009 Detroit APBA Gold Cup Race
Jeff Bernard
U-5 Formulaboats.com
Steve David
U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto
Down the backstretch, Belle Isle is in the background.
Detroit River
Detroit, Michigan
View it extra large here
April 21, 2012
According to "Images of America: Maryland Thoroughbred Racing" (by Gunning & Horine, 2005), race meets had been held in this area as early as 1745. In 1768, the imported racehorse Figure defeated the American-bred Selim in a match race at Marlboro. However, the site of the original track is unknown. The Colin's Ghost website lists 1914 as the opening date for this particular iteration of the track at Marlboro.
Gunning & Horine state that Marlboro was the 2nd of 3 tracks in the 1/2-mile Maryland fair racing circuit. (Other sources indicate that the track is 5/8 mile.) Fair racing began at Timonium, moved to Marlboro, and then moved on to Cumberland.
The track closed in 1971. It remains largely intact, though badly deteriorated, at the site of Prince George's Equestrian Center.
View a satellite Mapquest image of the site here: mapq.st/GOtOZj
Home page for Prince George's Equestrian Center: www.showplacearena.com/
Driving toward Bronxdale Ave on Van Nest Ave (approaching the intersection of Van Nest and Fowler Ave). This intersection is the approximate location of the track clubhouse, which would be facing toward the large tree in the foreground of the photo.
------------------
Morris Park Racecourse (located in the Morris Park neighborhood of the Bronx) operated from 1889 to 1904. It was the brain child of John Morris and Leonard Jerome. Both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes were run here in 1890, with the latter race remaining at the track until it closed in 1904. Other races with a history at Morris Park include the Champagne Stakes (1890 to 1904), and the Metropolitan Handicap (now known as the Met Mile but originally run at 1 1/8 miles) (1891 to 1904). A more detailed history of the track can be found on Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Park_Racecourse).
The Morris Park track was located on land that is now bounded by Sackett and Pierce Avenues to the south, the Pelham Parkway to the north, Bronxdale Road to the west, and Williamsbridge Road to the east. You can see the track layout on a USGS map from 1900 (docs.unh.edu/NY/harl00se.jpg).
An entire book has been written on the history of the track: DiBrino, Nicholas (1977). The History of the Morris Park Racecourse and the Morris Family. Bronx: Bronx County Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-941980-27-2.
The track configuration was interesting in that the north end was on a hill, forcing horses to run uphill in the backstretch and downhill in the homestretch. Another long straight course, called the Eclipse course, ran diagonally across the infield of the main track, intersecting with it at the finish line. A six furlong race run on the Eclipse course from 1890 to 1896 was known as the "Toboggan Slide;" it continues today as the Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct Race Track. Due to the downhill configuration, races run on this course were quite fast; a course record was set by August Belmont's filly, Fides, in the first running of the Toboggan Slide.
You can view several photos of the Morris Park track on the Brooklyn Backstretch blog site (bit.ly/hwt46s).
You can also see the layout of the track superimposed over planned roads on Sheets 17 and 18 of the Planning Grid of the Office of the Topographical Bureau of the Bronx (New York Public Library Digital Gallery), circa 1900: bit.ly/I74Qp6 and bit.ly/HOE6my.
Calvin Borel gives Rachel Alexandra a hug on the Monmouth backstretch after the Haskell. (I wish I could have been closer :) )
On June 6, 2012, Hofstra University’s Axinn Library hosted the exhibit,“PRIDE - Celebrating the Art of the Backstretch Workers of Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack,” a joint effort between the Library’s Special Collections department and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), a non-profit dedicated to meeting the health and social needs of the almost 3,000 workers of the major horse racing tracks in New York State.
The room was packed as the event kicked off with opening remarks from Geri Solomon, Assistant Dean of Special Collections and Hofstra University Archivist, and Bronwyn Hannon, Acquisitions Curator. The administrators spoke about the diverse collection of Hispanic and Latino materials at Hofstra and the advantages of the partnership between B.E.S.T and the university.
Paul Ruchames, Executive Director of B.E.S.T., and Stella Cardenas, Community Outreach Director, then highlighted the work of B.E.S.T., the workers it represents and the art they created. An award and tribute ceremony recognizing all the artists, including the budding artists of Anna’s House, the daycare facility for racetrack workers’ families, ended the opening ceremony.
The three-hour event, which featured music from Grammy-nominated flautist Jay Rodriguez, welcomed more than 90 guests. The evening was enjoyed by all, and organizers hope that their exciting partnership will bring an annual exhibit to Hofstra.
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.
Greenville, SC – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver, Brett Moffitt overcame odds to finish 4th and Sergio Pena experienced engine failure to finish 29th in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville, SC on Saturday March, 31, 2012.
Both cars were fast in practice. Pena topped the charts for both practices of the afternoon. Moffitt was 2nd quick in the first practice and 14th quick in the second practice though they did not do a mock qualifying run.
“The car was real good in race trim,” explained Grimes, IA native, Brett Moffitt. “We just fine tuned it and worked on our race set up during practice.” “We drew the first qualifying position so we are a little worried about that, but the car is good so we will be fine.”
Pena was real happy after practice as well, “My car is fast. I am real happy with the balance and the forward bite. We have a great shot at the pole and winning the race tonight.”
Moffitt was the first car out to qualify and proved he was a car to beat, earning the provisional pole and being the first car to break into the 20 second bracket with a time of 20.980. However, after only six cars, the rain came and qualifying was subsequently cancelled due to weather.
Hattori Racing is a new team so they did not have owner points from 2011. Therefore Moffitt and Pena were relegated to 21st and 22nd starting positions. They earned their starting spots by race wins in 2011. Both had three series wins, Moffitt finished 3rd in the driver point standings, Pena was 5th.
“I’m excited,” Moffitt said. “We have a good car, I can be patient when needed and I know we can work our way through the field.”
Pena, a Winchester, VA native, wasn’t too worried either, “It is what it is. We are starting better than I thought we would, but we have a great car and will be fine.”
When the green flag dropped, the cars paced themselves and waited for the field to spread out. Unfortunately, Pena was the first caution flag of the night when his #1 JMS Toyota Camry lost a motor early in the race.
“It started losing power down the backstretch,” confirmed Pena. “Then just quit all together. It is so disappointing as I had a fast car all weekend long. We had such a good car and I am proud of my team.”
Moffitt started 21st and was mired in traffic the first part of the race. He cracked the top-10 at lap 64 and began to steadily pass car after car until he raced into 2nd position, where he rode for over 60 laps.
“I was trying really hard to save my tires,” Moffitt stated. “I just rode in second hoping to save enough for the end of the race.”
With a restart at lap 127, Moffitt had his chance. He got his nose underneath leader and eventual race winner, Darrell Wallace, Jr. and led lap 128 but Wallace, Jr. got his nose back under Moffitt and put him in the outside lane where two more cars managed to get underneath. Moffitt finished the race in the 4th position.
My (#11) Kobe Toyopet Camry was real fast,” Moffitt confirmed. “But I ran out of tires at the end. I just used up too much coming through the field. If we had started up front where I know we would have qualified, it might have been a different ending. But from where we started, 4th isn’t too bad.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” team owner, Shigeaki Hattori said. “We were the best cars in practice and would have started up front had we qualified. The cars performed well as did the teams.”
Hattori Racing Enterprises next heads to Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2012 for their next event.