Jamaica Race Course

2014-05-12T02:30:56Z

Stevieb2685:

{{Infobox Racecourse
| Name = Jamaica Race Course
|Image= [[Image:JamaicaRacetrack.jpg|250px]]
|Caption= Jamaica Race Course, c.1907
|Location= [[Jamaica, New York]], [[United States]]
|Owner= Metropolitan Jockey Club
|Channel=
|Opened= {{start date and age|1903|April|27|p=y}}
|closed= {{start date and age|1959|August|1|p=y}}
|CourseType = [[Flat racing|Flat]]
|Website=
|NotableRaces = [[Bed O' Roses Handicap]] [[Excelsior Handicap]] [[Frizette Stakes]] [[Jamaica Handicap]] [[Paumonok Handicap]] [[Prioress Stakes]] [[Remsen Stakes|Remsen Handicap]] [[Sheepshead Bay Stakes#The Sheepshead Bay Handicap (1894-1910)|Sheepshead Bay Handicap]] [[Wood Memorial Stakes]]
[[File:Betting-ring.jpg|thumb|The Betting Ring. Photo from the Official Souvenir of the inaugural meeting of the Metropolitan Jockey Club. 1903.]]
[[File:The-first-turn.jpg|thumb|The First Turn. Photo from the Official Souvenir of the inaugural meeting of the Metropolitan Jockey Club. 1903.]]
[[File:Winning-post-judges-stand.jpg|thumb|The Winning Post - Judges' Stand. Photo from the Official Souvenir of the inaugural meeting of the Metropolitan Jockey Club. 1903.]]
}}

'''Jamaica Race Course''' was an [[United States|American]] [[Thoroughbred horse race|thoroughbred horse racing]] facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]], [[New York]]. The {{convert|1|mi|km}} track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featured the inaugural running of the [[Excelsior Handicap]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New Track Opens To-day |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980CE4DD1F30E733A25754C2A9629C946297D6CF |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 27, 1903 |page=8 |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref> [[Eugene D. Wood]], one of the founders and largest stockholder, served as its first president. On his death in April 1924, [[Edward P. Kilroe|Dr. Edward P. Kilroe]] was appointed president to replace him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jamaica Racing Begins Wednesday |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A15FB3C5B12738DDDA10A94D1405B848EF1D3 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 28, 1924 |page=S4 |accessdate=2010-03-31}}</ref> The [[Wood Memorial Stakes]] is named in Eugene Wood's honor.

Legendary Hall of Fame [[horse trainer]] [[Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons]] was the first to train at Jamaica Race Course and [[Native Dancer]] made a winning debut here on April 19, 1952.<ref>{{cite news |title=Native Dancer Captures Jamaica Youthful by 6 Lengths |first=James |last=Roach |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F2091EFC385F177B93C6AB178FD85F468585F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 24, 1952 |page=S42 |accessdate=2009-10-11}}</ref> The facility's attendance record of 64,679 was set on [[Memorial Day]], 1945.<ref name="nycdpr">{{cite web |title=North Rochedale Playground Historical Sign |url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=7911 |work=New York City Department of Parks & Recreation |accessdate=2009-10-11}}</ref> It was home to ongoing races such as the [[Prioress Stakes]], [[Frizette Stakes]], [[Paumonok Handicap]], [[Excelsior Handicap]], [[Wood Memorial Stakes]], [[Remsen Stakes|Remsen Handicap]], [[Bed O' Roses Handicap]], and the [[Jamaica Handicap]].

In 1955, the [[New York Racing Association|Greater New York Association]] took over management of Jamaica Race Course along with [[Aqueduct Racetrack]], [[Belmont Park]], and [[Saratoga Race Course]] and decided to undertake renovations to Aqueduct in [[South Ozone Park, Queens|South Ozone Park]], the other track in the Greater Jamaica area. Jamaica took on the Big A dates during Aqueduct's renovation, after which it would be sold for redevelopment as a housing project.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Track Group Takes Over Today |first=Joseph C. |last=Nichols |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50711FF38591A7493C7A9178BD95F418585F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 5, 1955 |page=45 |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Track to Handle Crowds of 60,000 | first=Joseph C. |last= Nichols |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60E16FC3D5A177B93C5AB178DD85F428585F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 27, 1956 |page=S39 |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Moses Plans Deal on Jamaica Track | first=Homer |last=Bigart |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10A1EF7355F147B93C7A9178BD95F428585F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 5, 1956 |page=26 |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref> On August 1, 1959, with Aqueduct reopening that fall, Jamaica ceased operations and was torn down the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Babu First as Jamaica Closes |first=Joseph C. |last=Nichols |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C1EFC3D551B7B93C0A91783D85F4D8585F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 2, 1959 |page=S1 |accessdate=2009-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Din of Destruction at Jamaica Replaces Thunder of Hoofbeats |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60B13F83D551A7A93C6AB1782D85F448685F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 24, 1960 |page=25 |accessdate=2009-10-13}}</ref> Today the [[Rochdale, Queens|Rochdale Village]] housing development occupies the former site of Jamaica Race Course.<ref name="nycdpr"/>

The racetrack was served by the adjacent [[Locust Manor (LIRR station)|Locust Manor]] station on the [[Long Island Rail Road]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arrts-arrchives.com/newpage6race.html |title=Aqueduct Race Track, Jamaica Race Track and Roosevelt Raceway |work=arrts-arrchives.com |accessdate=2010-01-16}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== See also defunct New York race tracks ==
* [[Brighton Beach Race Course]]
* [[Gravesend Race Track]]
* [[Jerome Park Racetrack]]
* [[Morris Park Racecourse]]
* [[Roosevelt Raceway (harness racing)|Roosevelt Raceway]]
* [[Sheepshead Bay Race Track]]

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[[Category:1903 establishments in New York]]
[[Category:Defunct horse racing venues in New York]]
[[Category:Defunct horse racing venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Jamaica, Queens]]
[[Category:History of Queens, New York]]

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Jamaica Race Course