These races initially took place on country roads and village streets, but as these casual contests grew more popular, racetracks were built to accommodate the horsemen and fans.
The first harness racing tracks were opened in the mid 1800s, but harness racing events could be found as early as 1825 at county fairs all around the country. By the late 19th century, harness racing was the most popular sport in America.
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Hambletonian |
Today, harness racing can still be found in the hundreds of county fairs that host the sport each year, and the numerous pari-mutuel tracks across North America. The sport is also popular worldwide in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Italy, and France.
During that week, Goshen is also the home of exciting racing at Historic Track, which has been hosting harness racing since 1838, making it the world’s oldest active harness track. Because of this rich history, Goshen has been called “The Cradle of the Trotter.” Visit their Web site at www.harnessmuseum.com.