The Hudson Valley has long been a hub of racing. Historians note that during the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hudson Valley communities had a penchant for racing, from bicycles and cars to horses.
Today, well-known tracks like Saratoga stand as living proof of the Valley’s rich racing culture. But beyond the headlines and fanfare, there were once-vibrant venues now largely forgotten. These are places that played a major role in shaping the local sporting identity.
Origins of Horse Racing in the Valley
Before the Civil War, horse racing was a popular pastime among Hudson Valley farmers. What started as informal contests quickly evolved into an organized and widely followed sport, deeply ingrained in the region’s social fabric.
A Post article from 1897 describes a lively trotting meet in Saugerties, believed to have taken place at what is now Cantine’s Field. The crowd was large, the heats were tightly contested, and the event made headlines, a sign of just how central racing had become in local life.
New Paltz joined the action not long after. In 1891, Abram Deyo Brodhead opened a half-mile track near the Wallkill River. Races there drew thousands during summer holidays and were often paired with bicycle races, foot races, and baseball games. That chapter ended in 1904 when New York outlawed betting, forcing the track to close.
Although many of these early venues have disappeared, their influence lingers, not just in the surviving tracks but also in how horse racing continues to evolve. What once required being there in person now reaches fans in new ways. Today, reliable online platforms like FanDuel have made it possible to follow and bet on live racing from anywhere, preserving the excitement while bringing it into the digital era.
The Historic Tracks That Still Thrive
The Hudson Valley once boasted packed racetracks on race day. While many have faded into memory, a few historic venues continue to thrive and carry the region’s racing legacy forward.
1. Goshen Historic Track
Known as the oldest active trotting track in the world, the Goshen Historic Track dates back to the 1800s and has helped shape harness racing as we know it today. Legends like Greyhound, Titan Hanover, and Messenger all raced here, along with Hambletonian, Messenger’s famed descendant.
In 1911, it became the first half-mile track on the Grand Circuit and the first in New York to offer pari-mutuel betting. Its grandstand, donated by Mary Harriman, still hosts crowds every summer. In 1966, the site was designated as a Registered Historic Landmark.
Today, it operates as a non-profit and remains central to the community, not only as a working track but also as a venue for concerts, festivals, and local events.
2. Yonkers Raceway
Opened in 1899 as Empire City Race Track, Yonkers Raceway remains one of the busiest standardbred venues in the state. Located just outside New York City, its half-mile dirt oval has hosted generations of harness racing and remains a major stop on the circuit.
The site also features casino gaming, adding to its modern draw. While it has evolved, Yonkers has maintained its position as a core racing institution, blending tradition with a contemporary experience.
3. Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course, opened in 1863, is often called the oldest major sporting venue in the U.S. Located in Saratoga Springs, it has long been a summer destination for racing fans, offering a full season of top-tier Thoroughbred racing.
What began as a four-day meet has expanded into a 40-day calendar stretching from mid-July through Labour Day. Operated by the New York Racing Association, Saratoga is renowned for its rich tradition and vibrant, modern racing culture, a place where historic charm meets big-stage action.
Forgotten Venues and Local Legends
Not all tracks in the Hudson Valley made it into the present. Many, once vibrant, have faded from memory, though their impact on regional racing was large.
One of the most prominent was Good Time Park in Goshen. Originally Fiddler’s Green in the early 1800s, it was revived in 1899 and transformed by promoter William H. Cane in 1926. From 1930 to 1956, it hosted the prestigious Hambletonian Stakes before fading from use.
Elsewhere, Cantine’s Field in Saugerties once drew crowds for trotting races. A newspaper report from 1897 described “finely contested heats” and large gatherings, a reminder of how popular local meets once were.
There was also a lively half-mile track in New Paltz, which opened in 1891. Crowds of up to 2,000 gathered on holidays for racing, cycling, and baseball. The track closed in 1904 after changes to New York’s betting laws.
A Valley Defined by Tracks
Horse racing in the Hudson Valley is a lens into the region’s identity. Tracks came and went, but each one left its mark, shaping towns, gathering crowds, and fuelling a culture of movement, competition, and community. Some grandstands still echo with cheers, while others have vanished into fields and parks, yet all are part of the same legacy. To understand the Valley, you don’t just look at maps or archives. You follow the hoofprints, visible or not, that still shape its rhythm today.