Cumberland Race Track facts for kids
The Cumberland Race Track was a famous place where horses raced in Cumberland, Maryland. It was also known as the Fairgo Race Track. This track was open from 1924 to 1961. Today, the Allegany County Fairgrounds is located where the track used to be.
Contents
The Cumberland Race Track: A Historic Venue
Building a Horse Racing Hub
The Cumberland Race Track was built in 1924. It was created by a company called Fairgo. This company was formed by people who owned shares in the Cumberland Fair Associations. The track was very special. It had 300 stalls for horses. It was also the first half-mile horse racing track in Maryland. Many people thought it was one of the most beautiful tracks in the state.
A Popular Place for Races
During its busiest years, the Cumberland Race Track attracted huge crowds. Sometimes, 20,000 to 25,000 people would come to watch the races! The biggest day was called Governor's Day. On this special day, the governor would travel from Annapolis, Maryland to attend the races.
Part of Maryland's Racing Circuit
The Cumberland Race Track was an important stop on Maryland's horse racing circuit. This circuit was a series of races held at different tracks. The races would start at Timonium Racetrack. Then they moved to Marlboro Race Track. Finally, the horses would come to the Cumberland Race Track.
To get the horses to Cumberland, special trains were used. About 12 to 16 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cars would carry the horses. The journey took about 14 hours. The horses would arrive in Cumberland on Sunday mornings, ready for the races.
What is There Today?
The land where the Cumberland Race Track once stood is still used for exciting events. Today, the old race track is used for auto racing.
Further Reading
- Brooke Gunning & Paige Horine, Maryland Thoroughbred Racing, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-7385-4154-9, 2005, pages 32-33.
