Lost Trotting Park in Concord Township

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"The horse is possessed of intelligence, sensibility, and affection." C.H. Nelson

"THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US; LATE AND SOON"

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.--Great God! I'd rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.

William Wordsworth, 1806.

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THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN
It is that we have forgotten
the age when the horse was king.
What we saw was real.
We did not twitter.
We did not friend on Facebook.
If we spoke someone would answer.
We touched. We smelled. We felt the earth.
Today we step away from what is real.
We need to be face to face
with who we are --with what we feel.
We have forgotten the spirit of the age
when we touched -- we felt the earth --
The age when the horse was king.

Stephen Thompson, 2010.

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The newspaper clip below informs us of

C.H. Nelson's opinion of the automobile.

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Newspaper clip image courtesy of Clark P. Thompson

Horse Memories of Luck Ahead by Shirley Hanley

Shirley Hanley has written a beautiful book featuring the harness racing horse and broodmare, Luck Ahead. The story is really the story within the story. Hanley worked for many years as a facilitator for grieving children. This work evokes emotions for young and old alike. Death, dying, and grieving are part of life. This story gently introduces young people to this idea. However, the story moves you quickly to remembering the happy moments -- the gifts and teachings of parents, grandparents, loved ones, and children. This book presents a learning moment -- a shared opportunity for parent and child to move through what may be a sad situation and realize and focus upon happier times -- what we learn from the ones we love.

A must read for parents -- a must read for hospice workers!
A must read for educators working with grieving children!
-- Buy a copy for your local library --

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If you wish to purchase Luck Ahead, mail your
check of $24.00 payable to Shirley Hanley.
The cost covers book, taxes, shipping & handling.

Address: 103 Barber Road, Randolph, Maine 04346
For more information e-mail shirleysmiles@msn.com
or call 207-582-4698.

Heading Out! An Example of the High Wheel Sulky

Is this a familiar location?

This just might be somewhere in Maine!

Post Three: Nelson Bloodline -- Sprague's Journal on the Life of Charles H. Nelson -- May 1915

As we explore the Nelson bloodline it is important that we

explore the life of Charles H. Nelson. Hod Nelson was a

key and controversial figure during the age of

"When the Horse was King."

Success

As we approach the end of 2010 and find ourselves wondering what 2011 will bring, I hope you may be able to integrate this definition of success as part of your mindset. I was introduced to the work of Earl Nightingale by Ken Hamilton, the founder of H.O.P.E.

"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal"

Earl Nightingale

This definition was one of the motivating factors as I started the lost trotting parks project!

My Best for You in 2011!

Steve Thompson

Old Trotting Park in East Brunswick

Was there a trotting park in Bath, Maine?

The Lost Trotting Parks of Brooklyn

An earlier post of "Bygone Trotting Parks" identified ten trotting parks on Long Island. This Thanksgiving Libby and I journeyed to Brooklyn to give thanks with the in-laws -- The Bradys of Brooklyn! Yesterday we drove to an Italian restaurant near Coney Island. As we drove to the restaurant we passed three locations of past trotting parks. Take a look at "The Golden Era of Brooklyn Racing" by Ryan Goldman. As you read the article click on the map link to a pdf file that will show you where these trotting parks were once located.

Kevin Brady and Steve Thompson
at Gargiulo's!

Luncheon Entres $10 to $13
Great Dining!

Post Two: The Nelson Bloodline

The LTP Post, Sunnyside Farm by Sulky, March 1888 is an
article written by John Wallace based upon an interview
with Hod Nelson at the Elmwood Hotel
in Waterville, Maine in 1888.

Lost Trotting Parks Testimonial -- Bethel Historical Society

The Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center, founded and coordinated by Stephen Thompson of Hallowell, has set an ambitious goal of documenting—in one place—the rich history of Maine's trotting parks, champion racing horses, and agricultural fairs. I'm pleased to say that the results of this effort have been impressive, and not least for the wealth of information and historic images that have been gathered together and preserved for the benefit of scholars, history buffs, racing aficionados and, of course, the general public. As Executive Director and Curator of Collections of the Bethel Historical Society, I’m especially pleased that our organization has been able to contribute toward this worthy project, and I thank Steve Thompson for his diligence, hard work and enthusiasm.

Randy Bennett, Executive Director, Bethel Historical Society

I would just like to second what Randy Bennett has said about Stephen Thompson's outstanding work in preserving images and the history of the trotting parks and all connected with them. Hearty congratulations! I was also pleased to be part of the process by allowing the image of my Bethel poster to be part of his research.

Stan Howe, Ph.D.

Associate Director

Bethel Historical Society

Note from Stephen Thompson: I thank Randy and Stan for their kind comments!

Harness Racing International Publishes Article on the Bloodline of Nelson 4209

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Rip Van Winkle Stock Farm -- Near Catskill -- New York

This image is taken from a postcard mailed from Catskill, New York with a one cent postage stamp. I found this to be a unique image.

Hod Nelson's Connection to Hallowell, Maine

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The Lost Paintings of C.B. Fish

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The Norwood Manufacturing Company featuring the automatic shaft and harness attachment!

I purchased this image recently on e-bay. I thought
it would be of interest to LTP Readers!

Laila's Trip to Merrill's Park -- Another Attempt to Find the Grandstand Posts Fails!

Bygone Trotting Parks Post 1

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Article Courtesy of NEPLAINS.COM

Bygone Trotting Parks Post 2

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Article Courtesy of NEPLAINS.COM

Bygone Trotting Parks Post 3

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Article Courtesy of NEPLAINS.COM

Notes from Bangor, Maine 1906

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Article Courtesy of Neplains.com

Rules for Laying Out Half Mile and Mile Tracks

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Article Courtesy of NEPLAINS.COM

Horses versus Automobiles

Article Courtesy of Neplains.com

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Serendipity -- Driving by Beech Ridge Speedway

Yesterday I had a full day -- driving (more than 300 miles) and meetings with Mike Sweeney at Scarborough Downs and Jean Emerson (publisher of Northeast Harness News) in Saco. After these meetings I ventured to Buxton to meet with Lou Emery in order to return the 1893 premium book of the Buxton and Hollis Agricultural Society. After my meeting with Lou I was scheduled to return to the Maine Mall to meet Dennis Danie who was accompanying me to Gonic, New Hampshire to deal with my lost 67 Chevy Pickup (another story). Being a nondirectional (new word) sort of person I set my GPS and set off from Skip Road. I ended up calling my ISP man and as I spoke with him I couldn't hear my GPS directions. My GPS kept recalculating. Finally, I started paying attention and set off on the new course. As I was bombing my way to the Payne Road in Scarborough, I suddenly realized that I was driving by the Beech Ridge Speedway (location of the former Ling Trotting Park from the 1880's). At some point I knew that I would be taking pictures of the speedway. I suddenly realized today was the day! I quickly stopped my car, got out my camera, and started taking pictures. After the first round of pictures I noticed an open gate to the main office. Here I spoke with Ralph Cusack, the father of Andy Cusack,the current owner. Ralph gave me permission to take pictures of the track. I drove up on and around the track taking pictures as I stopped along the way. Therefore, the unintended slideshow of Beech Ridge Speedway!

Ralph provided me with the trail of ownership for the speedway. Jim McConnell built the speedway around 1950. Calvin Reynolds became the second owner of the speedway. Ralph purchased the speedway in 1981 and sold it to his son in the mid 1990s. In the near future we may have more posts on the Ling Trotting Park and the Beech Ridge Speedway.

The aerial view of the Beech Ridge Speedway was saved from Google Earth.

Ling Trotting Park in Scarborough -- Now Beech Ridge Speedway

First Post: The Nelson Bloodline

As this story unfolds I believe you will feel the life and times of Hod Nelson and the stallion that bore his name. Hod Nelson was a civil war veteran. He was born in Palermo, Maine in 1843, the son of Benjamin Nelson. During this time, Benjamin Nelson was a local shopkeeper. The towns of China and Palermo had close ties -- both through families and local businesses. Through these interactions Hod Nelson met and eventually married Emma Pinkham Jones. This was a fortuitous union in that Emma's father owned the broodmare Gretchen.

The following article was published in The Horseman in December of 1893. Cheryl Hendricksen of NEPLAINS.COM scanned the article from their collection of harness racing memorabilia. I thank her for this most valuable contribution.

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The Story of Nelson -- Suzette Nelson -- Gertrude Nelson -- The Nelson Maternal Bloodline

Throughout November I will post the story of the Nelson bloodline. I am sure that as I post this story other information will become available. In October I contacted individuals in Australia, Canada and Austria attempting to collect information that will make this story memorable for readers. As you read the story if you have any comments or information, please e-mail me at lifework50@gmail.com.

Steve T.

Abner Ames -- Farming with Horses -- Murphy Road, Fort Fairfield

This post features Abner Ames, an Aroostook County potato farmer from Fort Fairfield. Abner farmed because that was all he knew. He was a hunter and a fisherman. He lost his first farm on the Murphy Road in Fort Fairfield due to hale storms that devastated his potato plants in three consecutive years. Three other families lived on the Murphy Road during this period: the Cassidy, Davenport, and White families. Today their homes and farm buildings are gone. In his farming career, Abner worked four different properties. His last farm was on the Aroostook Falls Road. While living on the Murphy Road, he purchased a retired trotting horse named Spark Direct. It was said that whenever Spark Direct would hit the main road, he would take off at a good trot!

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A Bit of Trotting Horse History -- May King -- Sire of Bingen

Lately my research has taken on a project involving the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This project started when Kelly Nelson, a descendant of Hod Nelson, visited Hallowell. Our conversation led us to wondering if there were any horses alive today that would be a descendant of Nelson 4209. My cousin Clark had told me many months ago that if Nelson had any bloodline left it would be found in Australia.

I contacted a standardbred auction house in Australia and they referred me to John Peck, a publisher of an Australasian harness racing magazine and a harness racing historian. John worked on the database on harness racing that is accessed through www.classicfamilies.net. John found the Australisian connection to Nelson through the horse Nelson Bingen. Nelson Bingen by Bingen was foaled in 1912 and exported to New Zealand in 1914. Nelson Bengen's Dam was Suzette Baron. Her dam was Suzette Nelson by Nelson.

Another mare by Nelson was Gertrude Nelson. Her family line still exists in Canada and the United States. Bingen's sire was May King. May King ended up being terribly maligned and in 1905 was sold at auction in New York City for $235. The buyer was N.B. Parsons of Fort Fairfield, Maine. Parsons sold May King to A.T. Hoyt also from Fort Fairfield. May King died on April 8, 1911 at the age of 25.

Last week I called Rayle Reed Ainsworth to see if she knew anything about N.B. Parsons or A.T. Hoyt. Rayle referred me to Marilyn Chase who was originally a Hoyt from Fort Fairfield. Marilyn knew nothing of Parsons, but she did know that A.T. Hoyt was a relative whose father and grandfather had farms that were once on the Hoyt Road in Fort Fairfield. A.T. Hoyt was a car saleman who died in 1952. Marilyn believed that the burial location for May King would probably been on the grandfather's farm. The pictures of Hoyt Road and properties below were taken by Tony Levesque and Mike Bosse.

Death of Seth Griffin -- Builder of Rigby Park

Cheryl and Mike Hendricksen, owners of Neplains.com provided me with the articles regarding Seth Griffin's death and the photograph of Seth Griffin. Mike and Cheryl have been wonderful support throughout the past year as I have developed the Lost Trotting Parks Blog. They sell vintage postcards and trotting horse memorabilia. Check out their website at http://www.neplains.com. They often have Maine memorabilia for sale!