HARNESS RACING

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

HARNESS RACING. Regular harness racing programs began in eastern Iowa in the 1870s. Before the construction of race tracks, the sport was amateur with local riders matching their animals on races along Locust Street from 15th to 2nd in Dubuque. Grandview Track was one mile from Delhi Street to the Grandview fire station. It was one hundred feet wide and could easily handle four to five horses with a single seat sleigh. Racing at Locust Street was banned in 1877. By 1900, this type of racing was stopped altogether.

In 1894 Henry L. STOUT decided to build a trotting and breeding stable. The stable was near Asbury Road at what is now the northeast corner of Carter and Chaney. The purchase of NUTWOOD proved to be extremely wise. Horsemen nationwide brought their brood mares to Stout's farm, and it is said Nutwood earned his owners $650,000.

Dubuque built a new race track and fairgrounds in August of 1874. In 1894 the track was lengthened from a half of a mile to a mile and named after Stout’s horse. NUTWOOD PARK was nationally recognized. One hundred horses were entered in the 1894 races, and three hundred forty-eight horses were entered in 1898.

In 1899 the DUBUQUE TROTTING AND PACING ASSOCIATION was formed. It held a week-long fair with the largest bill of races in the nation and offered large prizes. A great new grandstand was built and the track was widened. One of the street cars that ran between the park and the city estimated about 8,000 people rode to and from the races on opening day. Excursion trains came from all over the United States; hotels were filled. Although the track was packed for the beginning of the fair, when the last race was run on Saturday most of the seats in the grandstand were empty. Nutwood Park closed soon after that.