And They're Off: 100 Years at Laurel Park
Willie Shoemaker, Secretariat, and Elizabeth Taylor. Slots, Redskins, and The Washington International. October, 2011 marked the Hundredth Anniversary of the Laurel Race Track. The Laurel Museum celebrated this milestone with an exhibition that opened February 6. And They’re Off! 100 Years at Laurel Park explored the glamour and grit of racing, life behind the scenes at the Laurel Race Track, and the impact on the town for which it is named.
The exhibition explored Laurel Park from the beginning years all the way through today’s fading and often tenuous present filled with controversies over slots, bankruptcy, limited racing schedules and threatened shut-downs. The exhibit started in 1911, when the Track began as part of a Four County Fair with high-wire acts, to the Golden Age of the Washington International. And They’re Off was filled with articles and memorabilia; including items such as Willie Shoemaker’s boot last, jockey silks, race cards, and many famous winner’s circle photos. There were celebrities, both human and equine, including Secretariat, Count Fleet, Kelso, Tip O’Neill and Elizabeth Taylor.
The story of Laurel Park is not just a story of racing. The exhibit reminded visitors of the concerts, fairs, and even military camp that occupied the grounds at different periods. Singers Rod Stewart, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, the Guess Who and others sang at Laurel Park on July 11, 1969 in a major prelude to Woodstock.
At its heart, the exhibit really focused on the people who make up the racing community both at the track and in Laurel. Visitors met both the Bedwells and the A.M. Kroop Family, whose custom shoe and boot making shop still operates on Main Street. They were also introduced to the Miller Family, who raise, train and ride horses, and have a Preakness winning jockey in the family! King Leatherbury, the third winningest trainer in America has Barn #1 at Laurel Park. They discovered Nick Jimmie, a horse who captured the town’s heart in the 1950s.
And They’re Off! will ran through December, 2011.
Video on the Exhibit!
Video on Kroops Boots!
Check Us Out in the Press:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/02102011/laurnew180047_32541.php
http://www.explorehoward.com/news/79547/looking-back-100-years-laurel-park/
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/02/10/laurel-celebrates-100.aspx
Check Out Some Famous Races at Laurel:
Secretariat in 1972
TV Lark in 1961
Kelso in 1964
Affirmed in 1977
Not at Laurel, but still interesting! Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral in 1938
Videos Explaining the Horse Racing Industry:
Trainer Barn
Hot Walking
Starter
Groom
Valet
Clerk of Scales
Exercise Rider
Assigned Weight
Patrol Judge
Paddock Judge
The exhibition explored Laurel Park from the beginning years all the way through today’s fading and often tenuous present filled with controversies over slots, bankruptcy, limited racing schedules and threatened shut-downs. The exhibit started in 1911, when the Track began as part of a Four County Fair with high-wire acts, to the Golden Age of the Washington International. And They’re Off was filled with articles and memorabilia; including items such as Willie Shoemaker’s boot last, jockey silks, race cards, and many famous winner’s circle photos. There were celebrities, both human and equine, including Secretariat, Count Fleet, Kelso, Tip O’Neill and Elizabeth Taylor.
The story of Laurel Park is not just a story of racing. The exhibit reminded visitors of the concerts, fairs, and even military camp that occupied the grounds at different periods. Singers Rod Stewart, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, the Guess Who and others sang at Laurel Park on July 11, 1969 in a major prelude to Woodstock.
At its heart, the exhibit really focused on the people who make up the racing community both at the track and in Laurel. Visitors met both the Bedwells and the A.M. Kroop Family, whose custom shoe and boot making shop still operates on Main Street. They were also introduced to the Miller Family, who raise, train and ride horses, and have a Preakness winning jockey in the family! King Leatherbury, the third winningest trainer in America has Barn #1 at Laurel Park. They discovered Nick Jimmie, a horse who captured the town’s heart in the 1950s.
And They’re Off! will ran through December, 2011.
Video on the Exhibit!
Video on Kroops Boots!
Check Us Out in the Press:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/02102011/laurnew180047_32541.php
http://www.explorehoward.com/news/79547/looking-back-100-years-laurel-park/
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/02/10/laurel-celebrates-100.aspx
Check Out Some Famous Races at Laurel:
Secretariat in 1972
TV Lark in 1961
Kelso in 1964
Affirmed in 1977
Not at Laurel, but still interesting! Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral in 1938
Videos Explaining the Horse Racing Industry:
Trainer Barn
Hot Walking
Starter
Groom
Valet
Clerk of Scales
Exercise Rider
Assigned Weight
Patrol Judge
Paddock Judge
