Bowie Race Track was an American

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

track located just outside the city limits of

Bowie, Maryland Bowie () is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 58,329. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County; i ...

. It operated from 1914 through 1985. The facility is now a training center for

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorses.

History

The one-mile oval racetrack, known as Prince George's Park, was opened October 1, 1914, under the auspices of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Society—in actuality, the track's owners were famous Baltimore confidence men Gad Brian and Jim O'Hara. A major attraction in the area, easy access for racetrack patrons was available from the WB&A Railroad which ran trains every five minutes from the Liberty Street Station in Baltimore for which they charged 65¢ for a round-trip ticket. Admission to the grounds and

grandstand A grandstand is a normally permanent structure for seating spectators, typically at sports stadiums and including both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium i ...

was $1.00. The track was a natural addition to the area, home to the

Belair Stud Belair Stud was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm founded by Provincial Governor of Maryland Samuel Ogle in 1747 in Collington, Prince George's County, Maryland, in Colonial America. Colonial period Queen Mab and ...

Farm, founded by

Samuel Ogle Samuel Ogle ( 1694 – 3 May 1752) was the 16th, 18th and 20th Proprietary Governor of Maryland from 1731 to 1732, 1733 to 1742, and 1746/1747 to 1752. Background The Ogle family was quite prominent for many centuries in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, No ...

and credited as the "Cradle of American thoroughbred racing." In 1939, Bowie Race Track began hosting the annual Bowie Handicap, which had previously been run at

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of O ...

from 1909 through 1938. The Bowie-hosted edition was run at one mile and seventy yards, while the Pimlico edition had been run at distances from miles to two miles. Following America's involvement in World War II, the racetrack was closed from 1943 into 1945. In the 1950s, Bowie Race Track was a pioneer of winter racing. Some of the races inaugurated at the Bowie track include: *

Barbara Fritchie Handicap The Barbara Fritchie Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run at Laurel Park Racecourse in February. A Listed event, this race is open to fillies and mares age four and up. It is run at seven furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse o ...

* Caesar's Wish Stakes * Endurance Handicap * John B. Campbell Memorial Handicap * Native Dancer Stakes *

Rowe Memorial Handicap The Rowe Memorial Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run between 1930 and 1954 at Bowie Race Track in Bowie, Maryland. A six furlong sprint run on dirt, the event was open to horses age three and older. First run on April 5, 1930, ...

On March 9, 1955, officials discovered a

cabin cruiser A cabin cruiser is a type of power boat that provides accommodation for its crew and passengers inside the structure of the craft. A cabin cruiser usually ranges in size from in length, with larger pleasure craft usually considered yachts. Man ...

floating on the track's infield lake. No one knew how it got there. During the night of January 31, 1966, a fire burned down five barns at the track that took the lives of at least 43 horses. Competition from new racing operations such as Keystone Race Track (later known as Philadelphia Park and then Parx Racing) in

Bensalem, Pennsylvania Bensalem Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township borders the northeastern section of Philadelphia and includes the communities of Andalusia, Bensalem, Bridgewater, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, Flush ...

, ultimately led to the demise of the Bowie Race Track which ceased racing operations on July 14, 1985. The track now serves as a training center for

racehorses. The track and training facility is now owned by MI Developments Inc. (MID).

References

External links

Article about winter racing at Bowie Racetrack and the "Bowie Breed"
{{coord, 39, 00, 20, N, 76, 44, 21, W, display=title Buildings and structures in Bowie, Maryland Defunct horse racing venues in the United States Stronach Group Horse racing venues in Maryland 1914 establishments in Maryland 1985 disestablishments in Maryland