the table rock driving park
(harness racing track)
1882 - ?
An 1892 image of a harness racer (not in Table Rock)
The first reference found to the race track was in 1882. The June 17, 1882 edition of the Table Rock Argus reported the formation of the organization, with the track to be built on J. C. Parrish's farm.
1894
September 27, 1893 - this article and the one to the right
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1894, "the fruitS of his folly"
In the big flyer above, the promoters made a day of it in Table Rock, advertising the horse races, "interesting ball games," and a play at the Opera House called the Fruit oF his Folly. Here's a September 1894 article from the Argus about the production.
1894 Nebraska State Journal
1895 - DELEGATES TO THE AMERICAN TROTTING ASSOC. CONGRESS
The Table Rock Driving association cited in the 1895 Bienniel Congress of the American Trotting Association held in Chicago May 11, 1895. Many many tracks listed. 291 members present and represented, including Table Rock’s.
Publication: Spirit of the Times, New York, NY, page 24, cites a May 18, 1895 fourth biennial (every other year) meeting of the American Trotting Association. Apparently this governing body did not last. In 1939, the United States Trotting Association was founded as the governing body for harness racing.
excerpts
From the list of attending organizations -- Table Rock Driving Park Association, Table Rock, Nebraska.
1898
1898
1898
1899
October 30, 1899 Lincoln Journal Star
1900
July 5, 1900
August 2, 1900 -- "Ask Bill Ward how he likes 16 to 1." A reference to an event at the driving park? One never knows....
1901 - the ancient order of united workmen PUT TOGETHER A 4TH OF JULY PRoGRAM THAT INCLUDED RACES AT THE DRIVING PARK
a little race in 1907
Table Rock Argus, July 15, 1907
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A. N. Aylor, Sr., is the man with the white shirt in this photo taken circa 1920. When this photo was posted on Facebook, there was much discussion about where it could have been taken. The building could have been long gone. Joe Sochor settled that. He recognized the configuration of windows and doors as those of his building. The bar was originally in his building and later moved next door. With him are Lewis Day, John Cockrill, and George Griffing.
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viola roberts
When this photo was posted on Facebook in 2014, comments included this one:
“It seems like the old timers talked about the horse races. All the fairs had races and were some ‘tracks’ just out in the country where friendly competitions were held.” That looks like a racing saddle, and the horse looks like a racehorse! Was there a racetrack around Table Rock?”
Yes, indeed there was a race track.
Was Viola Roberts a famous race horse?
Michael Hendricksen of Liberty, Missouri, a friend of the Table Rock Historical Society, enjoys learning about the history of horse racing. Michael knows a few people in the business of horses, including one Cathy Schenck. Cathy is with Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. If you know anything about horse racing, you will know the place. Keeneland is a National Historic Landmark, and its beautiful, park-like grounds are open to the public every day. More importantly to this page is the Keeneland Library, one of the world’s largest repositories of information and photographs related to Thoroughbred racing.
Michael asked Cathy if she might find out something out Table Rock's Viola Roberts. Keeneland checked its books. The end result was not as exciting as discovering this repository of the records. Still, Viola Roberts was on the books.
Was Viola Roberts a famous race horse?
Michael Hendricksen of Liberty, Missouri, a friend of the Table Rock Historical Society, enjoys learning about the history of horse racing. Michael knows a few people in the business of horses, including one Cathy Schenck. Cathy is with Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. If you know anything about horse racing, you will know the place. Keeneland is a National Historic Landmark, and its beautiful, park-like grounds are open to the public every day. More importantly to this page is the Keeneland Library, one of the world’s largest repositories of information and photographs related to Thoroughbred racing.
Michael asked Cathy if she might find out something out Table Rock's Viola Roberts. Keeneland checked its books. The end result was not as exciting as discovering this repository of the records. Still, Viola Roberts was on the books.
Michael, Cathy Schenck asked me to try to find some information on Viola Roberts for you. |
keeneland association -- race track and auction companyThis unique place is more than a race track. It is world’s leading Thoroughbred auction house. According to its website, Keeneland has sold more champions and stakes winners than any other sales company, including 82 horses that won 88 races during the Breeders’ Cup World Championship winners; 19 Kentucky Derby winners; 21 Preakness winners; 18 Belmont winners; 11 recipients of the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year; and five Epsom Derby winners. Keeneland’s global brand attracts a diverse international clientele, with buyers representing nearly every U.S. state and 50 countries attending its four annual sales.
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local race horses of w. c. fellers & e. m. Berry -- jersey boy & dr. tom
From the August 9, 1900 Argus:
December 26, 1905 Lincoln Star: W. C. Fellers' fine "driving" horse -- i.e., harness racing horse -- was stolen. The name of the horse was not stated.
dr. tom the guideless wonder
Dr. Tom the Guideless Wonder -- no apparent relation to E. M. Berry's pacer Dr. Tom -- may or may not have raced at Table Rock, but he certainly raced at the County Fair. A guideless wonder was a type of harness racing horse that ran without either rider or driver. It was quite a novelty and heavily advertised, and he was said to be very fast. A search for Dr. Tom in newspapers.com shows many articles for appearances in Nebraska and Kansas. Here is one from the August 6, 1910 Arkansas City (Kansas) Daily Traveler, from an extended article about their fair:
Excerpt from a huge advertisement for a fair at Coffeeville, KS from the Cherryvale (KS) Republican, of October 16, 1909
October 16, 1907 Beatrice Daily Express