People often talk about “The Race Tracks” section of Dublin, about a mile south of downtown at the corner of Smith and Douglas Streets. Sometimes known as “Dublin Downs,” it was a track made for horse racing in the late 1800s. Contestants and observers from miles around would come to Dublin to attend the races on Sunday afternoons. Parts of the track may be still visible.
People sat in buggies, stood or watched on horseback. There weren’t any stands for seating as might be expected. The activities included running or trotting races. Trotting races required that the horse go around the track in a very strict rythmatic gait. The fastest horse would win. (Grand ol’ Erath page 150) Historian Tom Rogers said that the track was active until horse racing in Texas was outlawed in 1903. That was due to the rise of the Progressive Movement and growing efforts to suppress vice activities. (Wikipedia, Gambling in Texas) In talking with Dublin citizens recently, there was said to be informal betting among those attending. It was generally not discussed in polite conversations in town. The Dublin Progress strove to be a widely respected publication so very little was written about the race track during the years it was active. For the mostpart, it was a draw for people in neighboring towns to come to Dublin for a Sunday afternoon’s entertainment.