The first race track in Texas was built near the town of San Saba in the hill country before the Civil War. Quarter Horse racing was particularly popular at the time as it remains today throughout the Texas hill country. A race course was built in Brownwood in 1880; Hyde Park was established in 1850 in Austin; and Dallas had fair park in 1886.
Gambling at Texas tracks was commonplace, but it wasn't until 1905 that it was sanctioned by the legislature "on the day and within the enclosure where such races are run". No regulation accompanied this legislation and in 1909 the legislature voted to prohibit race track gambling all together. In 1933 legislation allowing pari-mutuel betting was passed and four major tracks were built - Arlington Downs between Dallas and Fort Worth, Epsom Downs in Houston, Alamo Downs in San Antonio, and Dallas State Fair Park. The legislature repealed the race track gambling law in 1937.
In the 1970's, the AQHA recognized race tracks in Lubbock, Colleyville, Columbus, Midland, Sonora, Del Rio, Goliad, and Uvalde. "Brush tracks" were operated in Brady, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, Boerne, Hilltop Lakes, Laredo, Seguin, San Angelo, Junction, Wichita Falls, Clear Park, and Bandera
Texas horse racing today exists because the fair associations and brush tracks kept the flame burning during the dark years.
Thank you to Tommy Azopardi, Dr. Charles Graham, Tommy Oliphant, and Wanda O'Banan for providing information on the historical racetracks of Texas.
Gambling at Texas tracks was commonplace, but it wasn't until 1905 that it was sanctioned by the legislature "on the day and within the enclosure where such races are run". No regulation accompanied this legislation and in 1909 the legislature voted to prohibit race track gambling all together. In 1933 legislation allowing pari-mutuel betting was passed and four major tracks were built - Arlington Downs between Dallas and Fort Worth, Epsom Downs in Houston, Alamo Downs in San Antonio, and Dallas State Fair Park. The legislature repealed the race track gambling law in 1937.
In the 1970's, the AQHA recognized race tracks in Lubbock, Colleyville, Columbus, Midland, Sonora, Del Rio, Goliad, and Uvalde. "Brush tracks" were operated in Brady, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, Boerne, Hilltop Lakes, Laredo, Seguin, San Angelo, Junction, Wichita Falls, Clear Park, and Bandera
Texas horse racing today exists because the fair associations and brush tracks kept the flame burning during the dark years.
Thank you to Tommy Azopardi, Dr. Charles Graham, Tommy Oliphant, and Wanda O'Banan for providing information on the historical racetracks of Texas.