For New York, the 1862 horse racing and trotting season got underway at the Union Course just east of the city on Long Island with harness racing. The centerpiece on a fine day was a match race for an $800 prize between the mare Sunnyside and a gray gelding called Ed Eddy over a mile, best three heats out of five. Racing began at 4 p.m. with James McCann driving Ed Eddy to win all three heats before a large crowd. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
"The Turf: First Day on the Union Course," New York Times, May 30, 1862, p. 8.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Education/Culture