The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will release The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century, a 440-page coffee table book chronicling the rich history of America's iconic racetracks, on Aug. 30. The book was produced in partnership with Keeneland Library with underwriting support from Stella Thayer and the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust. The Racetracks of America can be ordered through the Museum's website here: The Racetracks of America—The Gift Shop at the National Museum of Racing.
Edited by Brien Bouyea, the Museum's Hall of Fame and Communications Director, The Racetracks of America features contributions from 35 writers and includes close to 600 photographs, paintings, programs, admission badges, and other memorabilia. The book contains comprehensive histories of dozens of popular past and present racing venues such as Arlington Park, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar Racetrack, Fair Grounds Race Course, Gulfstream Park, Hialeah Park, Hollywood Park, Jerome Park, Keeneland Race Course, Metairie Race Course, Monmouth Park, Oaklawn Park, Pimlico Race Course, Santa Anita Park, Saratoga Race Course, Tampa Bay Downs, and Washington Park, among others.
"This book is an unprecedented history of the tracks that have defined American racing since the 1800s and is essential reading for anyone who loves the sport and its remarkable history," Bouyea said. "The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's mission is to preserve and promote the history of Thoroughbred racing in America and this volume is a perfect example of the Museum doing exactly that. I want to thank Keeneland Library, all of the contributing writers and photographers, and the trustees and staff of the Museum for their support of this unique project."
"The Racetracks of America will join the ranks of seminal chronicles in the industry record," said Keeneland Library Director Roda Ferraro. "Chronicling and sharing racing's storied past and present drives our work every day. On behalf of the Keeneland Library Foundation Board and the Library's staff and patrons, I thank the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for a welcomed collaboration, the Keeneland Association for its commitment to Keeneland Library for more than 85 years, and the writers and photographers across the country who joined this book's mission."
Contributing writers include Michael Blowen, Brien Bouyea, the late Edward L. Bowen, Caton Bredar, Andrew Champagne, Bill Christine, Sean Clancy, Don Clippinger, Steven Crist, Mary Eddy, Bob Ehalt, Roda Ferraro, Tracy Gantz, Teresa Genaro, David Grening, Bill Heller, Jay Hovdey, Dick Jerardi, Jennifer Kelly, Byron King, Jody Lamp, Ed McNamara, Jim Melia, Joe Nevills, Dorothy Ours, Josh Pons, Jay Privman, Nicole Russo, Mark Shrager, Lynne Snierson, Michael Veitch, Natalie Voss, Gary West, Jon White, and Kim Wickens.
Hovdey and Russo also served as editors for the book and Hovdey contributed the foreword. Along with hundreds of images sourced through Keeneland Library and the Museum's collection, essential contributions were made by Eclipse Award-winning photographers Barbara Livingston and Bob Mayberger, as well as from photographers employed by numerous active tracks. Additionally, racing memorabilia collectors Ken Grayson and Greta Polites also provided access to items from their respective collections for inclusion in the book.
