Creation of Eclipse Course: Horse Racing Coming to New Orleans

As early as 65438+1930s, the former French and Spanish colonies in Louisiana were still far behind the British thoroughbred horse racing that flourished on the east coast for half a century. Even Picayune Daily is skeptical about the future of local racing. "It is thought that efforts to offer courses in New Orleans will fail." This will be a member of the United States-a man from Mecca, Virginia, who will lay the foundation for Crescent City and become a strong competitor of national sports. Yelverton Oliver, 1836, the captain of "KDSPE", is a versatile lawn player and former owner of the National Jockey Club. He came to New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and seized the opportunity to launch a new race schedule, which will trigger the revival of motor racing. Although a horse racing club was established in a port city more than ten years ago, its potential has never been fully exerted in the port city.

Oliver rented land in Carrollton New Village, located at Old Macatee Plantation about 4.5 miles upstream of New Orleans, and set up his solar eclipse schedule. Carrollton was founded three years ago, and its owner subdivided the land in 1833; One of the owners is John slidell, a former district attorney, who will be elected as the vice chairman and executive judge of the new Jockey Club in June1837+1October. The maps of Carrollton and Greenville in the 1940s show the location of the stadium, which is now surrounded by the streets of Loverine, the levee and St. Charles Avenue.

For the construction of the stadium, Oliver was the first owner to mix sand and soil, and created such a fast track that the legality of speed records in solar eclipses was often questioned. "So far, people who oppose racing in this area will be completely remedied," the captain declared, "because the track will be covered with sand and sawdust, so that it can be kept in good condition in any weather, and there will be no mud or water at any time."

It attracts thousands of spectators, riders and their stables. 1837 In March, an eclipse course was held in New Orleans, which inspired this sport. The following spring, Louisiana Circuit and Metaril Circuit also started to operate, and these efforts were once again led by the visiting Virginia Lawn Manager. The eclipse will continue to be active for more than ten years, and the competition in spring and autumn will continue until the end of 1849. At this time, this track can no longer compete with the other two local tracks, which were also managed by Captain Oliver at 1840' s: the new Bingerman track on the other side of the Algiers River and the most important track in the city, Metairie, occupied the supreme position before the civil war.