Grand Circuit Explained

The Grand Circuit, also known as the "Big Wheel",[1] is a group of harness racing stakes races run at various race tracks around the United States.[2] Run on one-mile tracks,[3] it is "the oldest continuing horse-racing series in the United States."

The series was started in 1871 by Colonel Billy Edwards, of Cleveland, Ohio, L.J. Powers of Springfield, Massachusetts, E.A. Buck of Buffalo, New York, and later C.W. Hutchinson of Utica, New York.[4] The first meeting of the Circuit was held in 1873 in Cleveland, followed by races in Springfield, Buffalo, and Utica. The original four-location competition was named "The Quadrilateral Trotting Combination," but was renamed when additional legs were added.[5]

In 1914 the Grand Circuit consisted of six tracks, located in: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Prior to this there were more, including Narragansett Park in Providence, Rhode Island; Charter Oak Park in Hartford, Connecticut; Readville Race Track in Boston, Massachusetts; Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire; Fleetwood Park Racetrack in New York, New York; and Poughkeepsie, New York, but anti-gambling laws during the early part of the 20th century caused them to drop out.[6]

As of 2023, the circuit was run at 22 tracks.

Tracks as of 2023

As listed by the United States Trotting Association, in 2023 the Grand Circuit Races were held at the following 22 venues:[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Hinkle . Charlie . Racing's Grand Circuit Opens Colorful Season . 2022-11-01 . . 12 . 23 May 1954 . Newspapers.com.
  2. Book: Siegel . Paul D. . How to Own Winning Standardbred Racehorses . 2002 . The Russell Meerdink Company Ltd. . Neehah, Wisconsin . 0-929346-72-6 . 20 . Jul 1, 2020.
  3. Book: Hoffman . Dean . Harness Racing in New York State . 2012 . The History Press . Charleston, SC . 978-1-61423-629-0 . July 2, 2020.
  4. Encyclopedia: Grand Circuit . . March 4, 2004 . July 1, 2020.
  5. Book: Fasig . William Benjamin . Gocher . William Henry . Fasig's Tales of the Turf . 1903 . W.H. Gocher . Hartford, CT . 25 . July 2, 2020.
  6. Kline . Tedd H. . The Handwriting on the Wall . The Breeder's Journal . Nov 28, 1914 . 3 . 11 . 6–9 . Jul 1, 2020.
  7. Web site: All Age 2023 Grand Circuit Races . 2023-11-25 . . 2024-01-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114095222/https://www.ustrotting.com/assets/pdf/AllAgeGC.pdf . 2024-01-14 . live.