Well, in the midst of my current research on horse racing inwestern Pennsylvania, I stumbled across an August 18, 1894 article in Harper’s Weekly called “Horse-Racing ByElectric Light” which makes clear that St. Louis actually had the firstnight-time racing. Here it is in its entirety:
“There is but one place in the world in which horse-racingmay be seen at night. That is in St. Louis, Missouri. The track was built as aregulation daylight race-course, but Missouri pool laws soon after went intoforce and drove all the “talent” to the track across the river in East St.Louis. A stockholder in the venture suggested that the place be lighted up andrun at night as a sort of curiosity, but he did not dream that horses could berun successfully in a long meeting at the full distances that are common onshort courses. The venture was tried, however, and it succeeded from the start.Before the summer and fall were half gone the grand stand would not hold thepeople who thronged to see the races.”What I found most interesting (in addition to the idea ofspotlights illuminating the racers) is the illustration by Max F. Klepper (aftera sketch by A. Russell) that accompanies the article:
“When the track was opened for business the stablingaccommodations were large enough for but forty horses. Now more than sevenhundred racers have their homes on the grounds, and new quarters are beingbuilt every month. All of the stables are lighted by electricity, and thestable-grounds are also well illuminated. The track is kept in good condition,and the rules that govern the National Association apply in its government. Ifa jockey has been ruled off the big daylight tracks he cannot ride here, and ahorse that has been disqualified elsewhere, or any owner who stands in theshadow of irregularity, has no recognition. The attendance this season hasaveraged two thousand people a night.”
“There is a bunch of electric lamps every twenty-five feetaround the track, which is five-eighths of a mile in length. Over twentythousand candle-power is expended on the course alone, not to speak of thegrand stand and those scattered about other parts of the grounds.”
“The entire atmosphere of the race-course, judged from adistance, is that of a circus. There are hackmen, tamale-venders,peanut-sellers, ticket-peddlers, and what not.”
“About the interior is evidence of everything but that whichwe commonly associate with horse-racing. The big plaza is brilliantly lightedby incandescent lights, and a throng of people in the cool garments of summerevening wear stroll slowly along to the entrance of the grand stand, which, ina glare of light, stands out against the dark sky in front.”
“When the track is lighted every part of it can be seen, andit shows almost which at the turns, where the force of light is doubled. Awayon the back stretch a pair of horses wearily drag a scraper along near thefence. Down in front of the grand stand the clods can be as plainly seen as ifit were daytime. Just across the track is the judges’ little stand, with agreat dial in front of it. “Next race, 8:30,” it says. It is an odd time to seeon an announcement dial at a race-course. The entire thing is strange. There isno dust, no glaring sun, no panting horses, and no perspiring jockeys.”
“Everything is managed as in the regular meeting.”
“The trumpeter calls the horses to the post exactly at 8:30.They enter the track at the gate at the first turn, and parade up past thegrand stand and return to the start. This is done in order to give the audiencefamiliarity with the numbers and colors.”
“Until this moment there is nothing in the generalatmosphere or familiar sights about the place to remind one of a race-course.But the work of the starter and his marshal is at once familiar. The animalsprance, break away, and are driven back time and again. Finally the flag falls.”
“They’re off!” is the shout that goes up from one end of thegrand stand to the other. The audience rises. Now it is the daylightrace-course over again. The scene is an exciting one. Suddenly, as the racerscome into the stretch, a powerful search-light is thrown on them from one offour little elevated houses that are situated at the turns. The colors, even tothose of the sashes worn by the jockeys, stand out in the perfection ofclearness. The search-light follows the horses around the turn, and thenanother one takes its place as the animals break into the stretch down past thestand. Never was a daylight race more exciting than this. The spectators yelllike mad as the animals go by the judges with a rush. As they reach the turnthey go into the glare of the steel-blue search-light, and again is thebeautiful color effect presented. The finishes are generally exciting, and therunning fair.”
Source: “Horse-Racing By Electric Light” Harper’s Weekly, August 18, 1894, p.788.
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