For nearly two centuries, horses have been racing around the half-mile oval at Goshen Historic Track, carrying with them a story that reaches far beyond harness racing.
Established in 1838, Goshen Historic Track is one of North America’s oldest active trotting tracks and one of Orange County’s most enduring landmarks. In 1966, it was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its importance to the history of American sports.
For George Casale, a retired attorney and former amateur harness driver who has served on the Goshen Historic Track Board for more than 20 years, preserving the track means protecting a part of America that might otherwise disappear.
The racing industry has faced enormous challenges over the last 25 years. Many race tracks, in the face of dwindling attendance, have had to close their doors.
“I think it’s important to know that no matter what transpires going forward in the industry, we’re always going to have Goshen Historic Track,” Casale said. “As such, Goshen Historic Track, and its neighbors, the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, will ensure that the history of harness racing will be preserved for future generations. We’ll still be able to safeguard the history right here in Goshen.”
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From Main Street to a historic track
Long before automobiles transformed American life, horses were central to transportation, work, recreation and of course racing. At that time, everyone had horses, and they were the main form of travel and productivity for an agrarian society. Families traveling in horse-drawn buggies would race one another down Main Street. In Goshen, informal horse races were held along what is now Main Street as early as the 1700s. Eventually, racing along public roads became dangerous, and a more organized venue was needed. That led to the creation of the track in 1838, turning an informal tradition into an organized sporting institution.
Harness racing would become deeply connected to Goshen’s identity. The area affectionately became known as the “Cradle of the Trotter,” and generations of horses, drivers, trainers, owners, and fans passed through Goshen Historic Track.
The track’s history is also connected to some of the most important names in American Standardbred racing. Messenger, an imported stallion who stood in Goshen in 1801, became a foundational sire of both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred breeds. His most famous descendant, Hambletonian, became another foundational sire, and almost all trotting horses today can trace their lineage to Hambletonian.
Even today, visitors can see the oak tree in the center of the infield where Hambletonian grazed.
When racing shaped the community
At its height, harness racing was much more than a sporting event. It was an important part of Goshen’s economy and social life.
Casale recalled that Goshen once was the home of two racetracks, and from the 1930s through the 1950s, as many as 35,000 people would come to the area for racing.
“You can imagine that businesses did very well with all of the people who came to attend the races,” he said.
That changed in 1978, when pari-mutuel betting ended in Goshen. Although racing continued, the crowds became smaller, and local businesses felt the impact.
The community responded by creating new traditions, including Great American Weekend, which brought visitors back to Goshen with rides, food, exhibits, and other activities.
Today, Historic Track itself serves a much broader role. It has hosted weddings, graduations, concerts, fundraisers, car shows, religious services, flea markets of sorts, artists, and other community gatherings.
“I like to think of Goshen Historic Track as the crown jewel of Goshen,” Casale said. “Everybody knows where Goshen Track sits.”
A place where generations meet
The track has also become a place where younger generations can encounter traditions that began long before they were born.
Youth programs introduce children to horsemanship and harness racing. The Harness Horse Youth Foundation brings young people to Goshen to learn about horses, care for them, and experience the sport alongside professionals.
Casale believes these opportunities are important because preserving history is not simply about maintaining old buildings—it is about making sure younger generations understand the traditions behind them.
The track has also played a role in breaking down barriers to participation. Casale noted that when children were once prohibited from entering racetracks, the Harriman family, which owned the track at that time, believed children should be able to experience the races. When the law changed in the 1940s, Goshen was among the first tracks to welcome children.
‘It took a village to raise a barn’
Preserving a nearly two-century-old landmark requires more than historical recognition. It requires a community willing to step forward when challenges arise.
That became especially clear in 2017, when a major fire damaged part of the historic BOCES Barn, which had long been associated with harness racing and education, and where President Grant attended and watched the races.
The community came together to help rebuild it.
“It took a village to raise a barn,” Casale recalled.
Today, the track continues to rely heavily on memberships, donations, community events, and local support. Maintaining such an old property is an ongoing challenge. The Auxiliary of Goshen Historic Track, established in the late 1970s, has been an ardent supporter and fundraiser for the track. The grandstand, built in 1911, now requires substantial repairs, and Goshen Historic Track’s Board of Directors continues to seek support for its preservation.
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Preserving history for the next 100 years
As America celebrates 250 years, Goshen Historic Track offers a reminder that American history is not found only in famous monuments or major cities. It can also be found in local places that have survived because generations of people believed they were worth saving.
“Racing was part of American culture for many years,” Casale said. “A very different society than what it is today.”
For him, preserving the track does not mean keeping it frozen in time. Racing continues, while educational programs, concerts, community gatherings, and other events bring new life to the historic grounds.
His hope is simple: that future generations will still be able to walk through the gates and see essentially the same place.
“My view would be, if we could have this conversation in 100 years, Goshen Historic Track would pretty much still look the same as it does now,” Casale said. “That’s the hope—that it remains as it is in perpetuity. We are, in a true sense, the guardians of history here in Goshen. What people saw in 1838 should remain relatively unchanged, so that people today can experience a true walk in time.”
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