Roosevelt Raceway

[saratogadew]

My late Grandfather got me into horse racing at a very young age. Going to Belmont with him when i was 5 or 6. He hated Harness Racing and would tell me stories of fixed (supposedly) races and bottles being thrown on the track. The other night I was looking into the history of Roosevelt Raceway and found an interesting tidbit. In 1963 there was a race involving a crash and only 2 horses crossed the finish line. The race was declared official and rioting ensued. Fans threw bottles, attacked the judges booth, tore down the toteboard and set fires. Wow! We need to fans to bring more of that racing passion to the track today

[ScottJ]

Dear saratogadew : If you search YouTube, you will find about 15 minutes of black and white footage that shows the riot building at RR. At first, some folks wandered onto the track and from there, the situation got out of hand. The RR head of security died of a heart attack during the rampage and if you watch the video, you will see police trying to clear a lane on the half-mile oval to get the ambulance to the victim.

Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUqHVP02yM0

Nov. 8, 1963: A half-hour after Speedy Scot's triumphant victory in the Dexter Cup Trot, the worst riots in the history of horse racing in New York State ensued at Roosevelt Raceway. There was an accident which disabled six horses near the three-quarter mark in the sixth race, and only two horses finished the race. Knight Deposit and Delaway, were declared the official one-two finishers by the judges. Hundreds of angry bettors went on a rampage, smashing the tote board, setting fires and shattering glass doors. Things became so intense that Roosevelt's security chief, Conrad H. Rothengast, collapsed and died of a heart attack. One hundred and fifty Nassau County police officers arrived in sixty-five patrol cars, and attempted to bring the mob under control. Patrolman Frank O'Neill, one of the first of 150 officers frantically summoned to help track police, was beaten to the ground by a group of 20. "They were like animals", said Jack E. Lee of the Long Island Press, who watched the riot from the press box high above the stands.

Numerous fans jumped over the rail and smashed all the lights on the Tote board. The judge's booths were attacked, and John DeMatteo, one of the judges, was injured. Program booths were destroyed and cars were damaged. A sulky was set on fire in the middle of the track. The fire department had to use hoses to keep fans from interfering with firemen who were attempting to put fires out around the track. Fifteen people were transported to the hospital. One policeman was badly beaten.

The accident occurred when the second horse, Lynch Hanover, driven by Joe MacDonald, attempted to pass the leader, Waygone, driven by Robert Frame. Lynch Hanover stepped into a wheel on Waygone's sulky, and down they went. The judges posted prices of $35 and $14.50 for Knight Deposit and $6.10 and $7.30 for Delaway. Two drivers, Joseph McAlduff and Hugh Bell, were transported to the hospital.

At one point, you can see the flash from an officers gun, as he fired a round into the track.

[saratogadew]

Thanks for the info Scott. That was crazy!