This Week in Horse History - March 15th Through March 21st

March 16th, 1936: Today, the New Hampshire Jockey Club was formed. Lou Smith controlled the club, which took over control of the Rockingham Park track. Rockingham Park was the first racetrack and opened on June 28, 1906 in Salem Depot, New Hampshire. The clubhouse at the time cost $1 million dollars to construct, and the track was proclaimed to be the best racetrack in the world at the time.

Information courtesy of CHRONOLOGY OF ROCKINGHAM PARK

Photo courtesy of All About Rockingham Park

March 17, 1874 - The racehorse Kincsem was born. The Hungarian mare was one of the best racehorses ever, as she raced for four seasons and was victorious in all fifty-four races in which she ran. She raced against both mares and stallions and traveled all over Europe to race. Kincsem had five offspring, three of which were fillies. Kincsem died of colic on her thirteenth birthday on March 17, 1887.

Information courtesy of Kincsem

Photo courtesy of Hungarian Quarterly

March 18th, 2003 - Reining Paint stallion RR Star became the first National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity Champion to win a National Reining Horse Association Open Derby event. RR Star was the first Paint horse to win the NRHA Futurity, which he did in 2001. With the win of the Open Derby Championship at the 2003 NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City, RR Star's lifetime earnings exceeded $200,000.

Information courtesy of RR Star First NRHA Futurity Champion to Win

Photo courtesy of The Equiworld Magazine