| Agawam Park | |
| Location: | Agawam, Massachusetts |
| Opened: | 1935 |
| Closed: | 1938 |
Agawam Park was an American horse racing track in Agawam, Massachusetts, that was open from 1935 to 1938, when Hampden County, Massachusetts, voted against parimutuel betting.
On May 17, 1935, a special town meeting approved rezoning Bowles Agawam Airport for parimutuel horse racing.[1] On May 28, the Massachusetts Racing Commission granted the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association a racing license.[2] James J. Curry was the track's first president, but business pressures forced him to resign before construction even began. He was succeeded by Thomas Wells Durant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 22, 1935.[3]
The track opened on October 1, 1935.[4] 15,000 spectators attended the day's races but betting was light.[5] On October 16, Seabiscuit won the $2,500 Springfield Handicap.[6]
The track was deeply in debt after its first year and on March 23, 1936, Judge George Clinton Sweeney approved a reorganization of the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association that saw Anderson T. Herd purchase 15,000 shares in the track for $150,000.[7] After Herd took control, James C. Thornton replaced Lou Smith as the track's general manager and Ed Brennan took over as racing secretary.[8]
The track's second meet opened on May 27, 1936. 8,000 people attended the first day of races, which again was plagued by low betting.[9] On August 17, 1936, the track was put up for auction by the Agawam town collector due to unpaid taxes, however, no one bid on the property.[10] On March 29, 1937, Judge Sweeney gave the Agawam Racers and Breeders Association approval to hold races that summer.[11] That August, Paul Bowser sponsored a Grand Circuit meet at Agawam Park.[12]
On November 8, 1938, Hampden County voters rejected a referendum permitting parimutuel betting on horse racing 22,586 votes to 17,487, forcing the closure of Agawam Park.[13]