As we listen today to the roar of the cars at the Fairgrounds racetrack, we might wonder how long the interest in racing has been around. Research indicates that it came with the pioneers who settled in Webster City. Sarah Brewer Bonebright, daughter of the founder, Wilson Brewer, relates in her book, Reminiscences of Newcastle, "Horse racing was the usual amusement at public pioneer gatherings. The eastern exposure (side) of Willson Avenue between Walnut and Pleasant Streets served as a natural amphitheater for witnessing the horse races. No residences obstructed the view and settlers from miles around attended the sport." She continued, "... I suppose there never was a pioneer horse race where money or its equivalent did not change hands by betting. One preacher, Elder Housework, would abandon a ministerial trip if racing dates could not be arranged to accommodate him. Major Minter Brassfield would travel miles to race his horses. He raced a bay mare, a grey gelding, and a sorrell." She concluded that the members of her family admired horse flesh, but she did not remember that they were very successful in picking winners.

A search of the files of the Hamilton Freeman revealed 39 articles related to horse racing in Webster City from the beginning to 1883. The July 8, 1867, issue reported in an article with heading The Turf, "Some of the gentlemen of leisure of our young city, who sport fast horses, are preparing a track in the south-east part of town for the purpose of improving the speed and bottom of their horses. We expect to be able to publish to the world that Pachan, Flora Temple, and Geo Wilkes have been distanced by Sandford's Reindeer, Dude's Flying Bay, or Kelsey's Lightening Beater. There's fun ahead, boys."

Another article on July 14, 1869, headed by Speed of Horses, related "By reference to the premium list it will be seen that Norman Fuller, Tho's McDermott, and J. D. Hunter are the judges of the speed of horses. We presume that Norm and Tom were made judges simply as ornaments, and that the real business of exercising horse judgment and science will be left to the other fellow." It must be noted here that Hunter was the editor and publisher of the Freeman.

Again, on July 20, 1870, it was reported that "a trotting match for a purse of $50 will come off on the race track on the west edge of town, next Saturday, July 23^rd, between the black stallion 'Vermont Tiger,' the brown gelding, 'Honest John,' and the bay mare, 'Lady Butler.' All sports and hoss men were urged to be present." The results were posted in the next week's paper as "The hoss trot, after the usual amount of jockeying and syfugling had been gone through with, came off according to programme, last Saturday afternoon, resulting in favor of Davis's mare 'Lady Butler.' She won both heats with times of 2:50 and 2:51."

So much interest existed in the sport that the Webster City Driving Park Association was organized and incorporated on Nov. 17, 1880, with the general interest stated as "the improvement of the breed and the development of horses through the promotion of the interests of the turf." Thirty men of Webster City bought a share of stock issued for $100 per share to raise $3,000 for the corporation. Sumler Willson served as President; F. E. Edwards, Secretary; Dr. J. N. Medbury, Treasurer.. Other stockholders were Jacob Funk, J. D. Hunter, J. L. Kamrar, L. A. McMurray, N. G. Olmstead, L. L. Estes, G. W. Lee, B. F. Miller, and 19 others.

This was followed by the first annual meeting of the Association on October 13, 1880. The first days of racing consisted of four heats of trotting horses: Little Sioux, Billy Boy, Stella C, and Lady M. Little Sioux won first place; Billy Boy came in second; and Stella C was third. Another set of heats was run by four more horses: Eureka, Milo, Darlington, and Fammie Fern. Another race was a running race of half-mile and repeat. Gypsy Queen and Jim Murphy came in first and second.

On July 29, 1880, the Driving Park Association purchased 42 acres of land from Josephine Seeley. Here they constructed a half-mile dirt track located at the south end of West Street. Today this site is occupied by the high school baseball diamond.

The July, 1881, Freeman newspaper reported an article headlined "The Races." These were to be held on July 7, 8, and 9. This was to be the "Largest Field of Horses in Iowa!" 69 horses were to be on the grounds with a total of $2,375 in purses. This amount included a $50.00 purse for Double Team driving by women. Special fares were offered on both the Illinois Central and the Northwestern Railroads for round-trip tickets.

The first day consisted of three classes, with $150 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third in each class. For the second day there was a Running Race, best 3 out of 5 heats on the 1/2 mile track with a purse of $75 each class. This day concluded with another Double Team Race for ladies from Wright and Hamilton Counties. No entrance fee was required for the ladies. The purse was $25. The third day's races consisted of a two-mile race and a half- mile running race for all horses from Hamilton, Wright and Webster Counties.

Driving Park Races were continued here until January 6, 1897, when the Association sold the grounds to the Hamilton County Fair Association. The Fairgrounds were then relocated to this site. From the map with this article it is interesting to note that the street which ran into the grounds was named Fair Street. The Fairgrounds continued to use the old Driving Park grounds until the Fair Board sold it to O. G. Furman on June 4, 1927. Then the Fairgrounds were again relocated to east of the Boone River. On the same day, O. G. Furman, who served the Hamilton County Fair Association as secretary, immediately transferred the grounds to his son, A. A. Furman. A copy of part of the 1918 city map shows the location of this track, which was first created in 1880.

Interest in racing changed to auto racing in 1910. The first auto race was held at the Driving Park track on July 5, 1910. The first race was between E. Edwards driving a Buick, Buster Brown driving a Mitchell, and Bert Barnett driving another Mitchell. This five-mile race was won by Buster Brown with a time of 11:07 minutes. The second race was a ten-mile race between Ray Stockslayer driving a Cole 30, Bert Barnett driving a Mitchell 30, and R. Jeffkins driving a stripped-down Overland. Jeffkins won this race with a two-lap lead. A picture of him and his car is shown with this article. The third race was a five-mile motorcycle race between Richard J. Mullins and Walter Ferrell. Mullins easily won this race with a time of 9:30 minutes.

The feature race was a ten-mile race between R. Jeffkins, R. Austin, and Bert Barnett. Jeffkins was billed as a dare-devil who exhibited cleverness and daring as he piloted his Overland 42. Austin drove an Anhut Six, and Barnett drove a stripped-down Overland 25. On his 17^th lap Jeffkins had a large early lead when his carburetor failed. He dismounted, fixed his car, remounted and won second place. An estimated crowd of 2,000 people were on hand to witness this first auto race in Webster City.

After this race, Jeffkins drove an exhibition five-mile race, which he covered in a little more than six minutes. This was exceedingly fast for the half-mile track. His speed averaged 55 miles per hour, which was the fastest that any car had been driven in Webster City to that date. At the end of the racing programme, Savings Realty Company conducted a drawing for a free lot in the Lawn Hill addition to promote the area for housing. Miss Lottie Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Miller, was the lucky winner of the $300 lot.