8999 North Federal Boulevard
"And they're off and running;" this phrase is heard daily several times in many locations around the world. From 624 B.C., when the first recorded races with mounted houses were held until the present time, the rise of tracks around the world has increased tremendously. Today horse racing is one of the world's most popular sports.
This sport gave one man, Roy D. Barnes, the initiative to build a race track in the Adams County area because of his love for horses.
Owner and Operator of Lucky Day Track
In the early 1900s, the land, which was later to become the Lucky Day Ranch and Track, was a prosperous cherry orchard called Mattison Orchards. This was later important to the existence of the track because of the railroad that was built to export the cherries and later to transport the horses. This orchard was then considered to be the largest cherry orchard in the world. After its peak year, in 1918, the orchard began to decline in output because of the age of the trees.
Roy D. Barnes then came upon the scene and acquired the land. He then set out to build a ranch which he then called the Lucky Day Track. This was located near the present site of Shaw Heights. It was west of Federal, south of 92nd, north of 88th Avenue, and east of Sheridan. His love for horses motivated him into bringing the first quarter-horse racing to Colorado. Along with this came a horse, called Dutch McCue, which was the first quarter-horse to stand in this state. He then proceeded to build the track. Included in this track was a tack building, which was for feeding both the horsemen and horses and storing the equipment. The actual racing surface was then constructed. The first racing day was the first weekend In June, 1945. This led to the traditional weekend horse racing in the summer and fall. This became a part of the Western Quarter-racing Association, which set up track and racing rules. Only members of the Association could race on the track, though the public could look on for a small admission fee of one dollar. There was no para mutual betting, but there were private wagers. One example was the match racing which was set up by the Association so any two horse owners could race together and see who had the better horse. There often was personal betting on the side. All entry fees were used to pay the winners of each race. All purses were divided fifty percent for first place, thirty percent for second place, and twenty percent for third place.
In 1948, plans were made for expansion of the quarter mile straight track to a conventional oval track. This included a 25,000 car parking lot and a 50,000 seat grandstand. This was to be built with aid from the
county government. On February 21, 1949, the commissioners of Adams County stated that they would provide highways to the location, because they thought it would be good for Colorado. This was supposed to open later in the summer of 1949, but because of some difficulties, it was not completed. That year was the last year for racing at the track and it was closed.
PROPOSED LUCKY DAY TRACK
In 1954, Mr. Barnes sold the land to Ray Shaw and his two lawyers, Arthur and Erwin Hayutin. They proceeded to clear the land, including the destruction of the track, and built a housing project on some of the land. These houses still stand today. The other portion of the land will more than likely be used for future development in the housing industry.
Acknowledgements
Matilda Campbell, Westminster Historical Society
Frank Ciancio
Leonard Pompon 10
Fred Eppinger
Dr. Carl Jacogson
Roy D. Barnes