It’s off to the races for fans of harness racing this Fourth of July weekend as the Goshen Historic Track reopens to the public for a full weekend of events.

“We've got three days of racing. Friday, we have Landmark racing, Landmark Stakes, which are our grand circuit races here at Goshen. And then Saturday and Sunday we have New York Sires Stakes racing,” says Track President Steve Jones.

Last year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional three-day racing schedule was condensed to a one-day meet, giving the horsemen a chance to race, but Jones says it’s just not the same without spectators.

What You Need To Know

  • The Goshen Historic Track will reopen July 2-4 to the public

  • The track opened in 1838 and is the oldest active half-mile horse trotting track on the planet, and the oldest continuously operated horse racing track in the country

  • Activities for kids include the opportunity to get up close and personal with the horses

“Certainly, a lot better event when you've got fans and kids and, you know, this is a family event,” says Jones.

The year 2020 was the first time Jones says he has ever seen the grandstand empty for a race. He says the grandstand is typically filled to capacity on race days, unless there is bad weather causing people to stay away.

With very little racing happening last year, the harness racing community is happy to get back to normal, because they were also hit hard financially, especially the drivers who race the horses.

"The drivers get paid 5% of the horse's earning, so if the horses aren't racing, you can guess what 5% of nothing is," Jones said.

Opened in 1838, Goshen Historic Track is the oldest active half-mile horse trotting track in the world and the oldest continuously operated horse racing track in the country.

But horse racing was a part of Goshen long before the track opened.

“There's been racing in Goshen since 1783. They used to race horses on the streets of Goshen,” says Jones.

But this weekend, racing isn't the only thing getting back on track. Activities for kids include the opportunity to get up close and personal with the horses.

“This is a thing that's about family, it's about community. And so we're very happy to have everybody back this year to support us,” says Jones.

The track will open on July 2-4, with the Landmark Stakes races beginning at 1 p.m. Each day will feature about a dozen races.