by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — It was a fitting tribute to a bygone era. A history making event for harness racing and the residents of Readville, Massachusetts.

Some 50 persons, headed by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, braved the threat of rain to attend the dedication of a bronze plaque on Wednesday at the site of the Readville Trotting Park, which flourished from the 1890s into the 1920s.

The project came to completion due to the four-year effort of Robert Temple, vice-president of the New England Harness Writers.

Susan Higgins photo

Walter ‘Bud’ Barrett, Jr. and Jack Ginnetti are shown viewing the bronze plaque which was dedicated at the site of the Readville Trotting Park.

Representatives of New England’s three full-time harness tracks (Rockingham Park, Plainridge Racecourse, and Scarborough Downs) were on hand, as well as former governor Paul Cellucci, several area office holders, and several members of the harness writers. They were joined by Hall of Fame inductee David H. McDuffee from New Hampshire, Richard Johnson, curator of the New England Sports Museum, and Walter E. Barrett, Jr., who wrote a book on the history of Readville.

Mayor Menino recalled how the generation at the turn of the 19th century paved the way for yesterday’s dedication. He also recalled his days as a teller at Foxboro Raceway during the time the track handle would reach $900,000. The mayor was presented a beautiful harness horse piece by chapter president John Ginnetti, Jr.

The plaque reads: “This is the site of Readville Trotting Park, 1890s-1920s, where harness racing’s greatest horses, drivers and owners competed and the world’s first two-minute pace (Star Pointer, 1:59.4 on 8/28/1897) and trot (Lou Dillon, 2:00 on 8/24/1903) took place.”

Temple, who was accompanied by his wife, Susan, thanked those attending the event for taking part in a piece of history.

Refreshments were provided afterwards by the Campanelli Brothers, owners of the site, which is soon to be developed.