by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Nearly three years of planning came to fruition May 1 when the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Ill., opened its doors to a new exhibit. On loan from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., is “The Story of Harness Racing by Currier & Ives.”

A wall hanging describing the Currier & Ives exhibit is next to “Rysdyk’s Hambletonian.”

Over 30 lithographs adorn the Presidential Library’s walls depicting great trotting horses and equestrian-type scenes of the 1800s in a style exclusively characteristic to Currier & Ives. The collection includes pieces of art such as “Rysdyk’s Hambletonian,” “Mambrino, Sire of Imported Messenger,” “The Horse Fair” and “A Crack Trotter Between Heats.”

Each piece, perfectly framed and in mint condition, hanging in the subtly lit Presidential Library, links the visitor to a portion of harness racing history passed on through generations, whether a seasoned veteran of racing campaigns past and present, or someone who had no idea the sport existed.

However, that’s not all.

Through the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum’s own collection, the research of Illinois State Historian and Lincoln scholar Thomas Schwartz, and items lent by the state’s own harness history enthusiasts, Illinois’ rich marriage with harness racing is also intertwined with the classics by Currier & Ives.

The high wheel sulky is displayed prominently with the speed wagon alongside.

Surrounded by the pieces from the Currier & Ives exhibit that adorns the Library’s walls is a statuesque plastic horse in full harness, hitched to a restored Jerald high wheel sulky. Its mannequin catch driver wears the authentic colors of yesteryear southern Illinois horseman and trainer Flip Knipp. Alongside rests an antique 4-wheel racebike known as a “speed wagon.”

Also showcased are items such as the original race and membership records of the Petersburg Jockey Club. That group competed over an oval in nearby Petersburg, Ill., surveyed and laid out by Abraham Lincoln. Photographs of Lincoln’s horse “Old Bob” and Ulysses S. Grant’s Civil War saddle, plus a lithograph of Grant speeding along in a horse-drawn buggy are also on display.

Du Quoin, Illinois’ prolific history as home to the sport’s greatest prize, The Hambletonian, is portrayed by an official race program, photos, and post card.

The combination of exhibits came together via team effort, spearheaded initially by United States Trotting Association District 5 director John Cisna who has been working on the project since early 2006. He contacted Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame director Gail Cunard and discussed various plans and timetables. However, the popularity of the Currier & Ives exhibit and its full booking schedule precluded a visit to Springfield.

Timothy M. Jones photos

Joe Mullins (left) and John Cisna look over the ISOBA 2010 racing calendar that promotes the Currier & Ives exhibit on the cover.

Cisna then discussed his idea with Joe Mullins. The horseman has not lived in the Prairie State that long, but is not only a volunteer at the Presidential Library and Museum, he is also a member of the Library and Museum’s Foundation.

Mullins, in turn, mentioned the exhibit idea to the Library and Museum’s Deputy Director Jennifer Tirey — who just happens to hail from Du Quoin.

Deputy Director Tirey and Director Cunard’s back-and-forth communications proved fruitful, so at 12 noon, Saturday, May 1, the exhibit opened for public viewing.

The Currier & Ives exhibit will remain in Springfield until August 31. Admission is free of charge. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but closed weekends.

For more information on the 16th President of the United States Library and Museum, visit www.presidentlincoln.org.

For more information on the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York, visit www.harnessmuseum.com.