The owners occasionally would bring in top jockeys like Willie Shoemaker and Bill Hartack for a few rides to boost interest. Unfortunately, the quality peaked in only the second year of a 33 year run. Phil D finished fourth in 1951 after leading early. Only one horse based at Centennial ever raced at the Kentucky Derby. Agreements with tracks in Arizona and Kansas brought some good horses to Denver, but it could not be sustained. California breeders only went to the "Triple Crown" and again, by plane. Eastern breeders would not come this far, except to fly to California. Most of the time it seemed that finances were short, but when solid ownership arrived in 1968 in the person of the Jacobs Brothers of Buffalo, NY, their reputed ties to the "mob" caused continued scrutiny.īasically, though, it came down to the quality of horseflesh the owners put on the track, which started out suspect and continued a downward spiral. Early management couldn't decide on a cohesive operation and promotion plan, and constantly changing race dates put the public in a quandary. Though both men resigned and were later exonerated by an investigation, this created the cloud Nelson referred to. Mitchell of Centennial and Chairman John Monaghan of the Racing Commission were partners in horse ownership in other states. Soon after their charter was granted, it was revealed that President M.M. Centennial was "too plush" according to some customers and there was less waiting time between races at Mile High, and more races in an evening.īut there were other problems as well.
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To view the dogs, Mile High provided free parking and a 25-cent admission. Some of this they brought on themselves, as it "cost $10 to get to your seat" at Centennial. This was $30,000 less per day than Mile High Kennel Club.Ĭompetition with Mile High was most often cited as the main reason for Centennial's eventual demise. Reality fell far short of this, with the 46 racing dates of the 1950 season averaging a mere $50,000. General Manager Willard Tunney confidently predicted that the average daily income would be $400,000. Nearly 10,000 people passed through the gates during the Independence Day opening, wagering a half a million dollars. Before construction was completed, the owners thought better of the cute play on words and, wanting a classier image, chose Centennial Turf Club. Others soon received their charter to build Colorful Downs near Littleton. The first group to be granted a charter by the Colorado Racing Commission were backers of Mile High Kennel Club in Commerce City, which opened its doors in 1949. "It was born under a cloud and it never really seemed to recover," quipped Rocky Mountain News sports editor Chet Nelson when it closed in 1983.Ĭolorado voters had approved the Parimutuel Act of 1948, and potential investors were soon standing in line. One local newspaperman re-dubbed it the Santa Anna of the Rockies, drawing a less favorable comparison with the defeated Mexican dictator. When Centennial Race Track opened for horse racing on July 4, 1950, its owners dubbed it the Santa Anita of the Rockies, seeking a favorable comparison with the famous California track.
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What is the Unified Land Use Code (ULUC)?.
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