On December 16th, 1948, Joe Leslie and his cousin Bernie Glynn, from Natick, Mass, bought the racetrack. (48) Freeman Leslie’s diary entry for August of 1949 indicates the popularity of the track in St.

Peters:

Day fine and wam Home to the races on the new track at St. Peters. A record crowd — about three thousand people there. Also Close Racing. Track stood up good.” (49)

The track closed down again in the 1950s, but according to Hubert Maclsaac, was reopened in 1978 for the third time. (50) Indicated by the pictures, the grandstands were much bigger in the initial years of the racetrack. There were also many more stables. The track itself, however,

has remained unchanged over the years.

The “Central Kings Driving Park,” opened in 1978, in its first year had seventeen men donate lumber to build stalls. In that initial year, it was moved by committee member Arthur MacDonald and seconded by Emmett DeCoursey that fifty shares be sold to ten horsemen. The following year, this number grew to fifty—five shareholders. (51) Currently, the track is used to train local horses, and races are held weekly from

May until October.

CURRENTLY. . .

ST. PETERS PARK

St. Peters Park (1974). Photo courtesy of Hubert MacIsaac.

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