NYRA and Village of Garden City install commemorative quarter-pole marker, honoring origins of American thoroughbred racing
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), in partnership with the village of Garden City, hosted a special installation ceremony on Saturday for a commemorative Quarter-Pole marker – a tribute to Long Island’s foundational role in the origins of organized thoroughbred racing in the United States.
The ceremony took place Saturday morning, November 7, at the northeast corner of Stewart Avenue and Hilton Avenue in Garden City. This is the site of the historic Newmarket Course, where formal horse racing was conducted as early as the 1600s.
Widely recognized by historians as one of the earliest organized racing venues in the United States, the Newmarket Course played a pivotal role in shaping what would become American thoroughbred racing. The two-mile grass course was established in 1665 under colonial governor Richard Nicolls, who named it in honor of King Charles II’s favorite English track. Long Island’s Newmarket Course hosted North America’s first recorded race meeting and races for more than a century – at first in yearly competition and then at spring and fall meetings.
In 1966, Garden City officials and NYRA dedicated a plaque at the site to commemorate the Newmarket Course and the 300th anniversary of U.S. horse racing. In 1999, a quarter-pole marker from nearby Belmont Park was installed at the site but was lost over time due to natural erosion and the evolution of the surrounding area.
NYRA’s installation of a new quarter-pole marker restores that historic reference point – reaffirming an important landmark in the history of horse racing in the U.S. and serving as an educational opportunity for the community.
“This installation is a meaningful way to reconnect the community with its place in racing history,” said NYRA community affairs manager Robert Hines. “Long Island is home to some of the earliest chapters of thoroughbred racing in America, and we are proud to help preserve and share that legacy.”
The ceremony included remarks from local officials, community leaders, and representatives from NYRA. Also in attendance was Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano and 2025 Belmont Stakes winner Junior Alvarado, both residents of Garden City, symbolically linking the sport’s earliest days to its modern era.
“The Village is very proud of its connection to the historic Newmarket Course and the earliest days of thoroughbred racing in America,” said Garden City Mayor Edward Finneran. “As home to many in the horse racing industry, including jockeys, owners, trainers and backstretch personnel, the Village takes pride in its strong connection to ‘The Sport of Kings’."
Racing returned to Long Island in September following Belmont Park’s three-year transformation into a world-class sports and entertainment destination. Alongside four new racetracks, a state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot grandstand offers modern hospitality amenities designed to welcome race fans and visitors year-round.
To explore ticketing and admission plans for the ongoing fall meet at Belmont Park, visit NewBelmont.com/Tickets. General admission starts at $7 when purchased in advance.
