By Fred Hudson
(August 2, 2016) - The Copperthite
Racetracks Historical Marker Dedication (Sunday July 31st) was both a historical and
fun day that was well attended by the Northern Virginia community. Most of the
attendees had never seen a harness race and knew very little, if anything,
about the sport.
The Copperthite
Racetracks history includes the first ever fly-over of a sporting event and
this occurred at this harness racetrack on July 4th 1909. The pilots were
Orville and Wilbur Wright, the inventors of the airplane.
The harness racing
industry was well represented with Betsy Brown, John Brown, Charlie Robbins,
Jr., Art and Nancy Lisi, Art
Lisi, Jr. and Freddie Hudson. The star of the day was the standardbred
racehorse, Hot Rod Pete, who stole the show.
From Hot Rod Pete's
arrival, the attendees flocked to him and posed for many pictures. He was
followed around by the kids eager to pose for pictures, sit on his back or to
the feed him one of the carrots that his trainer, Betsy Brown, had brought with
her.
Twice during the day,
Hot Rod Pete with Charlie Robbins in the bike did an exhibition time trial on
what would have been the racetrack's infield. There was only a small section of
the original track still intact and due to the rain the night before it was
decided that it would be safer to perform the harness race demonstration on the
turf.
The demonstration races
were officially called and timed by Jon Vrara, the President of the Burke
Historical Society. Hot Rod Pete had a time of 46 seconds for the quarter of a
mile.
During the day Charlie
Robbins and Freddie Hudson both spoke and took questions regarding the sport of
harness racing and blacksmith Art Lisi, Jr explained about the craft of
horseshoeing. Throughout the day efforts were made at fundraising for the
Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF).
At the harness racing
table attendees picked up literature supplied by the USTA, SRF, Rosecroft
Raceway and the Meadowlands. As always, the USTA coloring books were a hit with
the kids.
The Capitol Model T Ford
Club brought 15 Model T's to the event. The music was performed by the King
Street Bluegrass and there were many people in period dress. Mike Copperthite
the great grandson of Henry Copperthite (who founded the track) of the
Connecticut Copperthite Pie Baking Company supplied pies and refreshments for
everyone.
In attendance were
organizers of the event that included members from the Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors, The Burke Historical Society, Virginia Historical Marker Committee
and members of the Fairfax County History Commission.
The day concluded with
the unveiling of the historic marker and speeches by Mike Copperthite, Sharon
Bulova, Chariman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Virginia State
Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn and Jon Vrara.
