“The Spring Races at Pimlico yesterday

[May 25th, 1876] were fairly attended, and the sport good.  The first race, three-quarter of a mile dash, was won by A. D. Brown’s Ansiral [sic], and the third race by Oden Bowie’s Ore Knob, both Maryland horses.  The second race, Chesapeake stakes, one and quarter miles, was won by Lorrilard’s Pera.  The trial steeple chase, won by Cottrell’s Nelligan, closed the day with disaster to Gov. Bowie’s chestnut gelding, Calvert, 8 years old, which fell and was unable to rise for some time.  DDonohue’s Wesel also fell.  The rider of Calvert was badly though not seriously hurt.”[1]

 

Maryland Governor Oden Bowie of Prince George’s County was the founder of the Preakness Stakes and Pimlico Race Track.

“In 1870, while he was still governor, Bowie became the president of the Maryland Jockey Club. He was instrumental in the acquisition of Pimlico Race Track by the Club, while the meetings at Pimlico under his management drew national attention.[2] According to an article in the Arundel Voice, ‘In 1968, the then senator agreed to race horses two years in advance, to celebrate a dinner party he attended with friends in New York. The winner would host the losers for dinner, and Bowie proclaimed he would construct a model racetrack in Maryland if the race was run in Baltimore. Dubbed the Dinner Party Stakes, the race was a hit and the name was eventually changed. Now titled the Preakness Stakes, the contest has transformed into a major sporting event as the second leg of the Triple Crown.’[3]

[1] Spring Races; Pimlico; A. D. Brown; Oden Bowie Ore Knob. The Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) • 05-24-1876.

[2] Oden Bowie (1826-1894) MSA SC 3520-1465  http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/001400/001465/html/1465bio2.html

[3] http://www.arundelvoice.com/community/120-years-after-death-oden-bowie-his-impact-still-lingers#sthash.p37YAJEZ.dpuf