PLAYFAIR RACECOURSE

The Playfair Racecourse was situated in Spokane, Washington and first opened its gates to racing in 1901. In its early days it was known as Spokane Interstate Fair and this continued until 1935. It was renamed Playfair in 1935 and consisted of a 4 furlong oval track. By 1946 the track was extended to 5 furlongs and in 1948 the Playfair Mile was introduced. The first winner of the Playfair Mile was Lighted Way. By 1963 the race was so popular that it was split into two divisions. The Division One race was won by the Lenny Knowles ridden Smart Prince, while Division Two was won by the E De Alba ridden Tizza Doge. The Playfair Mile was won in consecutive years in 1967 and 1968 by Uncle Georger ridden by Richard Wright. This feat was repeated in 1969 and 1970 by Ruler’s Whirl, piloted in 1969 by F Inda and in 1970 by R Jensen. The Mile was contested for the final time in 2000 when the Kim Wright trained Sunshine Scholar was successful in the hands of Larry Munoz.

I am grateful to Richard Gauthier for the very rare scan of a badge from the track shown below. 

 

Apart from the Playfair Mile the other principal races were the Spokane Derby and the Inland Empire Marathon. The track closed its gates for the final time in 2001, and it was demolished in early 2004.

If you have badges, racecards, pictures of the racecourse or further details about the course, including your memories, then email johnwslusar@gamil.com