1903 - Adolphus H. Bonham & son, Carl, build a track in its present location.

1909 - Fair & Driving Association build ½ mile track and imported dirt from Kentucky to replace the Indiana clay. A baseball field was established in the infield.

1916 - A cyclone rips through Montpelier & destroys the grandstand and horse barns. At this point the Association goes into bankruptcy. The land was then used for farming and planting corn.

1926 - Hal Kelly bought the Fairgrounds and rebuilt the Grandstand and barns. The ½ mile track was re-laid out and restored.
During the depression years, horse racing interest slowed and remained so until the beginning of WW2.

1941 - WW2, Racing stops nationwide for the most part.

1945 - Racing resumes on a limited scale at wars end.

1952 - Auto racing comes to Montpelier on the ½ mile track.

1959 - Car racing interest had declined in the Montpelier area and was replaced by horse racing once again. The former Mayor of Portland, Ted Montgomery, bought the track and brought it to its zenith with large crowds. In 1961 a three day event was held with additional tents brought in for horse housing due to the number of entrants.

1969 - The Grandstand is destroyed by storms and is never rebuilt for horse racing.

1970 - The last harness race meet is staged.

1973 - Quarter horse interest group buys Fairgrounds and use it for housing their animals.
 

****** For a period of fifteen years the track is not used and falls into a neglected state.

1985 - A local group of businessmen from Montpelier form a corporation and try to rebuild the track. They were successful in getting a few horses into the barns to train at the track.

1986 - Auto racing had again proven itself to be gaining in popularity nationwide and at this point the current ¼ mile track was established on the infield. The Racing program was changed from Sunday afternoons to Saturday evenings.

 

Thanks to the Montpelier Historical Society for all their help and valuable information!