The State of Oregon city of Salem has a population bordering on 155,000 inhabitants and is the state capital. It is the location of the famous Oregon State Fair, spread over a 185 acre site, which began operating in 1862 and holds events throughout the year. The Fairground was the site of the Salem Fair racetrack, a 4 furlong oval track with 146 metre home straight, which held its inaugural meeting 1st September 1933. However, prior to this date racing without official betting was taking place on the site of the Oregon State Fairground on the Lone Oak Racetrack. In 1933, after Oregon relaxed its gambling laws, the track was able to introduce a pari-mutuel system at its September meeting. By 1957 the track was expanded from 4 furlongs to 5 furlongs and, at that time, the principal race was the Salem Futurity. Racing continued until the dawn of the new millennium, the final meeting being staged on 17th September 2000. Although the Fair continues, the racing ceased and the grandstand was demolished within a year of that final meeting in September 2000. |
