The Montana State city of Missoula, with a population of 74,000, is the county seat of Missoula County located near the confluence of the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers. The earliest record of European settlers arriving in the area was in 1858 when William Hamilton set up a trading post. By November 1874 the Western Montana Agricultural Association was formed and by 1875 a committee had been formed to promote the local Fair and associated horse racing. The Missoula County Fairground, or Western Montana Fair, was the site selected to develop an 8 furlong race track which was 60 feet wide. By 1886 the Missoula Fair and Racing Association was formed with the mission to seek out a new site for the Fair and races, which they achieved in 1888 on a site 1 ½ miles north-west of Missoula. The Missoula racetrack first opened for racing in 1914, its first winner being Lady Goo Goo. The Western Montana Fair Raceway, a 4 furlong oval track, offered a programme of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing for over 100 years, its principal race being the Western Montana Fair Derby. Racing ceased in 2010 after the meeting on 14th August 2010. |
