Jan. 17—RACELAND, Ky. — An investigation into the fire that destroyed the clubhouse at the former Raceland horse track continues.
Around 2 a.m. on Jan. 2, the Raceland Fire Department, Russell Fire Department and the Flatwoods Fire Department were called to the former track property at Legion Drive and U.S. 23 and found the clubhouse totally engulfed in flames.
Since then, detective/fire investigator Brett Ritchie has been on the case and is now seeking help from the public about the fire.
“At this time, not many details can be released about the fire as it is still an ongoing investigation,” Ritchie said. “We have obtained enough knowledge to know that an unknown loud vehicle was in the area of the incident more specifically described to be on Highland Avenue in the Wurtland community of Greenup County (Also known as Poplar Highlands).”
He said the vehicle was known to be in the area at around 1:50 a.m. just before the fire department was alerted of the fire.
“We would ask that anyone in this area, or alongside Greenup Avenue, who has any video footage of vehicles possibly caught on your security camera footage around this time, be forward it to the fire investigator who is working on this investigation,” Ritchie said. “As always, we appreciate the community’s help with this matter as we want just as many answers as you do.”
Anyone with any information on this case can reach out to Ritchie at office phone (606) 836-8189, by calling dispatch at (606) 473-1411 or on his cell phone, 606-465-4185.
Dan Howell, one of the property’s owners, said there was no electric or gas hooked up to the clubhouse, so he suspects the fire was started by a homeless person trying to stay warm.
He added there was no insurance on the clubhouse because insurance companies are reluctant to insure vacant buildings and the premium is so high that it wasn’t affordable.
Howell said he had been working with the City of Raceland to get a grant to turn the clubhouse into a community center. Part of the property had recently been sold to Southern Ohio Medical Center to build a new medical facility.
In 1924, John Oliver “Jack” Keene opened “Raceland Park” in Chinnville in Greenup County where the city of Raceland is now.
Known as the “Million Dollar Oval,” the newest track in the U.S. then was “picturesque,” per a 1924 Chicago’s Daily Racing Form.
“Raceland sets a picture that is refreshing to the view. The new Kentucky racetrack is a modern one in every detail and rivals the massive tracks of the East. The main racing strip is wide and thoroughly safe; the turns banked in the most approved fashion give evidence of safety for the flying thoroughbreds. The stands and other buildings, the secretary’s office and jockey enclosure are of brick construction,” the article continues.
The track operated from 1924 to 1929. Chinnville changed its name to Raceland for consistency after the post office changed its name due to the volume of mail for the track. It is a misconception the Great Depression ended the track, according to Raceland Police Chief Donald Sammons in 2009.
“The state of Kentucky had a fee in the 1920s that required the track to pay $2,500 per day to race,” Sammons said. “That’s what closed the track.”
— Terry L. Hapney, Jr. contributed to this story.