Hippodrome de Montréal
Encyclopedia
Blue Bonnets Raceway was a horse racing
track and casino in Montreal
, Canada. After 137 years of operation, it closed in October 2009.
opened in Ville Saint-Pierre
. In 1905, John F. Ryan founded the Jockey Club of Montreal. On June 4th, 1907, the Jockey Club opened the new Blue Bonnets Raceway on Decarie Boulevard. Montagu Allan was Jockey Club president from 1907 until 1920 when he was succeeded by J. K. L. Ross
, owner of Sir Barton
(first Thoroughbred to win the U.S. Triple Crown
). As part of a program honouring important horse racing tracks and racing stables, the Pennsylvania Railroad
named its baggage car #5801 the Blue Bonnets. In 1932, Joseph Cattarinich
, Leo Dandurand
, and Louis Letourneau owned the track, and in 1943 harness racing
began.
In 1954 thoroughbred flat racing
was discontinued until 1961, when it resumed. In 1958, Jean-Louis Levesque
purchased the track and built a new multi-million dollar clubhouse. Seven years later, Paul Desmarais'
Power Corporation of Canada
acquired control. In 1970, Robert Campeau's
company acquired Blue Bonnets; the track changed hands yet again in 1973, when thoroughbred racing ended permanently.
In 1991 the municipal government corporation, Le Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal ((SHDM)), became the owners of the track, and renamed it Hippodrome de Montreal in 1995. Operated by the provincial government agency SONACC (Societe nationale du cheval de course) it had harness racing, inter-track wagering from the United States, off-track betting
, two restaurants and hundreds of video lottery terminal
s and slot machine
s.
gambling machines and inter-track wagering operating for several months. Most of the horses and staff relocated to other cities. The court granted 30 days of protection from its creditors in June 2008; this was extended seven times in sixteen months. After the provincial government withdrew its support, Attractions Hippiques declared bankruptcy on October 13, 2009 and permanently closed the race track.
.) $4 million was spent on a temporary open-air stadium which accommodated over 80,000 people. It has since been demolished as of August 15, 2011.) Development is unclear, as the Quebec government put the land up for sale for $100 million. Rumours suggested the land would be donated to the city.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track and casino in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada. After 137 years of operation, it closed in October 2009.
History
In 1872, the Blue Bonnets racetrack for thoroughbred horse racingThoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
opened in Ville Saint-Pierre
Ville Saint-Pierre
Ville Saint-Pierre is a small neighbourhood of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, located in the Borough of Lachine. It was a separate town until it merged with Lachine in 1999...
. In 1905, John F. Ryan founded the Jockey Club of Montreal. On June 4th, 1907, the Jockey Club opened the new Blue Bonnets Raceway on Decarie Boulevard. Montagu Allan was Jockey Club president from 1907 until 1920 when he was succeeded by J. K. L. Ross
J. K. L. Ross
John Kenneth Leveson Ross CBE was a Canadian businessman, sportsman, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, and philanthropist. He is best remembered for winning the first United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1919 with his Hall of Fame colt, Sir Barton.- Early life :J.K.L...
, owner of Sir Barton
Sir Barton
Sir Barton, , was a chestnut thoroughbred colt who in 1919 became the first winner of the American Triple Crown.He was sired by leading stud Star Shoot out of the Hanover mare Lady Sterling. His grandsire was the 1893 English Triple Crown champion, Isinglass.Sir Barton was bred in Kentucky by...
(first Thoroughbred to win the U.S. Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
). As part of a program honouring important horse racing tracks and racing stables, the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
named its baggage car #5801 the Blue Bonnets. In 1932, Joseph Cattarinich
Joseph Cattarinich
Joseph "Joe" Cattarinich , was a professional hockey player, and co-owner of horse racing tracks in Canada and the United States as well as a co-owner of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League....
, Leo Dandurand
Leo Dandurand
Joseph Viateur "Léo" Dandurand , was a sportsman and businessman. He was the owner and coach of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team in the National Hockey League...
, and Louis Letourneau owned the track, and in 1943 harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
began.
In 1954 thoroughbred flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
was discontinued until 1961, when it resumed. In 1958, Jean-Louis Levesque
Jean-Louis Lévesque
Jean-Louis Lévesque, was a Canadian entrepreneur, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist....
purchased the track and built a new multi-million dollar clubhouse. Seven years later, Paul Desmarais'
Paul Desmarais
Paul Desmarais, Sr., is a Canadian financier in Montreal. With an estimated net worth of $US 4.5 billion , Desmarais was ranked by Forbes as the 4th wealthiest person in Canada and 235th in the world.Desmarais also owns homes in Palm Beach, Florida and New York.He is CEO of the Power Corporation...
Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada is a Canadian company with assets in North America and Europe in a number of industries. These industries include media, pulp and paper, and financial services....
acquired control. In 1970, Robert Campeau's
Robert Campeau
Robert Campeau is a Canadian financier and real estate developer.-Early years:His formal education ended in grade eight, at the age of 14. He talked himself into jobs at Inco as a general labourer, carpenter and machinist. In 1949 he entered the residential end of the construction business...
company acquired Blue Bonnets; the track changed hands yet again in 1973, when thoroughbred racing ended permanently.
In 1991 the municipal government corporation, Le Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal ((SHDM)), became the owners of the track, and renamed it Hippodrome de Montreal in 1995. Operated by the provincial government agency SONACC (Societe nationale du cheval de course) it had harness racing, inter-track wagering from the United States, off-track betting
Off-track betting
Off-track betting refers to sanctioned gambling on horse racing outside a race track.-US history:...
, two restaurants and hundreds of video lottery terminal
Video Lottery Terminal
A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.A VLT is similar to a slot machine, in that each terminal is a stand-alone device containing a random-number generator...
s and slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s.
Bankruptcy and closure
On June 27, 2008 the track operator, Attractions Hippiques, entered bankruptcy protection. All live horse racing was suspended and the two restaurants closed, with its VLTVideo Lottery Terminal
A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.A VLT is similar to a slot machine, in that each terminal is a stand-alone device containing a random-number generator...
gambling machines and inter-track wagering operating for several months. Most of the horses and staff relocated to other cities. The court granted 30 days of protection from its creditors in June 2008; this was extended seven times in sixteen months. After the provincial government withdrew its support, Attractions Hippiques declared bankruptcy on October 13, 2009 and permanently closed the race track.
Future redevelopment
City officials announced they want the land for residential housing. Redevelopment plans were on hold when the site became reserved for U2's two-night rock concert (originally set for July 2010, the concert took place July 8 and 9, 2011 during their U2 360° TourU2 360° Tour
The U2 360° Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2009 album No Line on the Horizon, the tour visited stadiums from 2009 through 2011. It was named for a stage configuration that allowed the audience to almost completely surround the stage...
.) $4 million was spent on a temporary open-air stadium which accommodated over 80,000 people. It has since been demolished as of August 15, 2011.) Development is unclear, as the Quebec government put the land up for sale for $100 million. Rumours suggested the land would be donated to the city.
Presidents of Blue Bonnets Raceway
- H. Montagu AllanH. Montagu AllanSir Hugh Andrew Montague Allan, CVO was a Canadian banker, ship owner, and a sportsman who donated the Allan Cup, the trophy symbolic of men's amateur ice hockey supremacy in Canada.-Early life:...
(1907-1920) - J. K. L. RossJ. K. L. RossJohn Kenneth Leveson Ross CBE was a Canadian businessman, sportsman, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, and philanthropist. He is best remembered for winning the first United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1919 with his Hall of Fame colt, Sir Barton.- Early life :J.K.L...
(1920-1931) - Kenneth Thomas Dawes (1931-1933)
- Joseph CattarinichJoseph CattarinichJoseph "Joe" Cattarinich , was a professional hockey player, and co-owner of horse racing tracks in Canada and the United States as well as a co-owner of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League....
(1933-1938) - J.-Eugene Lajoie (1938-1939)
- Louis Letourneau (1939-1942)
- J. Eugene Lajoie (1942-1958)
- Jean-Louis LevesqueJean-Louis LévesqueJean-Louis Lévesque, was a Canadian entrepreneur, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist....
(1958-1970) - Raymond Lemay (1970-1973)
- Alban Cadieux (1973-1983)
- Andre Marier (1983-1994)
- Gilbert l'Heureux (1994-1995)
- Jacques Brulotte (1995-2000)
- Jean-Pierre Lareau (2000-2002)
- Richard Castonguay (2002–2007)
- Senator Paul Massicotte (2007-2009)