RetroIndy: Business Men’s Driving Club

Last month I wrote about the Newby Oval bicycle track at 30th Street and Central Avenue. Built by Arthur Newby in 1898, the track stood until 1902. While looking at an 1899 bicycle and driving map of Indianapolis by Fred Dessecker & Theo. Sandstrom for that story, I noticed that directly south of Newby was another interesting oval called “Businessmen Driving.” Needless to say, my interest was piqued.

The oval turned out to be the Business Men’s Driving Club track. It was a half-mile clay banked track built in 1895 for the sole purpose of horse racing. In fact, an Aug. 29, 1896 Indianapolis News article warned, “bicycle riders will not be allowed on the track at any time. The club members feel that they have had to give way to the wheel on every side and that they will keep this track for their own use.”

At the time of the club formation in 1895, there were eighty members who naturally started out using it for trotting but then saw an opportunity to pit their horses against each other. And with that, harness racing came to the Business Men’s Driving Club track. Cyclone Bill, Charlie Boy, Merit and even Tony Boy, owned by Arthur Newby, raced in best-of-three, half-mile heat races. Various driving clubs from around the state and Midwest raced at the track.

A year after the track was built, stables and grandstands were built for “matinee races” held during the week. The infield was used for baseball and football games. Club members even relented to allow bicycles on the track for a few races.

By 1902, track conditions became less than favorable, and members admitted the club was insolvent and “all shot to pieces.” Officials also failed to pay out to some of the winners and went into receivership. By 1908, no trace of the track could be found on any map.