In Stephen Foster's Camptown Races, why was the racetrack 5 miles long? Song refers to trotters.?

Question

According to Wikipedia, the bob-tailed nag (Flora Temple) was a Standardbred trotter - harness racing. Harness racing tracks are 1 mile. The song lyrics mention a 10 mile heat, requiring 2 circuits of the track. The Grand National steeplchase is about 4.5 miles, but requires 2 circuits of a course. RPO Library (U. Toronto) says that the 5 miles was a track from Camptown to Merryall (Pennsylvania), but that doesn't square with "round de racetrack, den repeat (line 26). " I haven't found evidence of any tracks in the mid-1850s and forward longer than about 2 miles. So, just what was this race?

Answer 1

I think it is just a joke. Gonna' run all night gonna' run all day is obviously hyperbole.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
In Stephen Foster's Camptown Races, why was the racetrack 5 miles long? Song refers to trotters.?
According to Wikipedia, the bob-tailed nag (Flora Temple) was a Standardbred trotter - harness racing. Harness racing tracks are 1 mile. The song lyrics mention a 10 mile heat, requiring 2 circuits of the track. The Grand National steeplchase is about 4.5 miles, but requires 2 circuits of a course....

Answer 3

Stephen Foster Camptown Races

Answer 4

I found this on Flora:

"Stephen Foster’s song about the “bob-tail nag” is a tune in which we are all familiar. Camptown races is about a horse born in Oneida County, NY in 1845. Legend says that her tail was “docked with a jack-knife before she was an hour old”. She was also characterized as “willful and witchlike”. She became a livery stable horse and was on her way to New York City with a herd of cows when she caught the eye of Jonathan Vielee who purchased for $175. He saw promise in this feisty mare that barelyt stood 14 hands. Two weeks later, he sold her to George Perrin for $250 and he transformed her from a flighty mare to a true stepper that began winning road races. Sold again to G.A. Vogel for $600, her legendary racing career launched. Her name was Flora Temple and was dubbed “queen of the turf” by the NY Times. She was so popular, that babies were being named after her. She was loved by all and was immortalized in many of Currier & Ives lithographs. Flora Temple died on December 21, 1877. She was an extraordinary horse that earned her place in racing history and won the hearts of all Americans. "
source: http://www.spho-nh.com/history.htm

It could be that what we think of racing on a track wasn't a *track*...note the comment about road racing. And considering the time frame - could be that a five mile race wasn't on a track but a road race. Point A to Point B who gets there first kind of thing. From the description - a 14 hand mare with attitude might be feisty enough to hang on for five miles, thus defeating a horse maybe she wouldn't on a real track at 2. ? I'm not sure - but looking at what is said about her and considering the time she was alive...things were much different in perception then. Horses were still a means of transportation.

Answer 5

W 3 Buffum P 7 Groupie Doll S 6 Coil Alt 1 Stay Thirsty

Answer 6

Frankly I have no clue what the race was...but I admire the detail and thought you put into the question...to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if it just turns out to be that "five miles long" flows better in a musical sense than, say, two miles, which might be a more realistic distance...try singing it out loud and see if it gives you any sense...

Answer 7

Yes I agree with Jab. I don't know if there are any factual points in this song.

Answer 8

Doo Dah, doo dah.

Answer 9

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-2FA