Horse racing’s bumpy ride in Dallas, its successful early days and 50 years of stalled growth

Horse racing in the U.S. has had a long history from when it was brought over by colonists. The sport's popularity spread along with the westward movement of pioneers. Harkeyville in Central Texas was once a hub of horse breeding, training and racing. Arlington Downs and the State Fair of Texas were two of the most successful racetracks in North Texas until the late 1930s. The Dallas Morning News has reported on the sport and its controversies since its formation. It was mentioned in an article about a Bell County criminal and sheriff. In the article, the reporter refuted claims that the sheriff accepted a bribe to set the criminal free.