Lost Windsor - Kenilworth Park, where Man o' War ran his last race

Lost Windsor - Kenilworth Park In 1920, the most famous racehorse alive ran his last race in Windsor. A crowd of about 30,000 watched Man o' War beat Sir Barton by seven lengths at Kenilworth Park. Today it's homes. Did your family talk about it?

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Lost Windsor is our fun, nostalgic weekly look at beloved Windsor-Essex places that are gone. Sources are listed below the story. Have a memory of this place? Share it with us.

Tonight's Lost Windsor heads out Howard Avenue to a racetrack that once had the whole continent watching.

What it was

Kenilworth Park was a horse racing track on Howard Avenue, on what was then the southern edge of Windsor. It opened in 1916, the same year as the Devonshire track directly across the road, and it ran until 1935.

Why people loved it

Its biggest day came on Tuesday, October 12, 1920. A crowd estimated at 30,000 came to watch Man o' War, the most famous racehorse of his day, take on Sir Barton, who had won the first American Triple Crown the year before.

The race was not close. Man o' War pulled away and won by seven lengths. It was the last race of his career, and he never raced again.

The race was also the first horse race filmed from start to finish, and the footage was later shown in movie theatres across North America.

What's there now

The old track is now homes, the Kenilworth Gardens subdivision across Howard Avenue from Devonshire Mall, which stands where the Devonshire track used to be. A small park on Howard Avenue still carries the Kenilworth Park name.

Your turn

Did your parents or grandparents ever talk about the old Windsor tracks, or have you seen the 1920 race film? Tell us what you remember. We may share some memories in a future Lost Windsor.

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