Vintage 1976 La Mesa Park Raton NM Horse Racing Program - Bicentennial Cover For Sale

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Up for sale is an original Official Program from La Mesa Park, "The Friendly Track," in Raton, New Mexico; printed for the track's Fortieth Racing Day, Sunday, August 8, 1976, with post time listed at 1 p.m. MDT. The cover carries a bold gold "76" bicentennial-year graphic layered over a screened action photo of jockeys at the gate, along with the New Mexico Racing Commission's TRA (Thoroughbred Racing Associations) seal. Inside, the booklet lists all thirteen races run that day; entries, jockeys, trainers, silks, purses, morning-line odds, track records, and payoff charts; plus a full roster of New Mexico State Racing Commission officials (Governor Jerry Apodaca is named as the sitting governor) and a "1976 Stallion Roster" ad for McGregor Ranch in Wichita Falls, Texas. A period giveaway promotion for a brand-new 1976 Ford Bronco, courtesy of Cimino Bros. Ford of Raton, rounds out the back pages, complete with the uncut entry coupon.

This particular copy was clearly used trackside; a previous racegoer named "Lori" wrote her name on the cover and filled nearly every page margin with pen tallies, circled picks, and payout notes race by race, giving it genuine, only-one-like-it wagering-day character. Tucked inside is a separate period advertising card for the Sweet Shop Restaurant in Raton (Taffy Room Coffee Shop and Copper Kettle Dining Room), a nice bonus piece of local ephemera from the same era. Together they make a fun little time capsule for collectors of horse racing memorabilia, New Mexico regional history, or 1970s small-track Americana.

Details:

• Title/Name: Official Program, La Mesa Park — Fortieth Day, August 8, 1976
• Maker/Brand: La Mesa Park Racing Corporation; printed by Range Commercial Printing Co., Raton, NM
• Material: Paper, saddle-stitched booklet
• Format/Type: Vintage horse racetrack program/racing form, with a separate loose period restaurant advertising card included
• Dimensions: Approx. 3.5" x 8.25", 16 pages
• Condition: Used, worn as expected for a program actually carried trackside; cover shows toning, light creasing, and soft corners, with the original 35-cent price still printed at top. A previous owner's name and extensive handwritten pen notes (race picks, circled numbers, payout figures) cover nearly every page, front to back; this is heavy period use rather than damage, and buyers who prefer a clean, unmarked program should note that before offerding. Staple binding is solid and all pages are present and intact. The included Sweet Shop Restaurant card shows similar light wear from being tucked inside. Given the volume of handling, small edge nicks or soft creases here or there are easy to miss.

Please look closely at the photos. We do our best to show as many details as possible.

NOTE: Sometimes the color can be a little different in the photos than the actual item. We aren't professional photographers and sometimes our iphone just changes the colors for no reason and we can't figure out how to fix it.

ABOUT US:

We are a family-run store that focuses mostly on vintage/antique items. This is what we do to make ends meet, so we take it very seriously. If you are not happy with your purchase, we offer free/hassle free returns and will do anything we can to make sure you walk away feeling satisfied with your interaction with us. Feel free to reach out anytime, and we will get back ASAP!

SHIPPING:

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