The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Pownal

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Firefighters From 3 States Battled Race Track Fire

Doug La Rocque

Flames broke out at the former Green Mountain Race Track on Wednesday, September 16 just before 11 pm, and before long the large grandstand was fully involved. The Pownal Fire Department called for help, including Petersburgh, Hoosick, Hoosick Falls, North Hoosick, Pittstown, Raymertown and White Creek from New York.

A lone ladder truck can be seen in the far right pouring water on the burned out Green Mountain Race Track Grandstand in Pownal. Photo courtesy of the Vermont Department of Public Safety.

Portions of the structure were still burning the next morning. The building was boarded up, according to it owner, Green Mountain Race Track, LLC. There were reports of numerous small fires and other acts of vandalism over the summer. The cause of the fire is listed as “suspicious.” There was no electrical power to the building and no lightning was reported.

The track opened in 1963 for both thoroughbred and harness racing, before switching to greyhound racing in the 1970s. It closed for good in 1991. The fate of the burned out structure remains unknown.