James McLaughlin’s first ever race – 9/2/1875 at Charter Oak Park, Hartford, Ct. The next day at Hartford, McLaughlin won his first race. The 14 page official program is intact. The Hartford Daily Courant on 9/3 stated: “first heat – Spendrift took the lead and held it at a good distance to the back stretch when the gap was closed somewhat by Kadi and Warrior. On the lower turn Spendrift was hotly pressed by Kadi who got the lead by a head and the race home was very exciting, Kadi winning.” Lorena was fourth. The second heat resulted in the judges declaring Kadi won the heat and the race. On 9/3, there was another running race, best two out of three for a purse of $125 ($75 to the winner), with only two starters: Lorena & Leamingtonian. The New York Times on 9/4 wrote: “in the first heat Lorena’s rider could not stop her, and she ran three miles and a quarter before she was brought up; yet she won the second heat in better time than the first.” Lorena got the lead at the quarter and opened up 12 lengths and kept it to the finish. McLaughlin, in an interview in the March 23, 1919 Washington Post, said he rode his first race in Hartford in 1875 on ‘Father Bill’ Daly’s mare, Loreno{a}, against Kado, with Hughes up, (actually Cochran, with the former 3rd). The American Racing Record for 1875, pages 72 & 73 showed Lorena was 4th and 6th in the two heats at Charter Oak on 9/2/75 and victorious on 9/3 in two heats. This is a truly a museum quality item in excellent condition with no writing that is most likely unique. It is also historic as it represents the first professional running races of a premier rider who was thought by many to be at least the equal of Isaac Murphy as the best American jockey during the early days of the sport