​This horse track was built in 1939 by Vol Lindsey and Vern Rife in conjunction with the Benton County Fair activities.  The stadium was located right across the street from the old National Guard Armory on Southwest A Street. The stadium also served as a baseball field, football field, and car and horse racing track. After that it became Melvin Ford Park. 

This was how the original horse racing track was laid out in 1939.
​For those who remember the track, notice there were no bleachers at that time.

The above images of the first events held on the new race track in 1939. 

Sharon Cloe participating in horse show

​Floyd Reece - local attorney receiving an award at the show

The  images above are of a horse show held in the early to mid 1950s.
​There were both horse races and a horse show held there during this time. 

Baseball was one of the other uses for the old horse track.

The day Highway 72 was opened, there were events held in both Bentonville and Pea Ridge. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the town held a fish fry dinner at the old horse racing track. (Now where the the main fire station is on S.W. A St.). You can see the old stadium bleachers in the background in this photo.