50 Cent Tickets, Parking for Horses

See here a broadside that tells an interesting story behind the very first auto races presented at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 1909. Meaty facts are revealed such as the grandstand capacity of 16,000 seats and ticket prices of $1.00 at the West Gate (which I believe was where the entrance beside the admin building is today) and 50 cents on the east side - which I guess was around turn two because this would be relatively close to what was then called Crawfordsville Road and today is 16th Street.
 
Note that reserved seats were limited to what they called "Box Seats," for $1.50. Some and perhaps all of them were located closest to the running surface on the front stretch. The concept of the most treasured site lines being elevated to an upper deck had not yet been developed.
 
Otherwise, the proposition was what we call today "festival seating," or first come, first serve for the overwhelming majority of the seats. Also an advantage for early birds was free parking - enough for 10,000 automobiles and - I absolutely love this - 2,000 horse drawn vehicles.
 
The poster includes information about schedules for trains and the Ben Hur Interurban electric street cars. This mode of transportation was hugely critical in the era. I also feel compelled to point out that the popular Interurban line undoubtedly derived its name from the most popular selling book of the age, "Ben Hur, A Tale of the Christ," by Hoosier author and Civil War Veteran Lew Wallace. As an aside, if you have not read this book and are interested in this period of American history, it offers an important sense into the sensibilities and social mores of the times.
 
Also, if you truly love Indianapolis then your throat has to swell as you imagine visiting "Fisher's Garage" and "Huder's Drug Store" to purchase your tickets to the big event. I say that because this is the kind of delightful color that puts me into the age, into the glory and promise of early twentieth century Indianapolis.
 
You can go there too. It's so alive, so vibrant if you just click thru the link below and enter the intriguing and delightful world of First Super Speedway.