Racing Derbies Revisited – Part 5
M. C. Illions and the Racing Derby Rides of Coney Island and Rye, NY
M. C. Illions horses on the Racing Derby at Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, New York. Postcard postmarked 1924.
In 1909, M.C. Illions left his partnership with William F. Mangels and went into business for himself as M.C. Illions & Sons. During this phase of his career, he made 15 park carousels and at least five portables(54). In the late 1920’s, Illions built what would be his last three carousels. They were called the “Triplets” or the “Three Jewels” by the Illions family(55).We now call them the “Supremes”. Carousel production at the shop ended shortly thereafter in 1929 and from then until 1945, when the shop closed, work was limited to carousel repairs.
The Derby ride is on the right under a covering, facing Surf Avenue at Coney Island. In addition to carousels, we know of two racing derby rides that had horses that were made by Illions – the Coney Island Derby (1920) and the Rye, New York Playland Derby (c. 1927) Courtesy of Jim Abbate (3).
The Stampede
The Stampedes had battery-powered electric motors. This two-seater is somewhat like Illions’ Jockey Race horses.
Illions, seeking to compete with Prior & Church’s Derby rides, manufactured his own similar version(56). In a 1925 Illions catalog, a derby-like, double-seated, self-propelled rocking horse is pictured. It had a battery-powered electric motor. It was called The Stampede.
M.C Illions’ single-seat, free-wheeling Stampede ride in his shop.
An Illions shop photo shows a single-seated Stampede horse with the same base and method of operation as the double-seated horse. They are free-wheeling. It looks like the handles were connected to drive shafts that were attached to the wheels under the oval platforms. The rider determined the direction of the horses.
The Race Track/Jockey Ride
The race Track Ride was also referred to as the Jockey Ride. You can see a sign with a large “J” in the upper right corner of the picture in this rare Illions & Sons 1928 catalog. Courtesy of Rol and Jo Summit.
The 1,200 foot track for the Race Track/Jockey Ride in the 1928 catalog.
In a 1928 Illions catalog illustration, a derby-like ride is called The Race Track. It was designed and built by Illions for the Prospect Hotel on Surf Avenue at a cost of $25,000 (56).Two tracks and two horses per track are pictured in the catalog. An additional illustration shows a 1,200 foot track with banked curves. In a 1929 Sanborn Fire Map (Rol and Jo Summit), the Race Track Ride can be seen alongside the Prospect Hotel. There are references to this ride being named The Jockey Ride (57) and you can see the large letter, “J” in the picture with the horse-race scenery.
This horse is mounted on a device that looks like the Stampede ride, yet it is on a track. This illustration is also from the 1928 catalog.
Another picture in the 1928 catalog shows a horse on a base much like the Stampede’s yet it is on a fixed track. The fixtures underneath are different than what shows in the Race Track/Jockey Ride. We do not know how this version compares to the Stampede or the Jockey Ride.
On August 12, 1928, an accident occurred on the Jockey Ride. “All three (riders) were thrown from their mechanical mounts when the “ride” came to a stop(57).” The injuries involved broken bones and lacerations. The ride was immediately closed and the license for operation was suspended (57). Another accident was reported in 1932. Two of the injured, a married couple, sued Prospect Ride, Inc. for injuries suffered in the accident in the amount of $60,000 (58). The case was settled, awarding the couple $18,500 (59).
We were not able to determine how Illions’ Stampede ride and his Race Track/Jockey Ride fared in terms of going into production. Since the lawsuit involving the Jockey Ride was filed against Prospect Ride, Inc., it would appear that Illions was not involved with ownership of the ride. To our knowledge, there are no surviving Stampede or Race Track horses.
1929 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. The Prospect Hotel can be seen directly to the left of the large number “21” on the map across the street from the Whip ride. Surf Avenue was filled with amusement attractions at this time as can be seen in this detailed map.
The last of the “Three Jewels” (“Supremes”) carousels made by Illions was installed at the Prospect Hotel in 1927. We can see the location of both the Illions carousel and the Jockey Ride in the close-up of the 1929 Sanborn map.
One of the “Three Jewels” (the Supremes) at the Prospect Hotel on Surf Avenue at Coney Island. Photo: Barney Illions, courtesy of Rol and Jo Summit, Flying Horses
Coney’s Racing Derby on Film
Seen here is wonderful film footage of riding the Coney Island Racing Derby from the 1928 movie, The Crowd –
A clip of the Racing Derby from the film is above. Click the link to visit the Prior & Church Racing Derby page on Facebook and view the entire film.
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Prior-Church-Racing-Derby
The Crowd- 1928 – film footage of Derby
M.C. Illions Obituary
Marcus Charles Illions left an indelible mark on the history of Coney Island and its carousels.
M. C. Illions obituary, New York Times, August 14, 1949
Racing Derbies Revisited….
Contributed by William R. Benjamin, Ph.D. and Barbara Williams
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