Latonia (Images of America)

The Latonia Racetrack, opened in 1883, was one of the country’s finest. Its presence spurred development, and the resulting town eventually took its name from the famous track. Latonia flourished with the help of the railroad, which carried visitors into town and hauled coal from the mining regions of southeastern Kentucky. The racetrack and railroad made Latonia a bustling center of activity and brought characters from all walks of life. Railroaders and stable boys tipped their hats to wealthy celebrities arriving to play the odds at the track. Famous jockeys, church-going housewives, and con men crossed paths at the racetrack and at Ritte’s Corner. Named for a saloon, Ritte’s Corner was considered the heart of Latonia, and it was a place where townspeople gathered to socialize, swap stories, and get the latest news. In 1909, Latonia was annexed by Covington, but it continues to be a neighborhood with its own identity and a place families call home, generation after generation.