The Love of Horse-Racing
In their fondness for horses the Virginians were true children of England. In the stables of wealthy planters were to be found specimens of the finest breeds and everyone enjoyed a good horse race. Common folk, however, were not allowed to take part in the sport, except as lookers-on. One of the earliest references to horse-racing is an order of the county court of York in 1674: "James Bullocke, a Taylor, haveing made a race for his mare to run with a horse belonging to Mr. Mathew Slader for twoe thousand pounds of tobacco and cask, it being contrary to Law for a Labourer to make a race, being a sport only for Gentlemen, is fined for the same one hundred pounds of tobacco and caske." Yet, by 1740, almost every ordinary person kept a horse and would ride their horses two or three miles to church, the court house, or to a horse race. And by 1770, there were races at Williamsburg twice a year. Adjoining to the town was a course for either two, three, or four mile heats and the purse was generally raised by subscription and are gained by the horse that wins two four-mile heats out of three. The purse the first day amounted to as much as one hundred pounds.Index to Virginia Wills and Estates. See Names
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