50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge - Day 1
Fragments in Family History
TROTTING RACES
My ancestor, Larkin Foreman, ex-convict, and father of my 2xGreat Grandmother Elizabeth Foreman, competed in several trotting horse races in 1846-1848 at Maitland, N.S.W. He had a trotting horse called Jacky.
Trotting Match.-On Wednesday afternoon the trotting match in harness came off between Mr. Foreman's ch. g. [chestnut gelding] Jacky, and Mr. Reeves's g. g. [grey gelding] Bobby. The match was made for £10 a-side, the owners to drive, and each to be accompanied by an umpire appointed by his opponent; and both horses being celebrated for their speed and bottom in harness, great interest was excited among the sporting community in this neighbourhood. Each horse was freely backed by his friends, and it was difficult to say which was the favourite.
About three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon they started from a spot on the Lochinvar Road [near Maitland N.S.W.] which had been ascertained to be three miles from Mr. Early's, the White Swan. The grey took the lead almost immediately at a good pace, the chestnut taking his work easily. During the first mile and a half the grey improved his lead, till at the point where the Wollombi Road strikes into the Lochinvar and Maitland Road he was about from 200 to 300 yards ahead. From this point there is a gradual descent for a considerable distance. The grey was going along splendidly, but without pressing, and after going some little distance down the descent, Mr. Reeves looked round, and saw his opponent just turning the corner at the top, still at the same distance off, and going easy. Shortly after a turn in the road hid them from each other's sight. Meanwhile, directly Mr. Foreman had got into the road down the descent, he whipped his horse on, when Jacky went ahead at a pace that forced all the horsemen accompanying him to go at a hard gallop. This pace soon lessened the distance between the gigs, and although Mr. Reeves let out also as soon as he found how matters stood, the chestnut continued to gain on the grey, and when they reached the ascent near Mrs. Nichols's there was but a little space between them, both horses doing their best. A crowd of people had assembled at this spot to witness the coming in, and they cheered the cavalcade so heartily that the noise somewhat startled the grey, and made him slacken his pace, which gave the chestnut a further advantage. Mr. Reeves whipped his horse on again, but he attempted to break twice before reaching the White Swan, and Mr. Foreman passed him, and won by a couple of lengths. A considerable number of people had assembled to witness the match, of whom perhaps 100 were on horseback. Most of these kept between the gigs, or near the last one, in the early part of the match, and Jacky's splendid burst down the descent from the Wollombi turn-off, which set them all galloping, led to several humorous casualties, and to a couple of horsemen taking a roll on the road ; but fortunately no one was injured.1
‘Trotting Match’, Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), 26 February 1848, p. 2.
An interesting wee tidbit of family history
I enjoyed this Diane as my family were involved in harness racing many years ago. It’s a great report. Great to see your first post for the 50 day challenge. Thanks for joining the fun