#findinghistory

By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director

Gambling has a long tradition in Virginia and encompassed everyone living in the colony, even Mason Locke Weems as he considered offering book lotteries to improve local roads and inadequate bridges! Many of the traditions in Great Britain crossed the Atlantic and colonists bet on everything from card and dice games to animal fights (click here to read our blog about a local fighting rooster!). While one of the first notable racehorse tracks appeared in 1665 at Hempstead Plain on Long Island, formal and temporary racetracks spread throughout the colonies with Virginia eventually boasting Jockey Clubs in Dumfries, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and other prominent towns.

By 1750, early Americans had established Jockey Clubs to control/guide protocols, regulations, and serve as a registry for thoroughbred horses. On 10/27/1774, Richard Graham advertised the following in the Virginia Gazette, “The Jockey Club Purse of 100 Guineas will be run for on Tues the 29 of November next, which is now fixed for the first day of the Dumfries Races, the time formerly appointed being the Day of the Annapolis Races.” Only members could “start” a “horse, mare or Gelding for the purse”. Graham noted the weight for the age and informed subscribers and non-subscribers how to participate. “Give & take agreeable to the rules of racing. The horses etc that start for either of these purses, must be entered with the subscribers…when a certificate of the age, under the hand of the Breeder, or his Executors, or Administrators, will be required. The Premiums agreeable to my former advertisement will be allowed for Beef, Mutton & Veal.” The purse consisted of money bet on the race by subscribers and non-subscribers.

(The Republican Journal and Dumfries Weekly Advertiser, No. 2 of Vol. 2, Thursday, 06/09/1796. John Love of Buckland advertised “The Noted Horse Mahomet” as being in “high perfection”)

After the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, responding to Great Britain’s Intolerable Acts (woo Revolutionary War history!), the Dumfries Jockey Club suspended their activities, “…that in conformity to the 8th article of the resolves of the General Congress the Dumfries Races that were advertised to be run on the 29th of this month be postponed – The Gentlemen farmers that are fattening Beeves, Muttons, & veals, for the premiums must for the present, put up with the honor & glory in place of the Guineas that were intended for them.” Resolution 8: “That they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the king; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal.”

So, what was a day at the races like? It depended upon the place as temporary races could be open fields, steeplechases (the start/finish line marked by church steeples), on roads with wagons, or circular/formal established tracks. According to Dumfries Historian Lee Lansing, Dumfries boasted a steeplechase track. Depending upon the track, the participants might have to race several times around or complete “best of three” challenges. Due to ego, the event could attract a lot of attention when people such as William Byrd III claimed he had the fastest horse and was ready to throwdown with any competitor. Marylander Benjamin Tasker, Jr. decided it was “go time” with Selima, and Tasker, Jr. beat Byrd’s and other Virginian horses. Remarkably, Virginia then banned Maryland horses from participating in Virginia races, but Selima became a successful broodmare and ended her days living with John Tayloe II at Mount Airy. Side note: People then had their pregnant foals deliver in Virginia and while maintained in Maryland, the horses could still race as they were Virginia born.

(Plan of Dumfries 1782: Historian Lee Lansing drew the above based on the Rochambeau map identifying the following: A) Staples, Feed, stc. and Bleachers, B) Steeplechase Track, C) Courthouse 1762, D) Henderson House, 15) Quantico Creek. Was he right? Imaginary Bonus Points: Can you pinpoint the Weems-Botts Museum?)

The races also provided a chance for people to meet, socialize, conduct business, and continue to gamble. Dumfries merchant Daniel Payne paid close attention to races as he notably appeared to collect from his debtors after their financial boon. One entry noted the credit, “…by Capt William Carr, for the other half of Flatt Sambo”. According to transcribed records of Daniel Payne’s Store Ledger, “Sambo, The Flat” appeared in Daniel Payne’s ledger as a customer along with William Carr although on separate pages. While we have not examined the original ledger ourselves instead relying on transcriptions, where was the “other half”? What happened to the person and how did that person identify themselves - as Sambo or with a different name? We hope to answer this with further research.

In the 1800s, tracks and gamblers bet against each other leading to “fixed” outcomes. As laws and social attitudes changed toward gambling, horse racing remained semi-acceptable as Virginia ruled it was a sport in 1851 and allowed exceptions for betting below certain amounts – some political and social maneuvering also helped established tracks. Horse racing in Virginia embraced the community and experiences differed depending upon your location. The Dumfries Jockey Club was also a status symbol for wealthy planters and the town. Although much quieter today (at least in terms of horses), one could almost imagine the dread, fear, and anticipation people felt as one race could impact the future of so many people.

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