COLONIAL HORSE HISTORY VIRGINIA. 113 



ing matches and return matches between the Rhode Islanders 

 and the Virginians. 



In the Virginia Gazette, under date of January 11, 1739, we 

 find the following advertisement, to which we invite special at- 

 tention, as it brings out some facts which, inferentially, throw a 

 great deal of light upon horse racing, up to that period: 



"This is to give notice that there will be run for at Mr. Joseph Seawell's, 

 in Gloucester County, on the first Tuesday in April next, a Purse of Thirty 

 I'istoles, by any horse, mare or gelding; all sized horses to carry 140 Ibs. and 

 Galloways to be allowed weight for inches, to pay one Pistole entrance, if a 

 subscriber, and two if not, and the entrance money to go to the second horse, 

 etc. And on the day following, on the same course, there will be a Saddle, 

 Bridle and Housing, of five pounds value, to be run for by any horse, mare or 

 gelding that never won a prize of that value, four miles, before. Each horse 

 to pay five shillings entrance and that to go to the horse that comes in second. 

 And on the day following there is to be run for, by horses not exceeding thir-. 

 teen hands, a hunting saddle, bridle and whip. Each horse to pay two 

 shillings and sixpence at entrance, to be given to the horse that comes in 

 second. Happy is he that can get the highest rider." 



The first point suggested by this advertisement is that there 

 were no distinctions made except by size, and that, at this date, 

 1739, there were no English race horses then in Virginia. The 

 second point is that there was such a thing as "horse size" but 

 what size this was I have not been able to discover. The third 

 point is that Galloways were allowed weight for inches. They 

 were evidently below "horse size." But they were expected to 

 nter for the big purse of the meeting, and they must, therefore, 

 have ranked as good race horses; but what did they mean by 

 "Galloway?" This is the only instance in which I have met the 

 term in Virginian history, although it is well known in general 

 horse lore. "Galloway" is an old name of a territorial division 

 of Scotland, embracing Wigtonshire, part of Ayrshire, etc., in 

 the southwestern part of that country, and was at one time 

 famous for the excellence of its pacers, and it is probable they 

 were to be found there after the influx of eastern blood had 

 driven the pacer from all other portions of Great Britain. The 

 Irish Hobbie, always undersized, was a famous race horse, as well 

 as a pacer, many generations before the period now under con- 

 sideration. The name "Galloway" is only known in history and 

 is not to be found on any modern map. I have learned by many 

 experiences that the name is very generally believed to be Irish 

 and is confounded with "Galway," an Irish county. It is 



