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TO IMPROVE THE BREED Slogan to Encourage Racing Was Used in Maryland Years Be ¬ fore the Revolution That the oft repeated racing slogan To improve the breed of horses which is known the world over is almost as old as Bracing itself may be proved by the following extract from the Maryland Gazette printed in an issue of the American Turf Register of 1832 1832To To enocurage and improve the breed of fine horses racing in Maryland many years prior to the Revolution was frequent in most of the principal towns and villages in the province The purses varied in amount for many years from 75 to 200 Notice of the time and place of the intended race was always given but the result and the name of the winner was seldom made public publicThe The practice was unsettled The sport was patronized by the governors of the province as early as we have any information through the channel of the newspapers and was encouraged by many among the most re ¬ spectable characters of the times Governors counselors legislators and gentlemen were engaged in the laudable and fascinating spcrts of the turf turfGovernor Governor Sharpe occasionally gave small purses to be run for In April 1754 a purse of 100 was given by him and run for over the course at Talbot Court House and won by Mr Rice In September of the same year he gave another 100 which was run for over the course at Annapolis and won by Captain Gantts horse Buffaloe Heats two miles milesIn In September 1747 a match for 250 was run by the governors bay gelding and Col ¬ onel Planters gray stallion and won by the former formerIn In 1751 Ignatius Diggers bay horse Ven dome beat Mr Harrisons gray horse Bean in a match race for 30 Heats two miles and a half halfIn In May 1752 the prize of 200 was run for by Colonel Taskers mare Selima and Captain Butlers mare Creeping Kate and won by the former
