Horses - racing and theft

Horses were valued animals in past times, not only for their work on the farm and the land but also to pull carriages, carts and wagons. Their quality was also tested at periodic races which were held locally and in the early 18th century the venue was Bourne Common, an open stretch of flat meadow in that area which is now the Recreation Ground and the site of the surrounding council estates.

We have an idea of what these races were like because public notices announcing the events were published regularly by the Stamford Mercury, with cash prizes for the winners and often accompanied by cocking or cock fighting as an added attraction, a blood sport between two roosters, until this activity was banned in England and Wales under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 and in Scotland in 1895 although according to the RSPCA, the practice still takes places in secret but has declined in recent years.

Here are two notices announcing race meetings in Bourne from the early 18th century that give a glimpse of the proceedings:

¬ On Wednesday the 16th of this instant June, will be run on Bourne Common in Lincolnshire, a saddle of 30s. value for any horse, mare or gelding carrying 10 stone, with bridle and saddle, to run 3 heats, paying 2s. 6d. entrance; the winning horse etc, to be sold for £6 and a bridle for second horse. Likewise, a hat of 15s. value to be run by footmen. And on Thursday the 27th, will be run for a plate of near £5 value by any horse, mare or gelding carrying 10 stone with bridle and saddle; to run 3 heats and the winning horse etc to be sold for £8. The horses etc to be shown and entered on Tuesday 25th, between the hours of 4 and 8 o'clock in the afternoon, at the market cross in Bourne, and pay their entrance money, 7s. 6d. to the Clerk of the Race. Likewise, a hat of 15s. value to be played for at single-flick. Also, a four-horse halter of 10s. value to be run for by draught-horses etc of the same parish, to ride with long whips and cart halters. There will be cocking both mornings. - from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 13th June 1717.

¬ On Wednesday the 9th of April next, will be run on Bourne Common in Lincolnshire, by Galloways, 9 stone the highest, a plate of £8, allowing weight for inches; the winning horse to be sold for £16. And on the same day and course, will be run for, a fat buck, (given by his Grace the Duke of Ancaster) by any horse carrying 10 stone, the winning horse to be sold for £8. And on Thursday the 10th, will be run for on the same course, a plate of £20 by horses carrying 10 stone, the winning horse to be sold for £30. As also a saddle of two guineas value; the winning horse to be sold for £6. The horses that run for the 2 plates and be shown and entered at the Market Cross in Bourne (before the Clerk of the Race) on Friday the 4th of August between the hours of 4 and 7 in the afternoon, and to be kept in the Town Hall until the days of running. The horses for the buck are to be entered at the same place, before twelve o'clock on the 9th of August; and those for the saddle, before twelve next day. Note, a plate of 10s. value (free prize) is to be fought for by cocks on Wednesday the 9th. No cock to fight for the plate that exceeds 4 pounds 4 ounces, and to fight by pairs. There will also be cocking the next day. - from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 27th July 1721.

By 1728, horse racing had become so popular that a new and improved course was laid out at Bourne, no doubt on the same common land, where a big meeting was arranged for the summer months, as advertised in the local newspaper:

¬ To be run on Bourne New Course in the county of Lincoln, on Wednesday the twenty-eighth of this instant August, a plate of five pounds value, by any horse, mare or gelding, fourteen hands high carrying nine stone weight, all above to carry weight, and all under to be allowed weight for inches as usual, and to pay half a guinea entrance. The horse etc that wins this plate can be sold for ten guineas, if demanded by such contributors that subscribed five shillings or upwards to the said plate. On the same day and on the same course, will be run for a saddle of thirty shillings value, by any horse, mare or gelding, carrying ten stone weight, paying half a crown entrance. The horse that wins this saddle to be sold for five guineas if demanded by such contributors that subscribed half a crown or upwards. On Thursday the 29th, a plate of ten pounds value will be run for on the same course, by any horse, mare or gelding, that never won above the value of twenty pounds at any one time, carrying ten stone weight, and to pay one guinea entrance.

The horses etc, that run for either of those plates, are to be shown and entered at the Market Cross in Bourne on Monday the 26th of this instant August, between the hours of twelve and six in the afternoon, and then and there to pay their entrance money to the Clerk of the Race, or they will be excluded from running. The horses etc, that run for either of those plates, are to be kept in the town of Bourne from the day of entrance to the day of running. No horse etc shall be entered for any of the said plate, or saddle, but what shall be bona fide their own, and but one for each plate or saddle, and no less than three to start. The horses etc, that runs for the saddle, must be shown and entered at the Market Cross in Bourne on the day of running, between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon; and to start half an hour after that the five pound plate is won. The horses etc, that runs for either of those plates, is to start on the day of running between the hours of 1 and 2 in the afternoon, or they will be excluded. The rest to be referred to the articles which will be then produced. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 15th August 1728.

HORSE STEALING

Because of their value, horse stealing was common with animals frequently being taken from the fields where they were kept and their owners usually tried to trace their recovery and to catch the culprits by offering cash rewards which were advertised in public notices published by the newspapers and posted in the streets and taverns.

Cases became so numerous that in 1833, owners at Morton, near Bourne, formed an association for pursuing horse stealers which resulted in members tracing two stolen animals to the neighbourhood of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, where a successful gang of horse stealers operating in the North of England was identified and some were brought to justice.

By October 1839, twenty-eight farmers and landowners from Morton and Hanthorpe, Dyke, Haconby and Stainfield, had joined the organisation which had become known as the Association for the Detection of Horse Stealers, among them the Rev Samuel Hopkinson, Vicar of Morton, who himself had been a victim of the thieves.

The association published its aims and intentions in the Stamford Mercury that they would detect and bring to justice anyone caught stealing horses by forming posses to block roads in the area immediately after a crime was reported and to pursue offenders until they were apprehended. "In order to determine who shall aid in the pursuit", declared their articles, "the person whose horse shall be stolen shall immediately summon ten of his nearest resident neighbours and if any person so summoned shall fail to aid personally, he shall instantly provide a horse and an efficient substitute. The expenses consequent on such pursuit, as far as they shall relate to the refreshment of the pursuers and their horses, together with toll, printing of handbills, advertising, lodging the offender or offenders in safe custody, and other indispensable expenses, shall be defrayed by the Association jointly."

Here are some of the cases of horse stealing culled from the newspaper archives and elsewhere:

¬ Stolen or strayed on Wednesday morning the 28th of August 1717, from tether, out of the fields of Bourne in Lincolnshire, a brown mare, between 14 and 15 hands high, a star in her forehead, the near foot behind white, flash-branded on her near shoulder, with E W (not easily seen), her age somewhat disputable, though but 3 years old last grass, a whisk-tail is not cut, if cut rather too short for such a mare; has all her paces. Whoever secures her, and gives notice to William Huffey, of Bourne aforesaid, that she may be had again, shall receive a guinea reward and reasonable charges. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 5th September 1717.

¬ Stolen or strayed from Cawthorpe, near Bourne in Lincolnshire, a black mare about 14 hands high, full aged, with an H brand on her near buttock, clipped with a horseshoe brand on her near shoulder and a crossed B on her near hoof before, fire-branded, and some few white hairs in her forehead. Whoever gives notice of the abovesaid mare, so as she may be had again, shall have half a guinea reward and reasonable charges, paid by John Hardey of Cawthorpe aforesaid. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 3rd January 1723.

¬ Stolen or strayed from Bourne in Lincolnshire, on Thursday the 7th day of this instant May, a black mare about 14 hands high, two white spots on each side the Wethersbin (sic), made by the pinch of a colour [collar?], a gaul'd place on the off side of the ribs under the saddle. Whoever gives tidings of the said mare, so as she may be had again, shall have ten shillings reward and reasonable charges, of Robert King, of Bourne, aforesaid, or of the printers thereof. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 21st March 1724.

¬ Stolen or strayed out of Bourne Field in Lincolnshire, on the 9th of this instant October, a black mare, full aged with a star and range, four white feet and a bob tail. Together with a two year old black filly with a small star on her face. Also a good black yearling colt with a star and range, and four white feet, all branded on the fore hoofs with a B and a cross over it, Bourne Town brand almost worn out. Whoever gives notice of the same so as they may be had again to the Rev Mr Dodd of Bourne aforesaid, shall receive half a guinea reward. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 25th October 1733.

¬ Stolen or strayed out of Bourne Fen about eight weeks since, two two-year-old colts, one a brown bay with a star, near 14 hands high and likely to make a good nag. The other a black one with a bald face, one white foot behind, if not both, a little flat ribbed, about 14 hands high, both switch tails, if not altered, and both branded with Bourne Town brand on the fore hoofs. Whoever gives tidings of the said colts so that they may be had again, to Joseph Hart of Bourne, aforesaid, shall have half a guinea reward for each, and reasonable charges. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 31st July 1735.

¬ FIFTEEN SOVEREIGNS REWARD: Whereas some person or persons during the night of the 11th and 12th instant, entered a stable belonging to Mr William Freeman, of Hanthorpe, in the parish of Morton, near Bourne, and stole therefrom A DARK BROWN MARE fit to put to coach, rising 7 years old, about 15 hands high, with one white heel behind and the near hock capped. Whoever will discover the offender or offenders, so that he or they may be convicted, shall, on conviction, receive of Mr Freeman the reward aforesaid. Should the said mare be left straying on any road or other place, all reasonable expenses will be paid, and a handsome compensation given for trouble, to any person taking charge of the same and applying as above. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 18th January 1833.
 

REVISED JUNE 2014