CHAPTER X SPORTS

Long River has shown a great interest in a wide variety of sports through the years. In many instances the teams and individuals of this district have been second to none in the various competitions in this

area. Harness Racing

For many years horse racing on the South West River was a leading form of winter entertainment for the people of Long River. Shortly before the First World War a club was formed by the racing enthusiasts of the surrounding districts. Jack Lockhart and Walter Found were the chief organizers of this club. William Toombs was its chief promoter in Long River. This popular winter sport lasted until the thirties.

The racing club kept the sport well organized and provided good racing for the large crowds that attended. The horses were divided into three classes and each class raced for the small purse of $10.00 that was collected through club membership of one dollar and a race-entry fee of fifty cents. If a driver was fortunate he was able to win enough to keep his horse shod. Emphasis was on competition and good enter- tainment for the large crowds. Spectators usually numbered around five hundred. On one occasion when entries from Charlottetown were pre- sent the crowd, close to one thousand, caused the ice to settle. These crowds warmed up in the frosty air of the new year as starter, Robert

MacLeod, waved the horses on their way over the one-half mile track that ended at Mark’s Rocks.

Horses from the area gathered for their races on Saturday afternoon if the weather permitted. Entries came from Rustico, Wheat- ley River, Hunter’s River and Summerside to compete with local horses. Happy George owned by William Toombs of Long River was one of the fastest horses to compete in the races. Charlottetown entries came on one occasion and gave the local horses a beating in all classes. But neither that nor the refreshments provided by the local merchant, Manuel Arsenault, destroyed the fun of ‘Saturday afternoon at the races’.

Baseball and Softball

There has been sport activity in the summer too in Long River. Long River had a baseball team in the early thirties and a softball team in the early sixties. Records show that in both cases the local teams were tops in the area. The games provided fine entertainment for the large crowds in attendance.

The baseball team did not join a league and most of the games were chanllenge matches with other teams in the area. Spring Brook, Hope River. French River. Margate and Kensington teams provided most

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