The Morgan Mile Trotting Races
Donation protected
History will repeat itself since the famous Morgan Horse named Figure and later called Justin Morgan or The Morgan Horse, raced down this old Vermont Road. He was raced against two New York running horses in Brookfield, Vt. in 1796 (defeating both easily).
That stretch of road is known as "Morgan Mile" to this day and is located close to the place Morgan is said to have lived near the Randolph-Brookfield town line. Morgan horses will, again, race a quarter mile on the same road that Justin Morgan did over two hundred and nineteen years ago. Justin Morgan won races with regularity and was considered a “fleet runner at short distances.” Running horses down public roads for what was generally an agreed upon distance of eighty rods was very common in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Horses were started from “scratch.”
Justin Morgan was a living legend. In the manner of so many heroes, he began as an unremarkable colt and became the father of an entire breed of horses recognized for quality and dependability. It was said that Justin Morgan could “toil all day and win races at dusk!” He was famed for his versatility, willingness, and even temperament. He was able to plow fields, pull a stylish carriage, be ridden under saddle, and win in races. His progeny went on to dominate the trotting race world until the mid-nineteenth century.
We have put together a series of trotting races in which Morgan Horses will race two at a time down this historical road. Races will be at a trot, under saddle as well as in harness. The races are scheduled for September 10th 2016 and will start at 1 PM on The Morgan Mile Road in Brookfield Vermont.
It’s very important that historical events such as this one be continued for years to come however it takes money in order to put any event on. Just for porta potties and the cost of the Sheriff’s Department (needed to close the road down) can run over $600.00 alone.
We have had spectators from as far as California and we have had Morgan Horses come to race from as far as Connecticut and Maine. It cost these people money for gas, stabling and for a hotel room since the distance for some is too far to travel in one day. This is why we would like to offer some kind of prize money this year in 2015 in hopes that it will enable competitors to come back and compete again next year.
The Morgan Mile web site is http://www.morganmile.com/
The events Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/groups/morganmile/
That stretch of road is known as "Morgan Mile" to this day and is located close to the place Morgan is said to have lived near the Randolph-Brookfield town line. Morgan horses will, again, race a quarter mile on the same road that Justin Morgan did over two hundred and nineteen years ago. Justin Morgan won races with regularity and was considered a “fleet runner at short distances.” Running horses down public roads for what was generally an agreed upon distance of eighty rods was very common in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Horses were started from “scratch.”
Justin Morgan was a living legend. In the manner of so many heroes, he began as an unremarkable colt and became the father of an entire breed of horses recognized for quality and dependability. It was said that Justin Morgan could “toil all day and win races at dusk!” He was famed for his versatility, willingness, and even temperament. He was able to plow fields, pull a stylish carriage, be ridden under saddle, and win in races. His progeny went on to dominate the trotting race world until the mid-nineteenth century.
We have put together a series of trotting races in which Morgan Horses will race two at a time down this historical road. Races will be at a trot, under saddle as well as in harness. The races are scheduled for September 10th 2016 and will start at 1 PM on The Morgan Mile Road in Brookfield Vermont.
It’s very important that historical events such as this one be continued for years to come however it takes money in order to put any event on. Just for porta potties and the cost of the Sheriff’s Department (needed to close the road down) can run over $600.00 alone.
We have had spectators from as far as California and we have had Morgan Horses come to race from as far as Connecticut and Maine. It cost these people money for gas, stabling and for a hotel room since the distance for some is too far to travel in one day. This is why we would like to offer some kind of prize money this year in 2015 in hopes that it will enable competitors to come back and compete again next year.
The Morgan Mile web site is http://www.morganmile.com/
The events Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/groups/morganmile/
Organizer
Dennis Tatro
Organizer
Brookfield, VT
