Horse Culture Here As Old As Waitsburg

Wai t sburg has always had a "thing" about horses ever since it was first settled in the 1850s.

Horses supplied the power, which has made this a successful farming community. The difference now is that the horse power is mechanical.

City authorities purchased about 15 acres of land just south of town in 1893 and designated it a city park. A race track was developed in 1901 for the use of the Waitsburg Driving Association, allowing a time for early morning testing of favorite trotting horses.

Horse shows were held primarily on Main Street until 1909, when the Waitsburg Horse Racing Association was formed. At that time, the shows were combined with the thoroughbred racing.

Bleachers were erected on the east side of the track that would seat 600. The grand stand on the west side of the track was built in 1930.

The name "Days of Real Sport" came into use in 1922 with the adoption of a cartoon by the same name that appeared daily in the Spokane Spokesman Review.

Plain old horse races have shared other events over the years. There were chuck wagon races, chariots, trotters, Shetland ponies, barrel races, relays, Roman riders, grudge contests (my horse is better than yours) and always the shoe shuffle.

For a number of years, there were polo matches with teams from Spokane and Toppenish.

The first queen of the Days of Real Sport was Roberta Stonecipher Broom Adams, crowned in 1927. Craig Tull, prominent area horseman, was the first parade marshal in 1957.

There are many stories to be told about racing days, including the eruption of Mount St. Helens and its cloud of ash.

Horses and races in Waitsburg have always been a sign that spring is really here.

Snags happen.

We hope the races will come again in 2012 for the 98th time.