Back in the early 1900's, horse racing was very popular. Back then a really good horse would cost about $15,000. Now a really good horse can cost $100,000. Horse racing was for fun, but you could get some money out of the sport and that's why most people did it.

This picture was taken at the Charlottetown track. Charlottetown track was built in 1888. It is still in existence today.

There are two kinds of racing: one is called thoroughbred, and the other is called standardbred. Standardbred is a kind of racing where a horse pulls a sulky (two wheeled bike) behind him. The driver sits on the sulky and holds the reins to make the horse turn. A sulky would cost about $2,000 today.

Thoroughbred racing is where the driver sits on the back of the horse. It requires a smaller driver than standardbred.

PARO, Acc 3218/172