George Knight was trying to make the area into a fine racing arena. The first races of the summer were this month. However, the local horses of Orwell, Fair Haven, and Granville were not entered when their owners discovered some noted racers were to run.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – June 23, 1983 – Title Unknown
A most exciting race took place 29 September [1884] when Seth McFarran’s mare, John O’Rourke’s horse, and Nelson O’Donnell’s horse competed, best 3 in 5. The account
says shots were taken of the drivers and the caroms they made. (Doesn’t anyone have some pictures to be preserved by copying?)
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – Nov 16, 1983 – Title Unknown
Whitehall Stock lmprovement Company was incorporated for the improvement of breeds of horses. The men involved were Whitehall and Dresden citizens. Francis E. Fish,
Gilbert H. Hunt, Charles Mellon, P. S. Benjamin, Sereno Hollister, B. A. Jakway, Frank Jakway, R. M. Witherbee.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – July 4, 1984
The first horse race on the ice was held 24 December between Phineas Benjamin’s Speculator and Harding’s bay horse of Comstock.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – December 19, 1984
What about an exhibit of horseflesh in our streets today consisting of the Beechman stallions’ offspring? Five of them. Gilbert Hunt owned two stallions; a chestnut, eleven months 27 days weighing 910 pounds and a bay, ten months 20 days of 700 pounds. Fred H. Smith owned two mares; one a chestnut eleven months old, 660 pounds and a black, 16 months, 640 pounds. Sereno Hollister was the owner of a five year ten month old bay, 680 pounds. The animals were deemed splendid specimens of equine flesh.
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Independent – March 19, 1986