Horsham sporting hero’s race against a horse!

On this day (August 16) in 1919 Horsham’s famous athlete Alfred Shrubb lined up at the town’s cricket field to race against a trotting horse.

It was originally planned to take place during the Horsham Peace Carnival, celebrating the end of the Great War, but Shrubb’s voyage from his new home in Canada took longer than expected so a re-arranged match-up was announced.

Even so, around 2,300 people were present on the Saturday evening to witness the five-mile race. Shrubb’s exploits over the years had been keenly followed in the town and this was a rare chance to watch this most famous athlete in action.

His opponent was six-year-old Kitty M, a local trotting horse and the property of Mr Joseph Burton.

As good as Shrubb was (and he was a very class runner!) he obviously wasn’t as quick as a horse, so certain conditions were added. Also, he was now aged 39 years of age and past his prime!

The horse was attached to a four-wheeled buggy drawing 22 stone. This turned out to be the driver Mr Alan Collins with Mr L Blackiston as passenger.

The animal had to trot all the way and if it broke into a gallop it had to turn round and re-cover the ‘illegally’ covered ground in a trot again. Also, no whip was allowed.

Just after seven o’clock Shrubb appeared in his running clothes. This would be his first appearance in England as a competitor since 1907 when he broke the amateur five-mile record in Glasgow.

Since then he had been banned as an amateur due to questions over payments for competing in races, so he had turned professional and had enjoyed success in America and Canada.

At 7.31pm the race started and even with all the restrictions Kitty M established a comfortable lead.

When it finished, in 26 minutes and one second, Shrubb was nearly two laps behind. The crowd swarmed onto the course with Shrubb still trying to cross the line (his time was 28mins 8secs).

He was given a hearty cheer by the crowd which had been entertained before the race by the Horsham Town Band.

After the race there was dancing in front of the pavilion, and coconut shies and other attractions were laid on for the townsfolk.