| Harness racing is clear representative and product of industrializing, nineteenth century North American society. The sport was refined and perfected in Canada and the United States during the century to become a mass spectator event. The Maritimes Provinces and the New England States were particularly significant in their consolidated effort to improve harness racing and harness racing horses. The area was crucial in both the early and late development of the sport. An examination of the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, where harness racing rated a top spot in leisure activity, reveals how a microcommunity involving amateurs and professionals was built around the sport. Harness racers worked to establish local community spirit; the horse track was a place to established group commonalities and differences.;New forms of transportation, products of the industrial age, were used to move spectators and competitors, allowing harness races to be well attended by both spectators and competitors and, therefore, prosper. As its popularity increased, harness racing became an industry unto itself particularly in the production of race horses, culminating in the creation of the Standardbred breed. Through breeding imports and exports, the Northeastern region became and international centre in the breeding and commerce of horses.;By the end of the nineteenth century, the exploits of harness racing horses were recorded diligently and published for consultation by the general public. Much of the information on harness racing was relayed through the newly developed medium of the daily newspaper, a product and industry, like harness racing, which also exemplified the values and technology of the age. The popular press arose at a perfect time to promote harness racing, and the sport connected to many features of newly created newspapers: commercial advertisements, international reporting via telegraph, poetic sports reporting, and local interest. Indeed, a daily newspaper found in Fredericton worked to promote and encourage the sport.;Not only did harness racing become a popular leisure diversion for participants and spectators, harness racing horses played a symbolic role in society. Early harness racing heros were often used as examples of the "rags to riches" mentality which was prevalent in the industrializing culture of nineteenth century North America. The Northeastern region adopted its own hero during the 1890s: a champion trotter from Maine named Nelson. Horses such as Nelson became heroes in culture and art, inspiring particularly the mass production of lithographs featuring their likenesses. With speed, regularity, and efficiency the harness racer represented society's modernization. |
