Jockeys weighing in at Hobby Horse Hall
(Photos Freddie Maura c1945 and the
pictures were donated to the Bahamas Historical Society by Mr Soldwedel)
The
museum of the Bahamas Historical Society is a magic mirror to the past. The
outer reflections on the walls are the bones of history but in the inside the
draws and cupboards we glimpse the folk and the world they lived in.
I
recently unearthed these images that not only show our historical past but
evoke strong emotions from the memory of an entertainment facility that gave
employment to many people.
At
about this same time last year Harold Munnings wrote a group letter that
brought response from some individuals:
Dear All,
In 1937, my grandparents' horse, Morning Star, won the
Duke of Kent Cup at Hobby Horse Hall. On Sunday I went rambling about the old
race track and took these pics. I've been wanting to do this for years
His pictures
reflected his thoughts
Approach to the grand stand. I'm somewhere near the spot
where the prize was presented to my grandmom I think
Standing under the balcony
Overgrown stairway entrance
It was deathly quiet but there was lots of evidence of
crack addicts using the place
View down the main straightaway. Decaying steel girders
overhead and in the deathly quiet I kept listening for sounds of collapse. A
rusted and broken spiral metal staircase led to an observation deck above the
roof. Even I was not crazy enough to try get up there.
The start
And I am sure
one year later Harold’s greeting is still valid - Best wishes to
all the Christmas and in the coming year.
The derelict stands
The good old days are good and gone.
Cheers, a toast to the good times past.
Robin Roberts
I have been looking at these ruins for years and always
wished to explore them as my father, the late Basil North and my cousin Angela
Archer Scott rode in the gentlemen's and ladies' races at some point and I
think that my mother , the late Audrey Isaacs North used to work there part
time as many Bahamians did in those days. The next time you go exploring there
let me know.
All the best for the New Year.
Gail S.
My maternal grandfather, Johnny
Saunders,was a horse owner and avid patron of Hobby Horse Hall.His horse was
named Anne , after one of my cousins (his granddaughter) and his jockey's
colours were red and white in recognition of St. George's Sporting Club which
represented "Out East PEOPLE".
Further, one of the first jobs my wife, Sandy,
got was at the race track where her bosses were the late Reg Labosky and Garth
Kemp.
Hobby Horse Hall holds a lot of memories
for many Bahamians as it opened employment opportunities for many Bahamians as
horse owners, horse trainers, jockeys, veterinarians,
HANDICAPPERS, ticket
sellers and a range of activities. In essence it created a sustainable industry
and acted as well as a social outlet for thousands.Hobby Horse Hall
represented an era-an epoch ,which ,in many ways, came to an abrupt
end.How sad?
Maybe there should be a
"movement" to revive the Aura of a new Hobby Horse Hall.
Godfrey Eneas
AND there were a more longer letters from
Jackson Burnside and Larry Smith
May
I wish you all a blessed Christmas Season!
