10+ Epic Photos of Florida's Historic Ostrich Races

I bet you didn't even know ostrich races were a thing. They were totally a thing.

Elana

• Published in Interesting
• November 5, 2017

Ostrich racing is a sport that goes back to the 19th century in America where it was popular in quite a few places but especially Florida. While it is still an active sport today, it is not nearly as well known as it was during what can only be described as "The Golden Age" of Ostrich Racing. Have you ever heard a more bizarre term in your life? Maybe, but this particularly unique sport is reported to be one of Florida's most treasured and oldest ways to pass the time in pleasure.

First appearing in Florida in the late 1800's, by 1890 multiple cities in Florida including Jacksonville and St. Augustine had their own Ostrich farms where they encouraged local residents and tourists to try out ostrich racing! Of course, back in those days, virtually anyone who visited the farm with 50 cents in their pocket and weighing less than 150 pounds was granted the opportunity to ride an Ostrich. The large, flightless birds native to Africa couldn't carry more than 150lbs on their backs but back then being overweight was not really commonplace so almost everyone who visited the farms and racetracks got to give it a go. 

If you're anything like me then you've never pondered until this moment how one would even mount an ostrich to ride it but thanks to the good old days, the May 1920 issue of Popular Science laid it all out for us:

When you mount an ostrich a sock is pulled over its head – it feels safer in the dark. When the sock is pulled off, it leaps forward. You grab the feathers and hang on while the ostrich races around the track with you. It can easily beat a horse in a long-distance race.

Of course, that still sounds a bit dangerous for some people, then and now, so back then if you didn't want to mount the majestic bird you had the option to sit in a small carriage that was pulled by an Ostrich or two instead! And if you were more of the spectator type, not the action type, you could just sit down and watch professional Ostrich jockeys race the birds instead! You could also just watch a bunch of Ostriches do their daily thing including being fed. You could hold their enormous eggs and in the sales room, you could buy a wide variety of souvenirs like ostrich eggshells and feathers! Since not all ostriches and not all moments from ostriches are friendly, it's understandable that some visiting humans wouldn't want to take the chance that a male ostrich experience a violent mood swing could kill them and instead they chose to enjoy the view. (Seriously, fun fact: male ostriches experience severe mood swings when the females lay their eggs, causing them to violently lash out to anything or anyone nearby with enough force behind an enormous claw to kill a human.)

Check out these incredible historical photographs of the Florida past time!

1. Get reay to rumble!

2. 1901-1907

3. "I'm ready for my close up!"

4. Professional Racer: Richard Webb

5. Stuff it.

6. Mmm, snacks!

7. Main entrance to Florida Ostrich Farm. Jacksonville, Florida

8. Sweet ride!

9. Ostriches on the farm

10. "Did you make this?"

11. Spectators gotta spectate

12. Here birdie, birdie!

13. Casper's Ostrich & Alligator Farm. Saint Augustine, Florida. 1948

14. Fred Andersen, 1948

15. Oliver W. Jr

16. Prep Time

17. Remind you of anything?

18. Jacksonville, Florida. Circa 1907-1911

19. The ostrich farm was clean family fun!

20. Bud Spradley and Hot Shot

21. Getting Ready

22. Jockeys chillin' before the race

23. Sweethearts

24. BABY!

25. Feeding the ostrich

26. Bud and Hot Shot

27. Date night, ostrich style.

28. Get Prepped!

29. ostrich-drawn cart.

Elana