I've located an obscure article referencing
to the use of honey in horse racing.

From the files of the
Historical Honeybee Articles Group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

(Article Excerpt)

Alden Times
December 7, 1883, Alden, Iowa

Old Time Racing

How the Jockeys Were Glued On Their
Horses Instead of Using Saddles -The
Great Grey Eagle - Wagner Race. in 1838

"I guess I am about the oldest turfman
in America," said Henry Farris.
The speaker was an old man of 74 years
with a frank, open face, and pleasant
address.

"I attended the first race that was
ran on a regular course in Kentucky.
It took place in the fall of the year
1817, on a track near Grab Orchard,
Ky., which afterward became famous
as the Spring Hill course.

"I remember how the jockeys used to
ride in the olden days.  They had no
saddles, and each man who mounted a
horse was required to wear home-made
linen pants.  A vial of honey was
poured on the back of the horse, and
the honey coming in contact with the
raw linen, formed an adhesion
sufficently strong to keep the rider
in his position and enable him to
ride with safety."

"I trained the horse which won the
stakes in the first exciting race in
Kentucky. I speak of the famous horse
Josh Bell, who ran three heats in 1:50
over the course in Lexington. This
was in 1837.  …"

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
Pennsylvania

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm