In between hot dogs, hamburgers, and the other goodies comprising a Fourth of July picnic fare, the competitive sound of cheering and laughter surrounded afternoon-long games of what today is called ‘corn hole.’ As the light colorful bags were tossed back and forth aimed at the target holes, a thought hit me wondering if our early forefathers engaged in horseshoe pitching on such special occasions.

While that personal query remains unanswered, I learned that former presidents Harry Truman and George H.W. Bush were horseshoe pitching enthusiasts. Their love of the game was exhibited by horseshoe pits both had installed on the White House lawn. During their years in office, both presidents often engaged visiting dignitaries over games of horseshoes.

According to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association, it is believed the game descended from the ancient Greek sport of discus throwing. Many poor people who could not afford a discus used discarded horseshoes to throw at a stake. It is documented that Civil War soldiers took up the game to pass the time. Although its popularity has waned, the game is still played by many who enjoy the fun and competition of tossing the two-pound shoes at stakes placed 40 feet apart.

For WILQ radio morning disc jockey Ted Minier the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions have renewed his interest in the game; he first started playing at family gatherings as a youngster.

“Growing up, horseshoes were always featured prominently in family gatherings. So as far back in my childhood as I can remember, I have always been around the game.

“Since the COVID lockdown was instituted in March, as soon as the weather got nice, my wife, Katie, and I were looking for things to do, and I introduced her to horseshoes. I had a set in the backyard for a number of years.

“I haven’t played in any tournaments for many years, but it is very competitive between my wife and me. It took her a while to develop her technique. As it turns out, she is a right-hander but pitches horseshoes left-handed. She has really improved her game over the past few months and is sneaking up on me, and the scores of our games are getting closer. But we play the game for fun and enjoy our backyard games.

“As any horseshoe pitcher knows, the game is all about consistency. The important things to being a good player are your grip, your stance, and your release. I can’t give away too many of my secrets as Katie may be reading this column.”

Describing his horseshoe skill as ‘fair to middling’ Minier chuckled when asked about his plans for the game.

“By the end of the summer, I expect to be up there and competing on the pro circuit, winning trophies, money, and the recognition that I so richly deserve. If that happens, I will brag it up. I’ll want everybody to know about it.”

While Minier enjoys horseshoes in his backyard Williamsport’s Jim Horton has long enjoyed the competitive nature of the sports.

“When I was a little kid, our family would play horseshoes at reunions, and I would watch and then began to play,” Horton related. “As time went by, I got invited to play in a league, and I lost. That was not something I was happy with, so I decided to practice.

“It is sad to see, but horseshoes are becoming a thing of the past. Years ago, there were plenty of tournaments. My idea of a vacation, let say on a long weekend, was to play Saturday at Cogan House, Sunday in Blossburg and Monday at Morris. There were also tournaments in the west end, Lairdsville and several other places that would be competitive and featured many good players like Larry Frey, Jim Weaver, and Dick Snyder, among others.

“Several of the players had river lots, and we would play there every weekend and travel to tournaments in Canton, Troy, Morris, and other places when we could. Today, it is hard to find places around here that have competitive tournaments. There used to be a competitive tournament in Selinsgrove, but that has folded. Like a lot of other things these days, people just don’t want to commit to anything. Back in the day, we had a league at Indian Park that had 16 players on both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Now you can’t get 16 players period.

Admitting that today he only plays once or twice a week, Horton describes himself as an upper-middle player skill-wise.

“Originally, I threw the flip or end-over-end, but in the last several years, I changed to the turn style because it was easier on my arm. Tactically speaking and we are talking fractions of an inch or second, the turn style is more effective because the horseshoe stayed open longer. That’s a small amount of time, but when you are playing with guys who throw ringers 50-60% of the time, that fraction becomes important.

“I played competitive sports all my life, and I never played against so many people that were outstanding competitors but would do nothing at all to take advantage of a situation like horseshoes players. Most definitely, there is a code of honor among players. I’m sure that is not the case with everyone, but in my experience, it has been true. It is a game I’ve been able to enjoy most of my life.”

Asked what advice he may have for those interested in taking up the game, Horton’s advice was simple.

“Set up a pitch in the backyard, practice as much as you can, and go out and play.”