[This is a new version of Horseshoes at Grupe Park. Both container and location are different. The original was muggled ... twice. Hoping this one will be more immune to muggles.]
Horseshoe pitching has a long and interesting history. A good description of its history can be found at: (visit link) . Related to another traditional game called "quoits", which involved the tossing of rings over a set distance toward a spike/post target, horseshoe pitching probably was first enjoyed by soldiers who used actual horse shoes. Apparently during the 19th century quoits was more popular in the Eastern US, while horseshoe pitching was more popular in the Midwest. The first horseshoe pitching club was organized in 1899. Rules for the game of horseshoes as well as specifications for horseshoe courts have evolved over time, but at the current time the two stakes are 40 feet apart. Scoring is basically 3 points for a ringer and 1 point for a shoe within 6 inches. Various additional rules apply depending upon the manner of scoring that is used. In competition, accomplished pitchers might throw at the 75% ringer level!
I had not pitched horseshoes since my youth (my dad had installed a court on our small acreage in Iowa), but I recently learned that a friend of mine, also retired, was interested, so we began to compete on a weekly basis. With this new interest I discovered that almost every city park near my home has a horseshoe court. The purpose of this geocache is to bring to your attention the existence of the horseshoe courts at Grupe Park. In logging your find of this cache, if you know of another horseshoe court either here in Stockton or, if you live elsewhere, in your own hometown, please let us know about it.