1868 3 Mile Race - 2nd Place Medal

I'm not sure if it's more reasonable to assume that it was a 2nd place medal that kept the "won by" line for some reason (which would imply multiple similar medals?), or that the guy who won the race was named J. Henderson II and they spelled out the numeral.

(I think probably the former but the latter doesn't seem impossible.)

Just something that might help narrow your search. The metric system was established in the late 1700s. The only countries that didn't adopt the metric system are the USA, UK, Liberia and Myanmar.

So, unless it is nautical miles, it's probably one of those four.

It's not quite as helpful or useful as that. The Metric system was invented by revolutionary France in the late 1700s, and spread by them into the rest of Europe as they conquered most of Europe during the Napoleonic wars. Britain, of course, remained unconquered by the French, meaning the British Empire and thus the entire English-speaking world in the 1800s retained use of the non-metric Imperial system. Most English-speaking countries did not switch from Imperial to Metric until some time in the 1970s. Australia officially converted from miles to kilometres in 1974, New Zealand in 1976.

This thread is A couple of observations I missed or didn't connect earlier: The number 1 in 21 minutes is most likely European script, and the wording is obviously in English. I'm not aware of any other areas that write their number "1" like an inverted "V" Also, I am pretty sure after looking through data bases (Mr. Google is my friend) the first name starts with an "I" and not a "J". The tail doesn't wrap back around and cross the vertical.

Sooo, if you really want to get frustrated look up Eight point/tip Maltese Cross with ball ends and lions. An uncanny similarity between the Order of the Bath Knight Commander medal will pop up. It also has similar lions vs one of the many other markings.

IF you want to take it one step further, look up Maltese Cross on Wikipedia, and you will see how world wide the use of the Maltese Cross is.

I didn't find anything in sports Heraldry, so it very well be a locally produced award.

One last thought on the race time. It might be run walking called "pedestrianism" back then or women's bike races, which were becoming a thing...with really big wheels and long dresses.

Again, good luck

Wow, what a find! That seems pretty definite.
(I checked the book and apparently James Henderson did arrive second.)

I wonder why it was called Alexandra - is there a place named Alexandra in Montreal? The book doesn't go into much detail on that, only mentioning that some new clubs appeared in a burst of activity in 1867/68 (Alexandra being one of them).

To put a bow on this one I'll also be reaching out to museums in Montreal to find the right place to donate this medal. I'll probably start with the McCord Stewart Museum. Once it's shipped off I'll send out one last update.

thanks again everyone. what a community.

Excellent!