In the gold rush town of Barkerville, billiards, and horseracing were popular diversions. Due to the cold winters, sports such as ice-skating and snow-shoeing were also enjoyed.

Between1858 and 1866, the discovery of gold lured American, Chinese, and European fortune hunters into the Colony of British Columbia. Barkerville, like so many interior gold rush towns, enjoyed a brief but explosive prosperity. Leisure time was limited. In these rough and unorganized boomtowns, spontaneous sports like billiards, boxing, and horseracing thrived. In towns where bread was bought with gold dust, fortunes were wagered on the outcome of almost any competition.