Catamarca Province Plata was created in 1776, Catamarca obtained the title of "Subintendencia" under the Salta intendency. In 1821, the province claimed its autonomy, and Nicolás Avellaneda y Tula (grandfather of Nicolás Avellaneda) was elected as the first governor of the province. The name is believed to come either from Quechua "cata" 'slope' and "marca" 'fortress', or from Aymara "catán" 'small' and "marca" 'town'. Catamarca remained isolated from the rest of Argentina by its mountains until 1888, when the rapidly expanding railways first appeared in the province. Attracting immigrants with its spacious, fertile valleys and dry, agreeable weather, Catamarca was soon favored
Formosa (horse) to Lambton, Cocoa Nut and Lopez. In her first start of the year in May, Formosa was second in the two-mile and two-furlong Tradesman's Plate run at Chester, losing to the mare Our Mary Ann. In June at Ascot, Formosa was beaten by Siderolite in the running for the two-mile Gold Vase. At the July meeting at Newmarket, Formosa was beaten by ten lengths by the 5-year-old mare Mysotia in the running for the £105 Queen's Plate. "The Sporting Review" commented on Formosa's poor form during the season, "[she] is being hacked about all over the country and losing her