The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-08-17
The National Horse Fair at Ottawa, sep.
TENDER 3..7.

We observe by our exchanges that the
proposed Horse Fair at this city is attract
ing large attention particularly throughout
the North west. AS the far occurs during
the next week preceding the State Fair at
Chicago, the owners generally, of fine
horses, which they propose to exhibit at
the state fair are making their arrange.
ments to exhibit them also at Ottawa, thus
killing two birds with one stone. Among
the horses of this class are the celebrated
courser Ethan Allan and his fine colt now
owned IN Morgan County, both of which,
the managers Of the Ottawa fair are advised
this MOI ming, will be exhibited at the fair
in this city.
We visited the fair grounds about nile
west Of the city, on Thursday, and found
the work there in rapid progress. The
track has been put in excellent ORDER
Nearly a third Of the track, which is half
mile in leugth, is encircled by twelve
tiers of seats, capable of accommodating
ten or twelve thousand people. The judges
stand has also been greatly enlarged and
reporters gallery, verandah, and dining
hall added for the especial accommodation
Of the officers and members of the press.
Two mons ter eating houses are also in pro.
gress at each flank OF the seats, and in the
centre large stand is being erected, capa
Die of accommodating seventy-five to a
hundred musicians. Taking it all in all
this will be the largest and most stately
amphitheatre We have ever witnessed.
&! 1t is due /. to the management. to say
/ that the common idea, that this fair is but
another name for horse racing on a large
scale, is erroneous The premiums art
not offered for speed in all, nor even IN a
majority of cases, but for excellence in
the peculiar points for which the horse is
entered Then when the test IS the speed
of the horse, the trial will not be by d
race, but in all cases the running will bs
/ against time. Again, a main feature relied
upon to add attractiveness to the Fair, il
! Ladies Equestrianship Here any thing
( like racing or excessive speed Is positively
prohibited. There are usually a hundred
or more contestants for the prizes in this
! department. Each lady chooses her own
costume, her own charger and a gentle
man 10 accompany her. y dozen or two
4 may be on the track at the same time
/ The riding is al an easy, moderate gait
and the tests of excellence are the grace
ease. security and scifpo--es-ion OF the
eluestrians. \ whole day Is generally
given TO this department. and the di>Uiay
never fails to be the most animating ard
delightful that can Le aeined
! We had 4 cony crs.,tiOn with a gentle
man from Warren county Yesterday, WHO
assured u that the whole country in thai
region was walked up on the subject o
,nis Fair, and that scores OF fine nor e
from that quarter, famed for turning out
the best horses in the State, would bc
here, and thousands of people From
Deyanport, Rock Island, Keokuk, &c
similar reports arrive: while for 80 20 :;
miles around OTTAWA the people are talk
Ing about nothing eise-always, Of course
excepting the war. Should the weather
and other things continue favorable, a. a
present. that there Will be half q Thousand
horses, and from forty 10 sixty thousand
people in attendance at this Fair, we hav,
every reason to believe.