Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-29
Horse Trotting at our Fairs.
Derby, Vt, Sept. %, 1868.

Horse Trotting at QUIZ Fairs.
Derby, Vt, Sept. %, 1868.
Mr.. EARLE
Dear SIR i saw in your
paper a few weeks previous to the Ag-
ricultural Fair at your place, a notice
OF horse trot to come off on the "3d
day of the fair" which | very much
disapproved, but soon after learned
J from an explanation in the Express,
and from inquiry that such was not
the fact and that the trot was dis
tinct matter gotten up by and wholly
under the control of the fair ground
company, and that the agricultural So
ciety had nothing to do with it and
did not approve of its being held in
connection with or so soon after our
fair, which explanation was very graf
flying to me as well as quite mum
Der of nv neighbors who feel an in
terest in the welfare and prosperity
of the agricultural society. | attend
ed the fair, and must say | was hapi-
Iy disappointed to find the new ground
so pleasantly located, and the accom-
modations so ample and convenient
having before felt that the location at
Barton was not the best, but came
home feeling perfectly satisfied so far
as location and grounds were concern
ed. Most of the cattle and horses
on exhibition were very worthy, and
would compare favorably, think, with
any county in the state. The number
of persons present was quite large,
showing at once the increasing inter
est taken by the farmers and mechan-
les in the county, as well also the la
dies in their department. The wealth
er was fine, and everything seemod to
have the appearance of our enjoying a
very satisfactory and genuine dgrl-
cultural fair. But witness my disap-
poiptment, surprise and chagrin on
the morning of the second day; the
weather had not only changed from a
clear, sunny, comfortable autumn day
to a cold, rainy, uncomfortable one,
but with it our unsurpassed agricul.
tural fair had changed into "horse
trot," for the early morning found your
streets lined with the "posters," stat
ing the number and amount of purses
offered for trotting matches, with the
names of the Judges" the time when
each purse would be trotted Tor, and
all the various matters and things
pertaining exclusively to horse racing
, and on this the heading, "Orleans
County Far, Second Day." but the
day was occupied almost entirely with
the horse trot programme. Now
while l do not purpose to discuss The
propriety or improperly of horse
] trots, | do desire to remind my broth
er farmers of the discussions at oul
, meetings last winter, but more par
ticularly at the meeting at lrasburgh
where our present society was organ
= lied for if my memory serves me cor
D rectly quite number Of farmers il
that meeting expressed themselve
: strongly opposed to horse trotting ii
a.. connection with our annual fairs, ant
some were so much opposed to it tina
. they even objected to having fai
q ground fitted up with "high fence
e and track, &C., and claimed that hors
O trots were the cause of the failure O
., the old society. |, for one, understood
the conclusion was to have a iai
u ground somewhere in as good styl
e as any parties felt they could afford t
y fit it; and to go there for five year
s. and hold our fairs, leaving the matte
o of horse trots entirely alone, and
-, think such was the understanding o
- quite a large number of farmers a
T. least; and |, with others whom hav
O. conversed with upon the subject, fet
o. imposed upon after responding to til
10 urgent request to become members o
- the agricultural society, to be born
unwittingly into the cruel, false, e,
K citing, brain crazying business G
n horse trotting; to share In all the ev
s. tendencies peculiar to such pastime
,e And yet, while | feel thus indignal
| do not wish to censure the immed
ate getters up of the affair, for | pr
III sumo they were moved by at least Ii
ar eral if not the best of motives in
ar doing; but l do desire to enter n
C. protest against even the mildest for
n of horse racing, by or in connectit
with our agricultural society; and
~ so doing, think | only reflect the fet
Us ings OF large majority of my brot
Is er farmers in Orleans County, and
~ learned from conversations with d
90 ferent persons while at Barton, the
:; is another reason why our socie
- ought not to offer purses-or prem
n- ums, if the term is any more mild
SIS for fast trotting. That is this: L
re company which was formed for t
o. purpose of fitting the ground al
buildings for holding our fairs, al
who furnish them to US free have be-
-. to a much larger expense in prepari
40 the track than they at first intende
ct and that they intend at different tim