Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-10-31

Tonight the Fourth Annual Fair of
the Southern District Association will
come to an end 1t has brought to
Los Angeles large number of visi-
tors, and at the same time given to
the residents of the city the exciting
pleasures that flow from contests on
the turf. Although the main atten-
ton was centered on the races, the
fine display made at the rink by our
merchants, manufacturers and plant
ers has attracted general notice and
accomplished much good. The dis
play of soil products, although small,
clearly brings conviction to visitors
from less favored localities that the
soil of this semi-tropical cline is un-
surpassed in its fruitfulness. The
Changers Of Southern California, when
they see fit to exert themselves, can
make an agricultural display that
would win the first medal in contest
open Ia the world.
AT THE RACE TRACK.
The crowd at the race course was
immense yesterday. All kinds of We
hicles We're called into requisition to
convey the pleasure-seekers to the
Fair Grounds, and it is fact worthy
Of note that not a single accident oc-
Cured on the road. The main stand
teemed with humanity, most of the
seats being occupied by the fair sex.
Within the race enclosure were scores
of elegant equipages, ladened with
stately DANES and fair maidens-all
anxiously awaiting the exciting
sports promised them. TO be part of
an immense throng is quite an at
traction in itself; in fact, many go to
a fair solely to see and be seen-races
and contests being a secondary con-
sideration. And, to tell the truth
and this the HERALD always does
aside from the crowd, there was little
worth seeing. The contests by the
male riders. were distressingly thin
and In the lady's ring but two repre-
sentatives of the fair sex contended.
Now and then there was q laugh, but
as a rule the crowd maintained a dig
nified silence. It's just like camp
meeting," remarked an old and re-
spected citizen, "some one of the
deacons and elders present ought to
give us an exhOrtation. Guess this
day was set apart for the church-men."
Why the thing fizzled out Is a fit sub
ject for discussions; that it did fiZzle Is
n fact that admits of no dispute.
OLD TINE SPORTS.
First on the programme was con-
test in feats of horsemanship after the
manner of "auld lang syne.n Messrs.
N. A. Covarubias, ID. Botiller and
Thos. Alvarado were selected as judges.
The following gentlemen participated
in the contest: Francisco PicO and
Leandro Osura Of San Diego; J. Mont
gomery and Fred. Sage from the upper
coast, and Lewis Lopez, Santiago Ar
guello, Antonio M. Lugo andJ. r.. Car
rillo of Los Angeles county. The test
selected was for the. riders to pick up,
while on full run, two half dollars
placed on the ground In front of the
judges stand-the silver pieces being
about foot apart. Each rider had
from ten to a dozen trials, but the COW
eted coins were not captured. Lopez
once got the silver In his hand but it
didn't stay there, and Arguello moved
both pieces from their positions. Pico
showed himself daring and expert
horseman, but he couldn't secure the
coin !; one thing, however, he
did get "a good fall that
brought forth a general laugh, One
of the contestants mounted q mule,
not over three feet In height, and was
sure of success, but the mule unfortu-
nately proved stubborn, and on each
trial SHE'D away from the silver. An
outsider took run for the prize but
had to content himself with q fall and
headlong roll. The judges awarded
the prizes as follows: First prize, $50,to
Lewis Lopez; second prize, $40, to
Santiago Arguello; third prize, $40, to
Francisco Pico. asa
The Mexicans who participated in
this contest are hOrsemen of acknowl-
edged skill and daring, and it must be
recorded to their favor that their hor-
ses had not been trained for the work
and acted badly. One of the judges
lamented to the HERALD reporter
that expert horsemanship was fast
becoming a ''lost art" remarking
that ten years ago even the little fell
lows could successfully accomplish
such feats of fhorsemanship as had just
been yainly attempted.
THE LADIES' RING.
Next came the exhibition of lady
equestrianship. But two ladies par
ticipated and the expected pleasure in
this department was in consequence
decidedly curtailed. Miss Albertina
Haley, one of the favorite young
10 Iino nf xhio pitx frat anfnrnd tha
ring and soon convinced all present
that her horsemanship was of the
highest order. Then Mrs. Peasants,
mounted on very spirited steed,
coursed around the ring and, won uni
versal applause; she was perfectly at
her ease on her excited and cavorting
steed. Few horsewomen in California
can successfully compete with Mrs.
Peasants. These two ladies did not
contend for premiums, but both re-
ceived from the association elegant
testimonials.
GRAND STOCK PARADE.
One of the most enjoyable treats of
the day was the parade of the runners
and trotters now quartered at the sta
bles of the Association. AS the fleet
footed animals came within the gate
and coursed around the track, they
were received with lusty cheers. Such
horses as Echo, Vaughan, the Moor,
Irene Harding, Regent, Pilot Chief
and Little Agnes, we'll deserve COM
pliments-even from the fair ones and
from churchmen. Even the deacons
and elders present cheered as the thor
oughbreds speeded past the grand
stand, and doubtless more than one
heaved a far-drawn sigh when he re-