Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-09-25
RACING AT FAIRS.

We believe agricultural fairs are Of the
highest utility, and are justly entitled to
the credit for share Of the improvement in
agriculture of late years. Competition, and
the universal desire to do better than our
neighbor does, result in improved breeds Of
stock and improved methods OF culture, and
after person has been stimulated by any
means to produce superior article, he is
likely to try harder to keep up to the
standard thus established.
Far be it from us to say anything calcula-
ted to throw unnecessary discredt upon any
agricultural society, and especially upon one
which has been the author of so much good
as our state society, but it is the bOunden
duty of an independent newspaper to show up
wrong wherever it exists, and we do believe
that here is wrong which detracts greatly
from the usefulness of the society. We re-
fer to the racing feature. Trials of speed
are good in their place, and if properly con.
Quoted may be legitimate feature of an
agricultural fair but it is too patent fact
that too much prominence is given to this
feature at most of our fairs. The trotting
is made the chief feature of attraction, and
the control of the society, las well as a
large per cent. of the profts,) often falls in
to the hands Of professional jockeys and
gamblers.
This is said to be a pretty good year for
reforms, all over the country and would it
not pay for the farmers to attend the annu-
al meetings Of the agricultural societies next
winter and try their hand at rotating rings
out of Office there, as well as in politics.
Of the manner in which the State Agri.
cultural Society dips into the horse gamb.
ling business the following extract from the
Montpelier Journals report of the fan
speaks for itself;
In most of the races the collision between
| the drivers was so noticeable that very little
! interest was manifested in the result
! Whether the outside betting and pool llinq
had anything To do with this state of affairs
on the track, can only bG judged by appear.
nnces; but we can hardly see how the mana
gers and directors of the society can hole
themselves entirely blameless in regard Ia
the matter, when they so far recognize the
betting and pOol-selling "code" as they iii,
in the last race ON Fridny--the freo-to-all-
when they held meeting on the judges
stand, and, after II full discussion of iht
! whole subject, announced that they had de
cidcd "all bets OIL" on account of collusiol
ON tho part of the drivers. The question
that naturally suggested itself was, what hnC
the Vermont State Agricultural Society to dC
with "bets?" Are they under the charter
and patronage of the state, countenancins
the open violation of wholesome state laws
IL not, why their announcement of 'all bet
DIP" AS mt present conducted. the "horse
trOts" of our agricultural fairs itre but II spG
cles OF herse VtnibIijlg, and tho sooner tn
managers OF all fairs so arrange the eXhibi
lions OF the speed OF horses that collision
and "jockeying" among drivers shall be rem
dered impo ssible, the sooner will they rem
der such exhibitions worthy of public pat
ronago. There may not bo quite as nue.
excitement to the lOOkers-ou in race apalns
time each horse having the track alone /
do his bGst--but us II test of practical utiit
to the people, II Is the only method by whic
to arrive at II correct estimate of any horse
Our fairs should be legitimatoly for the benz
fit Of the farmers and mocha mics of the state
but the trotting department, us ut preser
conducted, is only for the benefit of III
jockey and the gambler; and the sooner tn
. farmers demand change tn better for tn
public morals.