Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-09-16
No. 43
RACING AT FAIRS.

| AS this is about the time for the annual
discussion of the proprieties and improprie-
| ties of racing at agricultural fairs to begin,
we give q starter from the Journal Of Agri-
culture, published at St. Louis. AS it takes
a moderate and reasonable view of the sub
ject, we commend it to those who are dis
posed to complain of the practice:
1t is the province of this paper to urge
| upon its readers all those things which, in its
judgment, will tend to make the country and
| its citizens better than they are. We hope
| never to fail in this duty. We appreciate
the evils which are necessarily associated
with horse-racing at fairs, even when it is
conducted under the most favorable circum-
stances. The betting, pool-sellirg, jockey
ing, cheating, and other things will always
in greater or less degree be connected with
trials of equine speed But the question is,
do these evils counterbalance the benefits de-
rived? We are compelled to answer the
question in the negative. OF all animals
there is none so dear to man as the horse
eve ought to bring the ladies in here also,
for-God bless them are they not the dear
est, sweetest and best of horses friends p
An agricultural fair without horses would be
well, we hardly know what; but ''Hamlet''
with the Prince left out would be interesting
and vlvacious in comparison. And the visi-
tors are not merely content with looking at
the horses; they wish to see them go. There
are other animals which are very interesting.
The ponderous bull, seemingly unconscious
of his strength, as he quietly follows his
keeper; the huge Durham, the mild-eyed
Alderrey, the gentle sheep, the adipose Here
ford, the Growing rooster, and others of
quadrupeds and bipeds are all interesting;
but none Of them approach the horse. And
their duties, useful as they may be, are ac-
complishcd IN state Of comparative repOse.
But the province CT the horse is, pre-emi-
nently among beasts, to annihiate distance
for the convenience of his rider or driver.
And that horse which best accompiishes this
is the surest Of cur sympathies Again, all
love to see these tests of speed. Whether
right or wrong, it is not our province to dis
cuss, but professors of religion. as well as
tho Ch1rcnes they represent, agree in regard
ing the race-track with its associations as an
unit place for the presence of professed
Christians. They almost as universally be-
!ieve that in attending fairs there is nothing
inconsistent with their profession. These
certainly take as much interest in the trials
at fairs, ii properly conducted (as we believe
they generally are), as any other portion of
our community. We think that were the
question left to them to decide, the voting
would certainly be in favor of the retention
of these contests. Yet again, we believe that
our agricultural fairs could not be kept up
without them, We hazard nothing in the as
sertion that were it announced in its adver-
tisements that at the coming St. Louis Fair
the best and most prosperous in the world
there would be no trials among horses as to
speed, or premiums offered therefor, the next
0v = .,@
spect, most sad and disastrous failure. We
say nothing as to encouragement of well-bred
stock. This argument is familiar, and will
recur to every one. We desire to see these
trials OF speed retained at our horse fairs, de-
pending upon a gentlemanly directory to see
that they are conducted in proper and be-
coming manner.