Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-20
THE STATE FAIR.

The State Fair opens this year unaer
more favorable auspices than ever before
The presence in Sacramento OF the fresi-
dert of the United States furnishes an at
traction to visitors which will largely in
crease the attendance, but it may be SAID
without any fear of exaggeration that the
Fair itself promises to be the most salts
factory in all respects that has been held.
The evidence of increasing interest IN
these exhibitions is indeed very gratifying,
and with the growth of that interest
proceeds a commendable tendency to re-
move all the surviving defects and
drawbacks, and to introduce novelties and
reforms whenever possible. The exhibit
ton of stock at the Park this year shows
how rapidly that important interest IS adj
vancing. In former years it has been Gus
tomary for exhibitors to bring more ami
mails than space had been applied for, as
there was always plenty of spare room.
Now, however, it has been found neces-
sary to restrict exhibitors vigorously to
the space they have taken in adj
vance, the applications having been
SO numerous that it is already doubtful
whether there will be sufficient space for
all of them. A special feature OF interest
will be the stable of blood horses sent up
from Governor Stanford's breeding farm at
Palo Alto. These horses are among the
first products of the most thoroughly sci
entifc system of breeding that has ever
been established on the continent. The
interesting experiments which Governor
Stanford has entered upon could only have
been undertaken by man Of equal wealth
and public spirit, for while the cost of them
is necessarily great, the chief profit must
be reaped by tie country at large, in the
elevation and perfection of the various
strains of horses which are being raised
under the new process. A very important
change has been made in the character
of the races to be run this year,
and it is one which will without
doubt be cordially approved by
the public Heretofore the time has
been largely occupied by interminable
three in five races. Sometimes one of these
races has consumed whole afternoon, and
even then not been decided Their uncer-
tainty, tediousness, and unnecessary strain
upon the horses, have rendered them de-
cidedly unpopular, and some well known
breeders have refused to enter any of their
stock in such races any more. The State
Agricultural Society has wisely recognized
the disadvantages of these protracted
heats, and has therefore banished the three.
in-five race from the speed programme al
together. This year the longest race will
be two-in- three heat ones, and as result
the speed programme contains more entries
than ever before, and the entertainment
of the public will be very much greater.
Instead of, as old, having only two races
in the day, as was generally the case,
it will now be possible to have
four or even five, and the public will no
longer be tired out with those dreary in
tervals which take up SO much more time
than the actual trotting or running.
Again, there will this year be no trouble
in ascertaining what horses are about to
compete, since it has been decided that
drivers and jockeys must all wear dis
tinctive colo.s, and neat uniforms, so that
it will be easy to follow them with the eye
from the beginning to the end OF the race.
An improved method Of announcing the
results OF the heats has also been intro
duced, and altogether it is safe to say that
the races this year will be more lively and
interesting than they have ever been be.
fore.