Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-21
The State Fair.

Opening Day-Large Attendance-GOod DfspIayiOf Cattle, Poultry, Agricultural Implements. Etc.-Indications for 8
 Fine Exhibition.
 The twelfth annual fair of the Connecticut State Agricultural society opened yesterday at the Meriden Trotting Park, Meriden. The indications, judging from the opening, are that the exhibition will be a good success.
 The cattle were among the chief attractions in the forenoon. The decorated wagon from Middlefeld, which was drawn by long string of thirty-three pairs of working oxen, received the first premium of $2O for best decorated cart or wagon. The outside of the wagon was completely covered with the farmers products of the soil. It had finely constructed roof, which gave it the appear ance of small house. This wagon will probably remain on the grounds during the remainder of the exhibition. The second premium for decorated wagon was taken by the town of westfeld, which had finely trimmed wagon drawn by twenty eight pairs of working oxen. The third premium for same was taken by the town of Bloomfield with string of thirteen pairs of oxen. The towns of Cheshire, Newington and Lyme also contributed to this part of the exhibition. For the largest and best team of oxen owned by one person or firm the firm of Ca pen Holcomb take the first premium ;. sec ond premiam to James A. Bill, of Lyme. In the afternoon a string of fourteen pairs of oxen and steers were driving about the ground, said to belong to Hon. Charles Par ker.
 The display of working oxen is better than might be expected, judging from the fact that ! so many farmers are now working horses ln place of oxen.
 Very many fine cattle are quartered in the ! long rows of sheds on the western side of the ! grounds. There are fine herds of Attorneys, Jerseys, Ayrshires, and fine herd of Swiss ! cattle.
 THE TRoTTING.
 The first race was the three minute class, \ in which there were eleven entries and five | Lady Scud, Slow Go and Tommy Slasher started in the order named, with Mamie \ Jonson at the pole. The first heat was wor easily by Mamie Johnson in 2:3s 1-2.
 Second heat The horses got good start al the second trial. Lady Scud soon took the lead and won the heat in 2:39 1-4. It wal | observed on the upper turn near the home stretch, that the other drivers had Joe Mo Donald, who was driving Tommy Slasher, II | pocket so that it was impossible for him tC \ get near the front on the homestretch.
 The Sd heat was won by Lady Scud in fnt shape, by square trotting, in 2:39 1-2.
 The 4th heat and the race was won by | Lady Scud, time 2:39 1-4. Second money tC
 Mamie Johnson, Sd money to Kate Douglass
 4th money to Tommy Slasher.
 GENTLEMEN's DRIVING HORSES. | This class had ten entries, of which fiv,
 came up to start. The bay gelding Clothe
 Pin won the pole, with the blacl
 mare Emma c. of Meriden next, ba,
 mare Kitty Hills next, Ben fourtl
 and Rover outside Rover is good sized
 brown horse owned by w. H. Cummings, O
 Milldale Conn, and for style he certainl. \ ranks first The first heat was won by Elm
 ma c. in 2:45, second heat by Emma 0. il \ PAS, third heat and the race by Emma C. il ' 2:4O. All her trotting is done without he
 utmost exertion. She evidently has nor | speed in reserve. In the last heat Littl
 Ben did some fast trotting making fin \ dash for second position, coming down tn
 homestretch nearly up to the winner. Sec
 ond money to Clothes Pin third to Littl \ Ben fourth to Kitty Hills. In the second
 heat collision occurred in the turn just af \ ter the start which resulted in a broker ! wheel on each side of the sulky of Kat | Douglass. Four spokes were taken com \ pletely out of one wheel and several iron
 the other, so that the sulky was in danger O \ going down with the drIver, who drove &
 carefully as possible throughout the heat ant
 fast enough to save his distance.
 THE RUNNING RACE.
 | The last and most exciting race of the da,
 was the running race, which was spirited
 contest between four horses, all of them fas
 runners. M Daily, of Hartford, enter ' Wrangler. James Killin, Hartford. enter
 Lightfoot. W. c. Daily, Hartford, enter
 Elise. James Blanchield, Hartford, enter
 Patrol. The horses got fair start and mad
 8 fine show going up the back stretch witl the gay colored caps and jackets of the bo,
 riders looking like the different hues of
 rainbow. The horses made the first turn il | close company, with Wrangler ahead at tn
 finish, time 1:52&. Lightfoot was ridden b, \ @ very small boy, Johnny Killin, only nin
 years old. who brought the horse in second
 The second heat was won by Wrangler ' time 1:55, with Lightfoot second, which fin
 ished the race ard ended the sport for th
 day.
 The running horses WraDgler and Elise hav l just returned from Coney Island, where the,
 have taken active part in the races. Tn ! judges were Norris Holcomb of Bloomfield
 and w. B. Ives of Meriden.
 ! The fair IS to continue today, Thursda,
 and Friday, making four days fair, witt
 two races to be trotted each day.
 To-DAY's PROGRAMME
 The programme for to-day is as follows: l At a. m, exhibition of breeding stock, includin
 all classes of neat cattle, sheep and swine, contnu | ing until the judges make their awards
 | At 10 a. m., exhibition of trained steers. ! At II a. m., a test of strength of draught oxen.
 At l3o ?: m' exhibition of homing pigeons in iron ! At p. m. and during the afternoon trotting, 2:4 | class and 2:38 class.
 The Meriden City band, John Lyon leader
 furnishes the music.