The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-10-27
RACING At COUNTY FAIRS.

ForThe Cecil Why.
Mr.. EDIToR.-A remark in contri-
button of IAN Observer, in reference to
the late fair, is worthy of reply i'll the
interest of the future welfare, not only
of the Agricultural Society, but of every
moral as well as agricultural interest
that may be influenced by it. With
nearly all he says the writer can agree,
and he only takes exception to the coun-
sci, to "offer additional inducement to Sc
cure the entrance of the fastest horses
of the country" in order as he says to
double the receipts.
have been an observer also, of this
fast horse business at agricultural fairs,
for several years, and know from having
had direct hand in their management
that there is evil, and only evil continu-
ually, inseparately connected with all
horses thai are kept for trotting purposes
exclusively. The crowd that are attracted
by the fame of fast horse, number
among them many of the most diSrepu-
table members of society, whose pres
ence is disgrace apart from the secret
thievery, and more public gambling, in
which they are the leaders.
The owners of professional trotterS
care little as a rule for the premiums Off
cred by any society, and there Is never
anv guarantee that the fastest or best
horse will win any given race in the
higher classes. The owners and their
hackers can have the whole thing set up
in advance, and rake i'll ten times as
much from the betting of the ignorant
as all the premiums will amount to.
These men are generally more ready
to avoid making record than to win IA
race at a small county fair The crowd
of profane and drunken rutfianS that fol
low in the wake of fast horses, will turn
any ordinarily quiet town into pande-
monium, aud just in proportion as they
attend, the quiet and orderly county pee
pie for whom the fair is nominaliy held,
will stay away.
The Elkton fair is yet a new thing. but
1t is old enough to see these two conflict
ing elements, striving for the mastery
We. as citizens of the county, feel local
pride in decent and orderly fair, and
farmers and their wives and daughters,
have been doing their best, to make a
creditable exhibit but if we are to be
lDob ny IL tiDNu vi INV
dies, brought from the cities to see TIE
races, we will stay at home. No tempo
rary pecuniary profit will be Il sufficient
plea to quiet the consciences of any set
of men, who may be tempted to sell out
in this way, the morals of whole com
munity.
The following clippings from first c,ass
journals in different portions of the conn
try. show what some people think about
such things: The State and New Eng
land Fair was piece of imposition on
the agricultural people. Where does the
$40,0 600 yearly income of the society go
to?-Manchester Mirror. The New Eng
land Fair has degenerated because of
ring management.-N L. Homestead.
Farmers work hard and take stock, pro-
ducts and machinery to display and come
home with diplomas and five cent prizes.
while the trotting gentry retire with
their capacious wallets stuffed. ---Kirror
and Farmer. Whenever gambling
schemes are tolerated We should like to
see every farmer leave the grounds with
his family, and take care to tell the man
ayers why he does so.-Lice Stock Mdi-
Gator. If fairs cannot be maintained
without horse-racing and other stimu-
lants to the formation of drinking and
gambling habits in the young, this coun-
try will be a gamer by their dis ,ontinu
ance.-IudidAa Farmer"
Yours, G..