The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-13
SAcADAHoc FAIR.
A Large Crowd in Attendance-Busy
Boy Winner of the Stallion Race.

The Topsham Fair, always one of the last
and most pleasant of the year, opened its
three days meeting yesterday. 1t is some
thing more than a town exhibit, for the
whole of Sagadahoc county, Brunswick and
other neighboring towns are taking an active
interest The grounds for holding the exbi-
bition are very complete and most happily
situated. The excursion from Portland and
vicinity over the Maine Central, with the
autumn foliage and fertile farms, still green
and attractive, is really fine.
The fair grounds are within a few hundred
yards of the station. At the entrance is the
main exhibition building, large two-story
substantial structure. On the first floor are
the solid products of the farm in the way of
corn, pumpkins, squashes, beets, etc., and
carriages, agricultural implements and other
things, even to beautiful row boat.
On the second floor we have the ladies'
work and the pomological exhibit. The dis
play of fruit is not only exceedingly fine, but
very large Upwards of five hundred plates
are displayed to great advantage. In the
rear of the hall is an art gallery with a
goodly number of pictures and paintings
tastefully arranged. Quilts, afghans, rugs
and an endless amount of embroidery and
needle work, with flowers and finely decor
ated hall, make most ENJOYABLE picture
On the grounds the display of cattle and
farm stock generally, was the largest seen in
Western Maine for long time. In working
oxen TOpSham, Brunswick, Harpswell Bow
doinham and Bowdoin were represented by
town teams, each having ten yoke and up
wards. In general farm stock there was a
goodly display, particularly in Jerseys, and
there were some fine Durhams
The sheep department was well represent
ed, Southdowns chiefly. And the much neg
lected pig had voice in the fair. Some fine
specimens of Chesters, grades and natives
were there in greater variety than at any
other exhibit in this section. Poultry also
in great abundance and pigeons of many de-
scriptionS.
The exhibit of horses attracted much at
tentlon and number OF promising young
animals were shown.
The examination of animals and trials of
strength by draft oxen occupied many viSl-
tors until the trotting commenced.
For the opening day there was but one
race, but of considerable local Importance to
those interested in horse breeding, a subject
of so much Importance to Maine and source
of such general revenue to farmers who cul-
tivate good stock
The contest was between stations and five
were entered, viz: Geo. Knox, Draco, Busy
Boy, Topsham Boy and Bowdoin Boy.
The judges in the stand were Messrs. VIM.
R. Field, Brunswick; F. Reed, Bath and s..
w. Carr, Boston.
The first heat was fairly contested by the
field and particularly close between Busy
Boy and Topsham Boy, the latter trotting
sqlarely throughout the heat, while the
former did considerable running. The
horses finished this, heat in the following
order: Busy Boy, first Topsham Boy, sec
ond; Geo. Knox, third; Dracc, fourth
Bowdoin Boy, fifth Time, PA.
1t took long time for the drivers and
judges to reconcile themselves to start,
but it was finally effected, greatly to the relief
of the spectators. The second heat was a
hot race between Busy Boy and the Tops
ham horse. They had it nip and tuck with
the balance of the field strung out Busy
Boy won, with Topsham Boy close up. The
balance of the field were distanced
After this heat, a fine, large, young horse,
belonging to Mr.. George H. Nichols Of Bath
was given an exhibition heat He made the
mile with ease in 2.37, and at times showed
better than 2.30 speed.
The third and deciding heat in the stallion
race was won by Busy Boy, the Topsham
champion giving him good tussle. Time,
2461 Therefore Busy Boy took first money,
Topsham Boy second and the others being
distanced it left no balance, as the track is
under the national rules
For today's races the programme shows
that there are seven entries in the 3-minute
class and dozen or more in the 2.36 class
among them well-known animals from Port
land, Lewiston, Buckield and elsewhere.