The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-15
ToPsHAM FAIR.
Ten Thousand People Present on the
Closing Day.
Fine TrottIng Promptly Despatched.

| The third and closing day of the Topshau
| fair was a fitting finale of this most success.
| full and well conducted exhibition. The
weather still continued favorable and the
attendance was Unexpectedly large. Not
only was Portland and vicinity well repre-
sented, but Sagadahoe county seemed to be
there in body, and particularly the city OF
Bath-meaning, of course, the sightseeing
portion Of it. The audience was estimated
to be ten thousand, and the figures cannot be
far from correct. In the forenoon driving
horses and colts were shown upon the track.
The family horses made fine display, and
the two and three year old colts were par
ticularly fine animals, representing the best
equine blood Of Maine, State so famous for
good horses.
For the best town teams Of working oxen,
ten yoke or more, Topsham took the first
premium, Brunswick second, Bowd0inham
third and Richmond fourth.
In the sweepstakes for draught cattle, far
which the society offered the liberal premium
of $50, Stewart of Lewiston took hrst pre-
MUM, Tenford OF Topsham ,S second, and
cattle are the same that took first prize at
the New England fair at Bangor, and the
State fair at Lewiston.
THE RACES.
The bell was rung promptly for the trot-
ters and the vast audience were pleased tn
see Mr.. John 5. Heald in the stand as pre-
siding judge, with such experienced asSOcl-
ates as Messrs. Field and May. 1t meant
business and no needless waste of time in
effecting starts under the national rules.
The first horses called were the 24O class.
Five appeared and drew positions as follows:
lia 1 .. 2.
Kate, 4; Caneress, 5.
The race calls for no description further
than to say that the pretty little mare Kate
had it all her own way and could have done
better If called upon. They made some very
fine trotting, however, and Blacksmith Maid
was distanced in the first heat. Kate took
three straight heats in 235, 2.4O, 2.40. Flash
and Canerass had good tussle for second
money, but it was won by Flash, and
CaneraSs got third.
The trotting event of the afternoon was
the race In the 2.29 class, and it proved q
surprise. Three horses appeared to contest,
viz. StargaZer, Roanoke and Lawrence, the
latter a f0ur-year-old colt.
Lawrence drew the first position for the
opening mile, and as pretty heat resulted
as could have been desired. All three horses
were close together throughout the heat and
made fine finish, Lawrence winning the
heat in 2.35 with Stargazer on one wheel and
Roanoke close by his side,
The second heat was almost a twin to the
first save that Roanoke and Stargazer ex-
changed positions the former coming in Sec
Ond, bat all three horses were closely to-
gether throughout. Lawrence again won in
2.33
Some had an idea that Stargazer had not
done his level best, but desired to give Law
renee a first class chance. reSerVing his pow
ers for final struggle. If that was so, it
was not apparent, for all three horses ap-
nfaTea t8 be etii sent fer all tRey esa5
and exciting race, and the time tails the story.
Lawrence again won by half length, and
the time was 2303 We think that there are
but two other four year olds that have ever
made better record in Maine at that age
Sheppard Knapp, Jr., and Col. Nels0n.
And the 2.29 race was won by the colt
owned by III. j. Lawrence of Fairfield.
Roanoke took second money and the favor
ite, StargaZer, was last.
During the afternoon, to diversity the
amusement, Bright, the Massachusetts pc
destrian, made two attempts to run quarter
of mile while the running horse Skylark
made mile. The quadruped was too much
for the biped, but Bright made plucky race
and could have beaten any trotter In the
State.
The financial results of the fair have been
highly encouraging to the society, the gate
receipts being sure So, 500. The great audi
ence in attendance yesterday were highly
pleased to see the races trotted Off so prompt
ly, and having chance to see their conclu-
sion at so early an hour. They commenced
at two, and all were completed by four o.
clock including the exhibitions on the track.
General thanks are due to Mr.. John S. Head
for this happy dispatch of business.