Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-07
FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING
OF hi VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF ROAD
AND TROTTING HORSE BREEDERS.

OF hi VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF road
AND TRoTTINc HORSE BREEDERS.
The exhibition has been an unparallel-
ed success. Even the great and growing
popularity of Vermont horses is not
alone sufficient to account for the multi
tude that thronged the gates and swarmed
about the attractive grounds of the Rut-
land Driving Park. Other elements were
favorable. The weather, which has no
failed us during one of the eleven exhi-
bition days of this association, was never
more suspicious han during this meet
ing. Railroad accommodations, thanks
to the efficient management of President
Hooker. and the able assistance of Mr..
F. II. harrington of the committee. were
very perfect both within and without the
State. Then the fame of the natural
beauties of Otter Creek valley has gone
abroad in the land, and the prospect of a
trip through its quiet scenes of green
fields and waving forests, thrifty farms
and shining streams, guarded on all sides
by the restful strength of the everlasting
hills, has brought many a guest to this
exhibition. The efficiency of the man.
agement cannon be too warmly commen-
ded. Col. Hooker is an ideal presiding
officer for such an association, combining
as he does with rare executive ability
and t%ireless energy, the still rarer power
to govern a multitude without otfense.
The %cleanness of the entire management,
the enforced absence of every objection
able feature at the meetings, the liberali-
ty of the officers and patrons of the as
ISOLATION, who have in many cases sup
piled stakes and premiums from their
w pockets, have all combined with the
u%nrivalled merit of the exhibitions them
selves to give to this association a meas
ure of success beyond the most sanguine
hopes of the friends of the enterprise
The courtesy and liberality of the people
of Rutland ought not to be overlooked
in this connection. Not only the keepers
of her excellent hotels, but her mer-
chants, bankers, editors, professional
gentlemen and other citizens seemed tc
vie with each other in their efforts tc
give every guest a pleasant visit, and the
case was rare in which they did not sue,
coed. The arrangements for getting to
and from the park, by steam and horse
cars and by carriages, were excellent
the round trip being made for ten cents
The Rutland cornet band, which furnished
the music, received high and deserved
compliments on all hands. In the park the
accommodations for horses, under the eff
Gent management of Supt. Bowman, have
been enlarged so as to accommodate
nearly 600 animals, and the allotment O.
boxes by letter of barn and number o.
box was a decided improvement. Or
account of the great numbers present OF
the second day the arrangements fol
~victualling on the grounds were found t
be somewhat inadequate, and the facili
ties should be increased before the mex
meeting. The attendance of our former
popular marshal, Harry Thomas, wa.
prevented by the critical illness of hi
mother, and his place was supplied very
efficiently by George ID. Leonard of Bur
lington. The association was ~fortunat,
in having as starting judge that genia
gentleman and accomplished horseman
A. B. Hall, Esq, of Brattleboro, VIII,
was assisted on the first day by Messrs
w. NJ. Leet of Boston and Wayne Bale,
of Rutland; after the first day Mr.. Leet'
place was supplied by Mr.. w. C. Clarl
of Manchester. There was no claim o
foul driving or other misconduct on tn,
part Of the drivers made during tn
meeting, nor was any decision of tn
judges complained of.
The whole number of animals show
was about 600, being about 200 NOR
than last year. The number of paid-u]