Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-11-27
MEXICO MUST MOVE!
Necessity of Audrain Having
A Mile Track-A Sensible
And Appropriate
Address.


and horseman. was in Mexico last
Saturday and, on invitation, adj
dressed the stockholders of the
Mexico Fair Association as fol-
we are living in an age of
chance, of advancement and of i'm
provement, an age of push, toiling,
energy, in which the ways, the
works and the fashions of the
fathers are esteemed, but of little
moment because out of date, un-
adapted to the conditions and the
enterprise of to-day, and, there
fore, to be laid aside as a cast-off
garment. The genius of our peo-
pie is one of i%rrepressible progress,
and we do well to heed the signs
of the times and keep pace with
them or we are pretty sure to be
left behind, and instead of being
of the advance guard we bring up
the rear with all the camp follow
ers and the stragglers.
"Ihe theme of yesterday was
the oft quoted 2:40 gait. Then
came the exciting times when the
people witnessed with amazement
races easily won in 2:3O and many
thought the end had been reached;
but presently came 2:2O, then
the "Maid's" marvellous time Of
2:17, where we took a rest. But
with better track, lighter sulkies,
improved harness fxings, exper-
fenced trainers and a better knowl-
edge OF the horse, his educational
requirements, higher breeding and
superior physical development we
have approached so near to 2:O5 as
to make it only a matter of a few
years when the good people fire.
quenting the best tracks will be
treated to even that speed and
time.
"The time was when it was sup
posed that only in select parts Of
highly favored States could the
best horses, tracks, trainers and
races be seen, but to-day we dis
cover these all over the country
and Nelson from Maine holds the
highest stallion record, and STAN.
boul in California lowered his rec,
ord to 2:11 IL only this week,
But when we turn to the great
States intervening between these,
between the Atlantic and the Pacific
oceans, we find horses in them al
able easily to beat Dexter's and
Goldsmith Maids best time, and
better tracks than they ever trotteo
over.
1.-THE people of to-day will not
be satisfied with a 2:40 Or a 2:3C
gait and even a 2:20 race is hardly
satisfactory, for they have heard
Of 2:15 and PIP and want to see
the best; nor will it serve the pur.
pose to say u fair managers are
enterprising men, bring out a host
Of horses and get up a first-class
fair. Such a show may, probably
would, serve the purpose of old
the staid and lack-a-day people
generally; but to secure the at
tendance of the bone and sinew Of
the county, and of surrounding
counties, the young, the aggressive
and the enterprislng sight-seers.
who give character, energy and
tone to the whole and add that
quantum of ducats out of which
the profits are made and dividends
declared, the management must
be prepared to offer the attractions
OF to-day and the speed of the bes1
tracks in the country.
missouri must be abreast o.
the times-she cannot afford te
trail. Her breeders are anxious te
come to the wire in company with
the gamest and the best, and if the
fair associations are not equal to
the occasion, they will seek Other
fields, faster tracks, larger purses:
higher honors and both more glory
and more money, because of the
time made and the records Sc
cured.
"The fair associations of this
State are composed of enterprising
and aggressive men, men alive te
the situation, to the demands Of
the times and the necessities which
are on them. They have gooc
tracks and grounds, plenty o.
stable room and all the requisites
of successful enterprises, but they
are of yesterday and of the past
With their usual tact 1 am quite
sure the directors will see this te
be the case and prepare for the in
evitable. Missouri fairs will no,
trail Or lag behind-will not be
last at the start or tagged at the
finish.
"The Audrain County Agricul.
tural and Mechanical Association
has shown itself foremost in every
such enterprise. 1t has proven
itself equal to the best, both in
providing attractions and in secur.
ing attendance. 1t has made d
name and a reputation which com.
pares with the best in the State
but it can no more afford to stand
still than it can to close it's gates