Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-10-18
HORSE EDITOR'S COLUMN
SOME NOTES ON THE RECENT
FAIR.
New Plan of Entries Suggested
and for Providing Premiums-
Earlier Announcement Urged.


and for Providing Premiums
Earlier Announcement Urged
The thirteenth annual fair Of
the Vinita Fair association, Just
over, has probsbly been the best
in its history as regards racing
and, after all, that is the great at.
traction to nearly everybody who
attends a fair. OF course the
pumpkin and crazy quilt features
are very necessary additions, as
every one then can 60 without be-
ing held up to posterety as hor-
rible examples of worldliness.
There was a greater number ol
horses and good ones at this meet
ing than it is the good fortune OF
many larger fairs to have. The
racing was excellent and nearly
every one a contest from beginning
to end, and all, including the
horsemen themselves, left Vinita
well pleased. The purses were
liberal and promptly paid and the
racing was notably free (with one
exception) from "fxes" and
Jobs" and this one instance,
owing to the sagacity of the Off
cials, was detected and very
promptly and properly "sat up
on " The horsemen all are unan.
imous in saying that viniti has
the best track in the western coun-
try and while it is still new it is n
safe and comparatively fast one.
If the association would study
their best interest now and keep
up the strong interest already
taken in their meetings, they will
open at the beginning of the new
year a book of stakes, all of them
properly classified and guaran-
teed, which will make the purses
i1rger and easier for both horse
II en- and themselves. For in
stance they Open a stake of $500
for two year olds and have them
nominated as early as the first OF
March, with $500 to accompany
the nominations; it is not uu-
reasonable to suppose or expect
that they will receive as many as
twenty nominations; here, then,
is already $500. Now there is
$1,000 more to be paid the first oI
May, when perhaps four out Of
the twenty will forfeit, leaving
sixteen to pay; this is $3.50 already
and the $500 additional which will
be charged to-say as many as ten
starters will run. This figures up
to $500. This is a much more sat
isfactory way than TO charge the
ten per cent. entrance and penal
ize the winners an additional five
per cent. it will also fill the stakes
and enable the association TO give
larger purses and relieve them
selves of the responsibility of
making them up from gate re-
ceipts, etc. 1t will, besides, at
tract larger crowds, better horses
and horsemen, and leave the treas
urer, at the end of settling up, a
replenished instead of a depleted
bank account.
OF course it will not do to drop
all other features of the fair for
racing. end while the writer has
been talking from a racing stand
point he recognizes the fact that
no race meeting in this western
country can be a success unless the
godly are given an excuse TO look
on and share in the "sport for
kings" The big pumpkins and
rosy-cheeked apples-the rams,
bulls and lambs should be just as
well and better taken care of than
before. Aunt Mariah's quilt and
Mrs. Jones bread should have Just
a. prominent space and just as big
a premium; Deacon Wayback's fat
hogs a little larger piece of blue
ribbon. And it will be no great
matter if the worthy deacon does
find himself resting in the grand
stand after his mornings work and
the horses do race on the track in
front of him between 2 and 6 p. m.
Ii is not his fault and it is not Ia
be supposed that he will give up
his comfortable seat just because
they are there.
Begin now to talk about next
years fair and do not put it off un,
til the last few weeks, when peo.
pie have made other engagements
Tell them early in the year that
there SID Ue more attractions, big.
ger premiums and larger crowds al
Ninita than at the CROSSROADS fairs
in Kansas or Missouri. and the
harvest for Vinita and the Vinita
Fair association cannot help but
be golden.
SHORT HORSE TALK.
Dick Bassett returned to his OLD
stamping ground in fine shape, at
his three heats in 80 IL, 81 anc
50 IL 60 TO show.
Cannon Balls riding was much
admired at the fair, he winning
every time he started but once anc
then was left at the post
John Gunter's win with the OLD
saddle horse was popular one.
"Uncle Bob" Taylor is going
into the horse business, having
purchased a finely bred stallion