Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-10-18
Horse-Racing at the Fair.

ions concerning the necessity of horse
racing at fairs, | send you some
thoughts on the subject, which | hope
you will kindly publish.
do not think that horse-racing
should be made the distinguished fea-
ture of our fairs. There can be no
doubt that many are attracted by the
races, but by no means the majority
are SO attracted. There were excel
lent races, and many of them too,
during the two half days of the races
given last August by the Lancaster
Racing Association. Yet not more
than 1000 people were on the ground
at any one time, and on the last day
of the Fair there were over Z 900 on the
ground. Now the races on the second
day of the Fair were very nearly as
good as those on the last day; yet there
were not more than fifteen hundred
people on the ground, and the chances
are that about 1000 of these came on
account of the races, and this 1000
probably represents the number whose
attention was principally absorbed by
the races the third day, and the other
5000 came to the Fair, and those of
them who took in the races took them
in as one of the incidents of the Fair.
| understand that there were at least
two half days devoted solely to racing
at Livingston. in the east part of this
county, and that though there were
over one hundred entries of horses for
the track and the premiums were lib
eral, a very few hundred persons en-
tered at the gates. Platteville also has
Racing Association, and just the
other day gave speed exhibitions which
were very SHINY attended. though the
grounds are but short distance from
city Of over 5000 inhabitants and in
the midst of well-settled country.
Now. if racing is the chief attraction
at the Fair, why such small attendance
at meetings for the races only. and
usually such large gatherings at the
Fairs? In looking over the Grant
County Agricultural Society premium
lists, | find that the total amount of
fered for premiums of all kinds is
5000 and that of this sum $3.50, or
very nearly one-half, are put into speed
premiums. Yet the complaint among
horsemen is that the premiums offered
by the Society here are altogether too
small, and they cite Galena, Fulton,
GAINESVILLE and other fairs, where the
premiums are from $500 to $500 for
single contests Galena is cited as
having several thousand dollars in big
premiums for races. Yet the Galena
fair did not have the attendance any
day that Lancaster had on the last,
Notwithstanding the fact that there
are probably 100000 people within
radius of twenty-five miles of Galena
and the railroad facilities are excellent.
while Lancaster has about one-third
that number and but meager railroad
facilities.
The management of the Grant
County Agricultural Society has been
excellent in every way, and has been
fortunate in good weather for the Fair
dates, and | also believe that they
have acted wisely in not giving larger
speed premiums and more of them.
| believe, however, the time has come
when the management can proftably
introduce new attractions, and enlarge
the numerous premiums offered for
various things. believe that the
substitution of athletic sports on the
second day, instead of racing, (the
same or less sum total of money being
offered for prizes to the victors) viii
be a great attraction and win make
two bic fair days instead of one. if
racing draws the crowd the last day.
These contests can consist of feats of
strength. skill, speed. exhibitions of
Workmanship. bicycle races. tugs-of-
war. football contests, etc. etc.
know but little about athletic sports.
but from what have learned concern
ing the Lancaster Field Day exercises.
held last September, believe that, for
time at least, something Of the kind
can proftably be carried out in CON
nection with the county Fair. and that
the people viii gladly accept it in place
Of one day horse-racing.
SUGGESTION