The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-14
THE FAIR OPENS TODAY
NONE OF THE OLD-TIME SIDE SHOWS
ARE ON THE GROUNDS.
MonOn to Run Special Trains Thurs
day and Friday-Ex-G Mat
thews on the Big Race.

The state fair will formally open to-day.
for this is the first day of the formal exhi-
billions in contest. 1t is probable that this
win be the greatest of the Indiana state
fairs. The management thinks there is
every reason to believe that this viii be the
most interesting fair in every respect, from
the speed programme down to the exhibit
tions of needlework by amateur needle
women. There is nothing on the grounds
that can be Objectionable to the most f5s-
tidious person. The Midway" exhibitions,
which disgraced the fair one time, are en-
tirely eliminated and not even side
show" usually seen at all fairs, from large
to small. was allowed to enter the place.
The only exhibition in the line of amuse-
ment is the wax-work figures representing
the last stand of Custer and the massacre
of him and his troops by the Indians under
the command of Sitting Bull.
Arrangements have been made by the
management of the fair with the Monon
Railroad for special accommodations in the
way of transportation. There never has
been a big affair at the grounds that the
pleasure of the sport, or whatever may
have been on the programme, was not
marred by the inconvenience of getting
there. The street-car service is fairly good
on small occasions, but when there is a
large crowd of people anxious to reach
the place the service is abomnable. People
have been known to stand on the street
crossings above Ohio street and wait
for hours without getting car.
This was the principal complaint of
the Indianapolis Driving Club which
quit giving races at the fair
L 49,, ~cst5sl cot
car service. People would not put up with
it and would catch a more comfortable
seat in car to the baseball park and see
a sport which they had seen time ane~ again
in preference to waiting a half day for
fair ground car with unoccupied seat.
The street-car people have always prom
Used better service on each successive oc-
casion, but it never came and the arrange
ment with the Monon Railroad Will doubt
deal of satisfaction. Special trains Will run
only on Thursday and Friday, leaving the
Union Station every thirty minutes after
o'clock in the morning
Thursday and Friday are the big days of
the fair indianapolis day, on FRIDAY, Will
probably be the most eventful day IN the
entire history of Indiana state fairs. ON
that day it is expected that the Wo-m1nute
PAGER will become certainty. Star Point
er recently paced the mile under this mark,
but it was in a race against time, and no
matter how wonderful the performance, 1t
was small compared with the lowering of
the even figure in a race. Old horsemen
and men who are familiar with turf affairs
are confident that both horses will beat the
two-minute mark. Ex-Governor Claude
Matthews, who is superintendent of the
cattle department of the fair, and mem
Der Of the State Board of Agriculture, sue
ceeding the late j. M. Sankey, talked of
the coming match race yesterday.
EX-GOVERNOR MATTEL WS'S VIEWS.
1T will be the biggest thing in the line
that ever came off in the State" he said.
II believe that both will make the mile
under the even figure. There is some adj
vantage to the pole horse even in
a match race and l believe that
the horse which gets the pole first
in the toss-up will be sent to the
full limit of it's speed; and then, alternat-
ing at the pole, the other horse will be
given an opportunity to show his metal.
In this way both horses will be shown at
their best, for it is a race for the best two
in three heats.
1.-The track was never in better condition
/ would not be at all surprised to see Joe
Patchen beat Star Pointer out in the race.
Joe Patchen lehas not uthe record against
time that Star Pointer has, but he is prob
ably as good horse, and in race it is
where the horses are evenly matched. For
the real sport a race of horses in the 2:40
class is about as interesting as any other
provided the horses are evenly matched.
1t is when they come down the stretch
that the spectator enjoys the race. With
Patchen and Pointer both in prime condi-
ton, the match is an even one and it will
be a race such as never before was paced
on any track. The condition of the Indian
apois track is favorable to Patchen and
may win for him the race. For a horse
that glides along over the surface of the
road one class Of track is about as good as
another, but for FOUNDER, such as Joe
Patchen the springy, cushioned track is
the best. This is such a track and it will
add greatly 70 the speed of Patchen.'
Secretary Kennedy is enthusiastic over
the speed programme. There never has
been brought together better collection
of horses in the State. 1t is by far the best
ever seen in Indiana Every race will be a
race and will be one worth seeing"
The departments are all well filled this
year, with the exception of the heavy draft
horses. This department has been light for
three years, owning to the fact that less
attention has been given to this class of
noticeable Improvement this year over last
year and the year before, and the manage
ment feels encoura ged in the belief that the
lack Of interest in this department was only
temporary.
A GUIDELESS WONDER.
One of the special features of the fair
will be the race against time by Lady AM
derson, a 'guideless wonder" This fa-
nous horse, which is second to only one of
her class in the world. will go a mile
against time Thursday afternoon at 3
o'clock. She goes without sulky or driver,
and is not bothered by even so much as a
bride. She is her own driver and coacher,
and travels the circuit amidst the cheers
of the crowds, without even changing from
the pacing gait to which she has so long
been accustomed. She has a record of
2:06A Though she had fall at Elwood
last week which injured her slightly, yet
she is now in good condition, and it is be-
ieved Will be able to lower her own record
and perhaps that of Marion Mills, the only
horse of the class that ever beat her time.
Among the interesting exhibitions in the
mechanical line will be that made by the
motor carriage and cycle motor men.
Reeves Bros. of Columbus, are interested
in the latter line, and have asked permits
sion to give an exhibition race of motor
cycles on Thursday. The permission will
be granted if the management can arrange
the programme to accommodate the appli-
cantS.
1t is expected that 10000 people will visit
dianapoliS day. Never before for years has
the interest in the fair been manifested by
the people of this city that is being shown
this year. There has been set aside for
this day 1900 seats which will be reserved
at an expense of 81 in addition to the regu-
lar charge for admission. Mr.. Kennedy
said yesterday that he hoped the people
would not misunderstood this to be an at
tempt to gouge on the part of the board
There are 5000 seats in the grand stand
he said, and all who are anxious to get
seats will be able to find them. The idea
of reserving some was brought about by
the public demand People who did not
care about going out to the grounds hours
before the programme commenced began to
demand that there be some seats reserved
They were willing to pay, and, in response
to this public demand, the board decided
to reserve one-ffth of the seating capacity
There will be a big expense connected with