Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-10-05
Good Words for Vernon County nd Her

Mr.. M. T. Grattan, the gentleman
who acted as starting Judge at our fair,
is regular contributor to the Breeders
Gazette. or Vernon county and her
fair, Mr.. Grsttan writes:
Vernon county, Wisconsin, is a new field to
me. and an especially interesting one as the
home and final resting place Of that staunch
frie nd to farmer and horseman, who gave
his best all his life through to his fellow men;
a laborer on the farm, on the railroad dump
a stage driver, soldier, congressman, COVER
nor, secretary of agriculture, strong, virile,
earnest man, who loved horse and was not
ashamed of it. With nothing left to boast of
Vernon county would be notable as the home
of Jerry Rusk.''
But Vernon county is a garden spot. and
her exhibition of cereals and fruit excels
anything have seen this year. A days rain
run the fair into Saturday. and contrary to
custom In such cases a large crowd gathered.
1t is the only instance in my recollection.
where postponement to Saturday paid.
The racing contests held the close atten-
ton of the crowd, as the horses finished In a
bunch in ain oat every heat Of every race,
and the result appeared constantly in doubt
Corkwood, "a handsome scion of the horse OF
Nutwood won the .:25 trot In the mud in slow
time as we'll as first honors in the showing.
McIver, who drove him and the winner Of the
free pace, will materially reduce his record
when heat IS won over fast track in good
condition. Vernon the local favorite. SEEM
ed to be out of condition and disappointed
his admirers by losing the free pace to Peter
Piper.
A marked feature of the Vroqua fair was
the athletic sports conducted. so promptly as
not to conflict with the racing. They were
timed to nicely and the horsemen had no
occasion to complain 1.-The man on horse
back" President Mahoney, had the business
down fine and at the conclusion OF heat
would work off an athletic contest before the
next field OF horses could get out or move into
the infield. This running fair from the
saddle was n new feature to me, but its ad
vanta ages are evident and seemed to please
the people. The man they wanted was al
ways in sight, able to go speedily to any
poiD where his presence Was needed. He did
not Jack for employment or his saddler for
exercise
Did any one ever see harness race won by
horse hauling a driver weighing over 300
lbs? There must be first time for every
thing, and the first time for sucts sful
drive by giant in my experience was in the
2: 40 trot. Mr.. Marden, a La Crosse business
man who breeds few geo ones in a quiet
way, had entered his favorite road mare
Melissa NJ, and when | asked him VINO his
driver was he answered: II am the man."
He was emphatically the man, for he won In
straight heats. though closely pressed gett-
Ing a record for his mare of 2:34h lie was
requested to nlight with care so as no. to
break the track. but the caution was need
less. The exaltation OF winning made his
stem so springy and elastic that to watch him
would cure misanthrope OF melancholy.
Despite rainy day the fair was grand
success, making Vernon county people am
bilious for the future, and the plans look to
the equaling of Richland Center and Elk
horn.