The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-23
DERIcKsBURe, VA, SATURDAY. JUNE %, 1900.
A VIRGINIA HORSE EXHIBITION.
Colt SHOW a Great Success.

A correspondent Of the New York
Evening Post writes an interesting let
ter In connection with tho colt show,
held at Upperyille. Fauqnier county
Va last week
In proportion TO itssizo apd resources
this little village Of 400 Inhabitants.
nestled on the foothills OF the Blue
Ridge has made a. extensive pfepara'
tion for the colt show which Is In
progress here as Paris has made for it,
great exposition Although six miles
from railroad (Which runs only tFo
trains each way per day and p3sse's-
ing but one hotl, Upperville has be-
come famous in oil the region here
about for its horse parties. Lovers OF
horses drive here from Baltimore on the
north to Fredericksburg on the south,
and from the Shenandoah Valley over
the mountains TO the west. TO see the
show. 70 say nothing of commercial
horse. buyers from oil parts Of the coun-
try who come here as a matter OF bust
ness. These visitors appropriately come
20 the show in carriages. but OF all de-
grees, from the four. horse English
brake Of the most fashionable design
or the smart trap which would look
well at Newport, to the crucest and
rudest Of country farm wagons. bear
ing their passengers on dry goods boxes
The whole countryside rises once
year TO do honor 70 the horse for two
successive days, and while the landed
aristooraoy Of this prosperous section
Of the Old Dominion really makes the
show. owns the blooded stock and
breeds the high grade horses, the rest
Of the white population follows calmly
on. bound at least to see what is going
on. IL not able 20 become an active par
ticipant in the festivities.
The key Of the Uppelyille Horse
Show is found in the remark Of one Of
the countrymen that al the great
magnets" Of the counties hereabout
would be present. The show is essen
italy Of the msgnates. The Dnlany
family owns 600 head Of horses and
many hounds It came originally from
England only a few generations ago.
bringing comfortable wealth which ap-
piled with thrift and enterprise 10 the
BUSINESS Of horse breeding, has made
its members recognized far and near as
great magnets. Dol Dulany is
president OF the Colt and Horse Club.
under whose auspices the snow is held.
Another magnet who drives 10 Is
Henry Fairfax. Of Loudoun county who
resides at Oak Hill, the old estate OF
President Monroe. Fairfax is State
Senator and owns 300 horses Of various
bloods and pedigrees. Robert Neville
owns 60 horses, including some cele-
brated hunters and steeplechasers that
have taken prizes IN New York and
Philadelphia. This is the class Of men
whose interest in the affair accounts
for the presence Of the smart trsps, the
handsome harnesses and the fashionably
attired visitors. Occasionally middle
GLASS farmer who owns six horses will
work his way in and take a prize OF
two and make some good sales.
It should not be inferred. however,
that there is any lack Of interest on the
part Of the everyday Virginian in the
colt show. This is the great business
OF this blue grass region. A mau's
progress in the world is measured by
the number Of horses he is able to raise
and the amount of attention he can
give to fine breeding. Nature made this
region for horse and cattle raising
The population is sparse or Upperville
would not be the horse capital In q
great county, 90 miles long by 30 miles
wide, the largest town is Warrenton,
% miles away, and that. although the
home of statesmen and warriors Of
national fame, contains but 800 peo-
pie. Uppsrville comes next in impor-
tauce Old Fauquier county (pronounc-
ed forkear) lies directly west Of the
battlefield of Bull Run, extending up
to the impossible mountains and In
cluding within its limits Lost Noun
tain, Naked Mountain, Little Oobbler,
Big Oobbler and the Boil Run Noun
tains, between which and the Pond
Mountains stands Thoroughfare Gap,
through which the railroad makes it
way into the county.
The colt show had its beginning go
years ago Since then competitive
horse breeding has been growing uutii
10 years ego, when club was formal
Iy organized and an annual exhibit
provided for. Last year there were $50
entries and this year 450 showing
that automobiles, bicycles and electric
cars have not invaded the Upperville
horse market or lessened the interest Of
the world in its fine products. Upper
Vile has made q specially Of certain
kinds Of high. grade horses. part ,cular-
ly hunters, the park saddle, the hack
ney, the gated saddle and high-step-
per- This is not strictly thorough.
bred section, understanding that term
as applying only to racers. The Ken
sucky blue grass has she lead in that line
They say here that fewer high .steppers
are called for than formerly. The in.
crease In style is Offset by lesseniDg
of speed, and only in 3 little fashion
able driving is this exchange desirable.
Almost the only colors one sees here
are chestnuts and bays For hunting
about three-fourth thoroughbred II
thoupbt most desirable, the custom