The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-20
Officers Thought that with No Races
Ii Would he Unfair tn Charge
an Admission.
THE LAST DAYS ATTENDANCE
PROBABLY FIFTEEN THOUSAND
WENT THROUGH THE GATES.
The Kentucky stock Farm Races VIII
Be Run as Soon as Possible
Few Awards Made.


Thursday. the biggest day of fair week.
and the weather yesterday was threaten
ing and nasty all day, the State Board of
Agriculture will net in the neighborhood
of $4,000 on the jubilee exposition. Presi-
dent Claypool and Secretary Downing.
well as other members of the board. were
in good humor yesterday and considered
themselves very lucky. To make the fair
a success with rain on the two principal
days is a large plume i'm the caps of the
members Of the board.
with good weather on Thursday and
to-day we would have had a balance OF
over $4,000 in the bank at the end OF the
fair" said President Claypool yesterday
afternoon. Everything considered. we are
extremely lucky and while we hate to think
of the rain that cut down our attendance
We are glad that we show a profit. The
crowds Tuesday and Wednesday broke
all records for the first two days Of any
fair and when we couated ND on wednes-
day night we had enough money on hand
TO place us more than even on the week.
What we took in on Thursday and to-day
was, of course, profit, but when we stop
TO think what our receipts would have
been had the rain not interfered IL did
we nave a few severe heartaches.
DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE RACES.
''The races were such as TO attract large
crowds and the programme arranged for
Thursday would have drawn at least $1,000
people to the fair grounds. but unfor--
| tunately, the weather was not with us. We
could not give the races and thousands
stayed away from the grounds OF that
account. We opened the grounds and stood
around the administration building with
faces resembling long, narrow files, but
the crowds poured In at the gates and
swarmed over the grounds I'm the mud and
mire we were forced TO admit that we
were not altogether unlucky. We figure
we will be ahead about $4,000 on the week"
meeting Of the State Board OF Agricul-
ture and horsemen who had entries In the
races was held yesterday afternoon at
o'clock, and II was decided to declare of the
entire programme. with the exception OF the
Kentucky Stock Farm Futurity for trot-
ters. This event will be given next Monday
afternoon at 2:30, IL the track Is in suitable
will be given on the first suitable day. Pres
ident Claypool said that the State Board
hung up the 5000 purse for this event. and
under the conditions II can't be declared OF
unless the horsemen pay the amount OF the
purse to the State Board so that IL will not
be loser. The State Board agreed TO pay the
purse arranged by the Kentucky Stock
Farm. Mr.. Claypool said the event will be
trotted on the state fair grounds track IL IL
requires several weeks waiting for suitable
weather. Those who have entries IN this
several horsemen will be greatly incon-
venienced, as they have engagements at
other tracks and will have 10 forfeit their
entries and remain here until the race can
be given.
The races were not declared of until IL
was realized that IL would be impossible to
give any OF the events to-day on account OF
the heavy track. When the decision was
reached TO declare or the races President
last evening. To-day is getaway day in
every department IL was originally In
tended to carry the fair over to-day, but
President Claypool said the State Board did
not believe IL would be right 10 charge ad-
mission TO the fair to-day and not have any
races. The gates will be open TO those who
care to attend. but the exhibits will be re-
moved to-day as quickly as possible.
THE CROWD WAS LARGE.
The crowd at the fair grounds yesterday
was larger than any member of the board
hoped for considering the weather and the
fact that 1t was generally known there
would be no races. Shortly after noon the
10000 tickets printed for use yesterday
were sold out and 1t was necessary to
count the tickets and place them on sale
| again. 1t was estimated that there were I'm
| the neighborhood of 5000 paid admissions,
an enormous crowd. considering the condi-
largely of country folk. but the urbanites
were on hand and waded through the mud
enjoying the exhibits.
| Attaches at the Union Station noticed
the effect OF the rain OF Thursday on the
| crowds as much did the state fair man
ayers. IL was stated at the Union Station
| yesterday that the trains did not bring in
over so per cent. OF the crowds expected
on Thursday and yesterday on account OF
| the rain. Most of the people left the city
| Thursday evening and early Friday morn
! ing, not caring to remain for the fair as
the races would not be given. One OF the
Union Station officials said that IL the
weather on Thursday had been clear and
warm IL would have been difficult to handle
| the crowds that would have come 10 this
| city. President Claypool. OF the State
Board of Agriculture. also said that IL
would have been difficult to handle the
crowds at the fair grounds had Thursday
been a pretty day.