Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-12-30

heat in 2.3I, which was the track
record until beaten half a second by
Unknown in 1875.
Galen Prince, o2oI, record 2.I9,
at the fair in 1883 trotted an exhibi
ton mile r. s.26. The first half was
in LII.
Driver, 2.Io IL, in a race tied
Unknown, record 2.3o IL.
Mr.. Linsley's bay mare, Lola r,
by Kent, in 1894 lowered the race
record of the track one second, get
ting a record of 2.2o II. She was
the first one to beat 2 80 on it. Judge
Danforth's mare, Tinney c, at the
same fair beat the race record half a
second, getting a record of 2.29.
In 1895 Lora X, 2.2I IA, lowered
the race record of the track, getting
record of 2.26. In 1896 Betty
Moore, by Bradlaugh, won three
year old pacing race, half mile
heats. The last heat was in III.
At the same fair the PAGER, Bar
ney, 2.oS ga, won the big purse,
pacing the last heat in ala IA.
Many think and say that the So
ciety gives too much tor trotting ;
that it is robbing Peter for Paul,
and, too, that it is great mistake
letting outside horses come in and
carry the money out Of the county
that is earned in the county, and that
it should stay, and would if the trot-
ting was confined to the county
horses. The county horses stand no
chance with the old track horses and
ringers that are allowed to come in,
and this is why not quarter of the
county horses compete for the purses,
as their owners know they stand no
chance with the fast ones that often
come from long distance. Let the
purses be for the county horses, and
there will be three times the number
enter for them than has heretofore,
and their owners will be satisfied
with half the amount that has been
giveu late years. What is paid be-
longing to the National Association
can be saved by combining the trot-
ting to the county horses. The
rules of the National Association can
govern, and the judges can have the
power to fine, suspend or eXpel from
the track. No owner of a county
| horse will want to be barred from the
track.
There has never been any trouble
with the county drivers. 1t has been
the foreign ones that has made the
trouble.
Another change would please
many; that is, to do away with the
mixed races. Let the trotters trot
by themselves, and the PAGERS pace
by themselves.
The last day was for long time
entirely for the show of the horses.
The other stock was allowed to be
taken away the last Of the second
day. 1t was believed the attendance
was not as large the last day as it
should be, and the rule was changed
so that all the stock must be kept
on the ground the three days Of the
fair. 1t has caused the attendance
to be much larger the last day than
before. This shows that it is not the
horses alone that is the life Of IA
fair.
If there was no racing at the fairs
they would live. Yet but few would
say that they would like to have the
racing dropped out. Variety is the
spice of life and all must in part be
pleased.
One very interesting feature of the
fair that has been dropped; it will
be well to have again. That is an
address from some public speaker.
What is more interesting, entertain
ing and instructive than to hear some
able person talk an hour. In 1861
Rev. Mr.. Balch gave the address
and it was worth hearing. He was
paid $40, and it was money well
expended,
Centennial year Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher gave the address at Bethel.
They came far and neor TO hear
him. A large number of the ladies
had the honor and pleasure of Shak-
ing hands with Mr.. Beecher. He
was paid $Ioo and they cleared $500
by having him.
Let it be known that some noted
speaker was to give an.address. 1t
will cause quite large attendance.
A. w. T.