The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-12-18
YESTERDAY WAS.A
RED LETTER DAY
More Than Three Thousand Persons on the Fair C,,,s
Everybody Pleased.

Thursday was a red letter day for
the Marion County Fair and a reed let
ter day in the history Of our county
There were a larger number OF people
on the grounds. it was estimated.
than ever attended the SemiTropIcaI
exposition in the palmy history u that
period.
The fact that the proposition 90 hold
the fair was only made a few weeks
ago so very few persons were opumls-
tic enough 70 believe that 10 could pos
sibly be made successful and caused
a large majority Of the visitors to
open their eyes ia wonderment at the
magnifiCence Of the exhibition.
Some were SO enthusiastic as 70 say
that it was better than the Mid-Win-
ter fair held at Tampa a year ago.
Yesterday the fair grounds were
fairly alive with visitors i'm the fore
noon, and in the afternoon crowds
were in evidence in all the buildings
pavilliOns and at the stables and cat
tie pens.
Strangers were amazed with the DUAL
ity, quantity and variety of the agri-
cultural. horticultural and domestic
prOJuOts on avbibftiOp
No one seemed to think it was pos
sible that so many different things
could possibly have been grown in a
single county and such tremendously
large products.
We give elsewhere in our paper a
complete list of everything on exhibit
ton and the names OF the exhibitors
Yesterday afternoons attractions Of
course Centered on the races. The
grand stand presented an animated
scene. Not only wa severy seat occu-
pied. but all the aisles as well, and I'm
fact wherever one could find a place 20
sit, and there were big crowds along
the fence on both sides.
Before the races and all during the
intervals our splendid band played
lovely music. and their playing was
greatly appreciated.
Another pleasant feature OF the day
was that the banks and most Of the
stores and business houses closed
from one until four o'clock in order 10
take in the fair
The first entry in the races was an
exhibition Of saddle horses for a prize
of s. and a blue ribbon. Those enter
ing were DR.. Guerrant, Russell Guer-
rant and Mr. Beasley. The various
styles of riding as shown by these
gentlemen We're exceedingly good and
won much applause. Mr.. Beasley won
first prize and Mr.. r. Guerrant the
blue ribbon. But if it had been left
to the ladies', and especially the
younger ones. Mr.. Russell Guerrant
would have been almost unanimously
awarded the first prize. He sat his
horse superbly graceful
The next was the trotting race. The
entries We're: Tiny Bird. Beasley:
Lady Lou, l. Gore: TOddles. Duck
worth. The first heat was won by
Tiny Bird, fiji: the second heat by
Toddles, lis; the third heat. Tiny
Bird, Ill.
Z The next attraction OF the afternoon
was the half-mile dash against time by
Joe Falant, winner Of the late Cana
dian derby ridden by Jockey Charles
Murphy; time, 80 "a seconds. Jockey
Murphy is very tiny and his dash
was thrilling and elected much enthu-
siasm.
The most attractive feature OF the
afternoon and the one that attracted
the greater number Of visitors was the
ladies driving contest. Il was 10
Ocala what the great horse show Il TO /
New York City, and it created every
whit as much interest TO those in ar |
tendance.
The entries were Miss Sally Camp. /.
Mrs. Jack Camp, Mrs. Clarence Camp. |
Mrs. J. w. Crosby, Mrs. George VIII
liams, Miss Aurelie McAteer. Mrs. J. |
B. SimOntOn, Mrs. r. o. ConnOr and /
Mrs. Lindsay.
These ladies had most beautiful /
turn-outs and were very handsomely /