The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-04-15
Minnesota Exhibition Will Again
Lead in the Amount Of Purse
Offerings.
WILL AMOUNT TO $4,000 90
Seventeen Harness Events to be
Given in Four Days as Against
Fifteen Last Year.

Minnesota will again lead the
fairs of the United States in the
amount of her purse offerings and
in the high class of her horse racing
program. The speed program for
the 1911 State Fair and Exhibition
has been completed by Speed Super
intendent Atchison and Secretary J.
c. Simpson and is admitted by horse
men to be the best balanced and
classified as well as one of the most
liberal programs ever offered in Min
nesota or anywhere. s-.
This program assures extremely
high class track sport next Septem-
Der. The recent decision of the
state fair managers to have two
days of automobile racing and only
four days Of horse racing during the
week of September 40 necessitated
a number of changes in the speed
program. The result, however, is a
benefit to the horsemen and the race
loving public. Practically as much
money in purses will be hung up
and the four day program includes
as many events, better classified,
than did the five day program of
1910. .~.. s.s,..
The program as arranged pro-
Vides for four harness races and two
running races on each day except
Tuesday when there will be five
harness races and one running race
1t is planned to "sandwich" three
races instead of two as has been
customary and this will result in d
fast, snappy program with practical
ly no waits between heats. To get
this large number of races finished
each day the program will necessar-
lily start in at 100 or 1870 and the
afternoon will be chock full of en-
tertainment for the people who want
to see clean, high class record break
ing harness races.
The program includes seventeen
events to be given in four days as
against fifteen in five days last year.
The purses offered aggregate $685.
500 for harness races and $1,000 for
running races, making a total of
$4,000, as against $4,000 offered
last year for five days racing.
A number of innovations have been
made and these should be of benefit
to horsemen and public. Possibly
the most important of these is the
decision to charge a three per cent
instead of a five per cent entrance
fee as has been the custom through
out the country. This will be a
forty per cent saving for each en-
trant and will insure larger fields
and more closely contested races.
1t has also been decided to charge
no entrance fee and make no deduc-
tions from any money won in the
running races. This will give the
owners of gallopers an incentive to
contest in a larger number of races
and will insure much larger fields.
The harness horse program has
offerings for all classes of horses.
Last year Minnesota had no colt
races and while these are not usual
ly the most spectacular events
they give the breeders a chance and
furnish an inducement for the breed
ing and early preparation of high
class horses.
The two colt races on this years
program will be early closing events
as will also be the Minneapolis and
St. Paul purses, the Grand Challenge
2:O5 trot and the Twin City 2:07
pace. Superintendent Atchison and
Secretary Simpson have arranged
the program so as to use the half
mile track for number of events
and this will enable the managers
to put on more races and give better
entertainment.
Another feature of the program
will be the $50 pace in which hops