The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-26
NEWS OF HORSES
AND HORSEMEN

by Broad Rock.
one OF the banner meetings of the
South in 1910 was that OF the Virginia
state Fair Association, at Richmond.
during the week OF October SIS. when
purses and premiums offered reached
the splendid sum of $4,000, OF which
nearly one-third was included in the
speed program. With the collapse OF
the ola State Agricultural Society OF
Virginia back in 1896. fairs and race
meetings seemed really things of the
past until ten years later, when pro-
greSSiVe citizens revived the interest
and the new organization held it's first
exhibition in 1906, with q prize list
OF rather modest pretensions for a
State fair, but the outcome exceeded
expectations. which prompted greater
activity the following year and the re-
suit came as a revelation even to those
most sanguine regarding the outcome,
for favored with ideal weather condi-
lions end exhibits OF the highest class
ever seen in this section. attendance
broke all records, reaching on Rich
mond Day alone over $4,000. Open
purses, ranging from $500 to $1,000
each, and four early closing events
valued at $4,000 each, attracted some
Of the best. harness horses in training.
OF the early closing events, Baron
Whips. 2:05 Ia, won the AIT pace;
Aileen Wilson, 2:02 IA. was first in
the 2:10 pace and placed the track
record at 2:06; Tearolaine, 2:12 IA,
landed the 2:23 trot, with Bervalldo,
2:OS IA, "a close second, and Ward NJ.
z:O9 Ia, now a matinee horse I'm the
stable of w II. Gocher, at Hartford.
won the 2:16 trot, while Major Del
mar, i SO ga, placed the track record
for. trotters at 2:O6 3-4 in tilt against
time, which was displaced a day later
by George G.'s second heat in 2:O6 IL
in the free-fOr-all.
In 1908 and 1903 less attention was
paid the speed department, with $1,000
early closing events and $500 open
purses, the result being mostly horses
lacking I'm class 60 compete for the
money offered, while like conditions
ruled this fall. In time, however. sup
porterS of the light harness horse in
terests hope by concerted action TO
have a first class -half-Dile track sup
plant a mile course now in use. which
would prove more pleasing than any
change yet contemplated by the asso-
citation. With the exception of the
mile courses at Richmond, Columbia,
Macon, and the latter is now used for
training purposes. the two-lap courses
prevail throughout this territory, and
teal and best liked by horsemen.
while preferred by a large majority of
those who witness the races.
With favorable weather conditions,
the Virginia State Fair cleared up over
$40, 900 on the exhibition OF 1909,
while even larger profit would likely
have accrued on that of 1910 but for
continued rainfall on the two closing
days.
Dates Of the virginia State Fair
since it's organization have been fixed
each year for the first week in Octo-
Der, beginning with the first Monday
I'm. the month, but in keeping with
other changes Of the practical sort
the exhibition of 1911 will be held
one week later. which seems oppor-
tune, as conflict with at least four
other big fairs will be avoided, and
certainly this should result in mate
rial benefit. While not a member OF
either the Maryland and Virginia or
the Neutrality-suspicious. and Georgia
circuits. by reason of preference for
conducting its affairs independently.
no sense of rivalry has prompted the
State Fair management. whose de-
sire has ever been TO promote the
success of other associations. especial
~ those within the adjacent territory.
During a couple Of years RichmOnd'S
dates were the same as those Of the
Central Carolina Fair Association, at
Greensboro. and for three seasons
past NirginiaS big exhibition and the
Forsythe County Fair. at Winston
Salem. came off the same week, but
similar conflict Will doubtless be
avoided this fall by Richmonds
change of dates An earlier begin
INNS III NlAt y II anu
Georgia Circuit would seem a wise
move. as additional members in Vir-
ginia and North Carolina could be
admitted. which would strengthen the
organization. and cause no inconven-
ience in the allotment of dates.
Hailworthy. 2:O5A; Lamp Girl.
2;09; Gold Bur. 2:O9%; Princene.
2:10A Miss Nelson. 2;11A Angelus.
2:l2A; Human. 2:1Sh, and others
OF Virginia's fastest performers. all
made their records on mile tracks,
but the holder of the State record
over a twO-lap course is the chestnut
mare Tearolaine. 2:l2A, by Tearo-
leon. son of Red Leo, 2:26H. dam
Stamboulaine. dam of Captain Cook.
2:20M. by Siam boula. son of Siam
boul, 2:07k Tearolaine was bred
and is now owned by j. II. Wingate.
of Roanoke, Va, by whom she has
been campaigned for several success
sive years with marked success over
the half-mile tracks. until the past
season, when the daughter of Tearo-
leon followed the big line. and while
being placed several times did not
win a heat.
Though starting in "a couple of
races or so over half-mile tracks she
won. and later showed herself to be
better than a 2;10 trotter by working
mile in 2:0S%, during the Grand
Circuit meeting at Empire City track,
New York. Another season ar effort
Will be made to put her in the 2:1O
list, and then the chestnut mare will
be retired to the stud. J. II. Win
gate, the owner of Tearolaine. is one
of the best informed men in Virginia
on blood lines and pedigrees. and
with his selection of a sire for cross
ing on the daughter of Tearoleon if
she does not produce speed the lack
of success is not likely to be attrib-
uted to lack of Judgment ON the mart