The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-12-19
HORSE RAGING At
FAIRS ON WANE.
-.
is NO LONGER PROFITABLE AT
.. COUNTY EXPOSITION.
FOR. PATRONAGE RESULTING
Costs Too Much - Interest Still On
Down-Grade - Owners CIamorine
For Entry Fee Reduction
e.. and Larger Purse.

Des Moines, Dec. 13-Horse racing
at county and district fairs is no long
er profitable business for the own.
ers, the county fair reports submitted
to the state department of agriculture
show.
Secretary A. r. Corey, of the state
department, has submitted to the
county and district fair managers in
annual convention here a digest OF
the reports of county and district fair
secretaries in which this fact is
brought to light.
"The county fair reports filed with
the department show that seventy.
eight held race meetings and paid out
$144,996 in. speed premiums. The en-
try fees collected amounted to $42,715
leaving the net cost of the racing pro
grams at the seventy-eight meetings
$102,2S1 or an average cost of S1,311
EACH" says Secretary Corey in a sum
mary Of the report.
Estimating an average of thirty OF
HOl SCo dl cdCI IlttllHs
horsemen would receive, providing the
money was equally divided, about $40
for each horse in their stables. In.
formation secured from the horsemer
shows that It cost an average of $50
q week to campaign horse at the
county fiars. From these deductions,
which are based on averages, it is
readily seen that racing horses is not
a very profitable business. In fact
the owners are putting up about hall
as much as the fairs for the privilege
Of racing their horses.
.'' Be-. Interest Still Waning.
"The question is how long will the
owners continue on this basis and how
long will the love of the race horse
and the sport keep sufficient mum.
Der of horsemen interested in the
game to furnish horses for the meet.
ings.
Judging from the records of the
Iowa stallion registration division the
interest in the standardized horse
from the breeders standpoint, is yer!
much on the wane. In 1912 the de
partment enrolled $50 standardized
stations and in 1918 this number was
reduced to SO. In 1913 the horsemeE
made POT nominations in the No.
Iowa state futurity. In 1918 they
made 65 nominations in the No. fu,
turity."
Horse owners have heretofore
claimed that there should be reduc.
tion in the entry fee if it should not
be entirely abolished and that the
purses should be larger. Secretary
Corey says that in his judgment fair
managements will soon have to pa.
. just what races are worth as an at.
traction.
"The cost of music and attractions
for the eighty-nine county and district
fairs this year was $214,S38," contin
ues Secretary Corey. This is an av
erage of $2,414 each. 1t would be Z
difficult matter to make great many
people, especially any one who is al
all interested in horses, believe that
the races are not at least half the
amusement program at most of the
county fairs, and yet the other attrac
tions cost almost double the amount
In my Judgment the time Is not fal
distant when the fairs that have races
as a part of the program will be
obliged to pay just what the races are
offraptinn / hnIipVQ
however, that the fair managers are
far-sighted enough to cope with the
situation and will not let the matter
drift along until the whole industry Is
absorbed by the attraction people,
and the fairs will then be obliged tc
book horses through some booking
agent the same as We do other attrac.
tions and make hippodrome affairs OF
the speed events
The report shows that during the
season of 1918 eighty-nine county and
district fairs were held in the state OF
four less than in 1917. In general
the fairs showed a slight falling on in
attendance, receipts and number oi
exhibitors, the number of head OF live
stock and in other exhibits. The to.
tai attendance was 1,15O,461 with paid
admissions 9lO,349. This was re,
duction of 194,79S in attendance and
1853 in paid admissions. The total
receipts of the eighty-nine fairs was
s69S, ,469,O2 or $73,7Ss.67 less than
1917. The total expense was $65l''
s42.72 or SSOS.91 more than the cost
of the ninety.three fairs in 1917. This
past year forty-nine fairs showed a
profit of $65, ,493.09 and forty fairs a
loss of $27,966,79.
The net profit of the eighty-nine
fairs was 37,526S0 compared with a
net profit of sl1.56s.Ss for the ninety.
three fairs in 1917. The state aid
amounted to s51. .O4S.36 or $S,76Sss
less than in 1917.