The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-17

Haynes special, driven by Raimey;
second, BriscOc special, driven by
Croft: -hird, King special, driven by
Burgett. Time, 2:24 Is.
Light car race-First, Essex, driven
by Braincrd; second. Essex, Barr;
third. Mercedes. Petticord; fourth,
Mooney special, Noitick. Time, 300
A big program of auto races, an
aerial circus and parachute drop by
Mark Campbell, daredevil California
AVIATOR and a thrilling auto polo con-
test brought the Kansas Free Foir to
a close this afternoon.
Five big racing events were on the
program for this afternoon. The first
was to be the secoEd heat of the two
mile championship match race for a
purse and trophy. Croft in his Bris-
coe Special won the first heat. run
Friday afternoon The third and de-
Gliding heat of the race appears as
Event 5 on the program.
The five-mile pursuit handicap and
the three-mile light ear race were
also scheduled for this afternoon.
To Make Parachute Drop
Mark c. mpbell was to give an eX-
hibition of wing walking and other
aerial stunts and intended to attempt
a perfect parachute landing in front
of the grandstand Tex La Groyne,
former army aviator, was to pilot the
mcahine
The Free Fair which closed this aft
ernoon was without question tha best
ever held in Topeka. In point of at
tendance it was not so large because
of the heavy rains the first part of the
week and which continued in sur
rounding territory up until Friday
morning The roads were in such
condition that it was impossible for
thousands of prospective visitors to
attend.
Ordinarily there is a very heavy at
tendance from Southern Nebraska and
Missouri. These visitors could not
get here this year Thousands Of per-
sons who had planned on attending
the exposition were disappointed. The
impossibility of holding any harness
races before Wednesday also cut
heavily into the attendance.
Quality Was Supreme.
But what the fair lacked in attend
ance it made up in quality. The eX-
hibits were never finer. Agricultural,
horticultural and homemade productS,
poultry. livestock, swine, pet stock,
machinery and motor cars were there
in greater profusion. greater variety
and greater quality than ever before.
Had it not been for the rains it is
entirely probable tLat the attendance
this year would have exceeded last
years record figure of 100000.
Livestock men expressed immense
satisfa ction over the accommod. tions.
Nowhere on any OF the western CIR
cults some of them declared have
they found better facilities for ham
ding their exhibits. even where the
pavilions are more costly than those
in Topeka. The construction of the
two new swine judging pavil1ons and
the stock judging pavilion greatly IA IA :
cilitated the work of judging and the
new nurse COW barns and wash racks
added greatly to the comfort and con-
venience of exhibitors and animals
alike.
Concession Business Good.
The concessions all reported an
enormous business considering the at
tendance. Not even during the war
period when money seemed to flow
like water was there a better spending
spirit than that shown this year. Open
gates will bring the crowds. was the
idea of the concessionaires, and with
one accord they turned to Topeka. Be
fore August 1 every concession space
had been sold.
Old timers were unanimous in their
declarations that the horse races this
year We're the best seen in Topeka in
the last quarter of a century This.
they believe, is the result of the larger
stakes offered, which attracts more
horses and faster stables. The four
big 81 200 stakes in the harness events
were offered last year for the first
time and drew a good field of starters
This year the word having spread the
entries greatly exceeded last year both
in quantity and quality. Next year
they are expected to be even better.
Braincrd and Croft winners.
Brainerd. in his Essex and Croft, in
his Briscoe Special, were the winners
in the auto races Friday afternoon.
Brainerd finished first in three events
and Croft first in two events.
Brainerd took the first event, the
three mile race. by nosing out Petit
cord and his Mercedes on the last lap.
Petticord was third at the end of the
first mile At the end of the second
he and Brainerd crossed the tape to-
gether. with Barr in his Essex follow
ing closely and Voitick in a Monney
special tagging behind. In the last
quarter of a mile Brainerd put on a
burst of speed and crossed the tape a
few inches ahead of the Mercedes. The
tCortinued on Page ThreeJ