Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-03
RECORD CROWDS.
At STATE FAIR.
ON FIRST DAY.
Officials Predict Best At
tendance in History
of Fair
PERFECT ORDER KEPT
Best Exhibits in Seventeen Years of
Hstory-Stables Contain Finest
Animals in State-Races and
Steeplechase Today.

Richmond, Oct. 3.-FOr the seven
teenuh year in succession Richmond
is holding its State Fair. The best
exposition ever held here opened its
gates to the pubic yesterday morn
ing and when the gates closed last
night it was announced that appro-
ximately 10000 men, women and chill
dren had checked in through the turn
stiles.
1t was a record breaker, it was
said, for Monday, and fair otflclais
are looking for the biggest attend
ance that any Richmond fair has
chalked up. Not only did the crowd
surpass expectations in the early
part of the day, but maintained the
proportion at night. Ard there was
not one single unpleasant incident
to mar the Inauguration. MAJOR
Sherry, chief of police, said last night
it was one of the largest and at
the same time, one of the most or
derly crowds that had ever been in
side of the fair grounds.
The fair spirit was in evidence
morning, afternoon and night. The
various concessions were well pat
ronized; the soGnd of the hurdy-
gurdy was in the land, and the res
taurants had about all they could
do in taking care Of the hungry.
And the exhibits attracted thousands,
Some of the departments were late
in opening, because of their delay in
arriving in Richmond, but everything
was call set" early in the afternoon,
and the shows were under way Just
few minutes after the scheduled
time.
Yesterday was designated as "Chil-
dren's Day." and the youngsters came
and brought their mothers and
fathers with them. The children pet
ted the sheep; skipper away when the
hogs raised their snoots and they
walked easily pass the Holsteins,
Jerseys, Guernsevs and Herefords in
the cattle barn. The State Game De-
partment exhibit of baby quail caught
the eyes of hundreds and the boys
and girls went wild when they got
into the big building where roosters
crowed, hens cackled and ducks
uuacked. 1t was hard to tell which
made the most noise the children or
the poultry.
The free attractions in front of
the grand stand held the youngsters
spellbound and they appeared de-
lighted with everything put on. When
Rineen dived backward from a lad
der l16 feet high, they expected to
see an ambulance race across the
field, but instead Mabel COdy's flying
circuit hit the air channels and did
some startling stunts.
Women, and many men, were at
tracted to the Women's department,
where there is exhibited every con
ceivable kind of fancy work, as well
as jellies, preserves, jams, etc, and
many quaint old pieces of patch
work.
Race horses which today will be
seen in action in four running races
and one steeplechase are from the
best stables in this and neighboring
States. They were given the usual
workouts yesterday.
The running races, each for
purse of $500, will be over the new
half-mile track, which affords the
spectators two views Of thc horses
during each race.
The first race today will be six
furlongs, and the horses entered are
Utah, Thriller, Forest Major, Foy and
South Breeze. In the second race,
about six furlongs, will be seen
Plurenzi, Koran, Winall, Corax and
Bill Simmons. In the mile race Sir
Adsum, Gratian, Troben and Salt
Peter will be the contenders.
The entries in the steeplechase,
which will be over the short course
for a purse of $500, are Blackfeld,
Mount Defiance, Daddy and Anne
Excellence.