STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 125 



GENERAL REPORT OF THE STATE FAIR FROM THE 

 SACRAMENTO RECORD-UNION. 



TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL PAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL SOCIETY. 



FIRST DAY. 



[From Daily Record-Union of Tuesday, September 21st.] 



The State Fair opened yesterday under very auspicious circum- 

 stances. Should the speculations based thereon prove to be well 

 founded, the exposition of eighteen hundred and eighty will surpass 

 that of any previous year in many material respects. The Park 

 opened at seven a. m., and, contrary to the usual custom on a first 

 day, a number of people visited the grounds prior to the afternoon 

 entertainment. It does not appear that there is any very large num- 

 ber of visitors in the city as yet; nevertheless, the patronage at the 

 Park yesterday was financially largely in excess of the first day of 

 last year, and the races were attended by a very large number of 

 people — indeed, a larger number than seen at the Agricultural Soci- 

 ety's track on a first day for a number of years. 



THE RACES 



Were announced to begin at one p. m., but the horses were not called 

 up until about two p. m., and the result was that the sixth race had 

 to be omitted, and the fifth was not finished until after darkness had 

 set in. The programme of races was one of exceeding interest, and 

 was pronounced by all to be one of the best ever presented by the 

 society. The races were numerous, spirited, well conducted, and 

 evidently honestly run. The new system of posting the record of 

 the race on a large black board was unanimously approved, and the 

 satisfaction it gave to all was openly and enthusiastically expressed. 

 The new reporters' stand was warmly approved by the representa- 

 tives of the press, who were much pleased to be where they could 

 view the entire track during a race without the view being inter- 

 rupted or they being necessitated to clamber among the upper works 

 of the judges' stand, and hang on to the eaves thereof by their eye- 

 lids. With the system of colors for all riders and drivers, and the 

 posting of positions, the colors, and the outcome of heats, the public 

 is enabled to understand and take an interest in racing which it 

 could not heretofore upon the society's race-course, because hereto- 

 fore only the few could identify the horses during a speed contest. 

 It but remains for the judges hereafter, constantly and inflexibly, to 

 enforce the new rules, the wisdom of which is so evident, and not 

 again permit upon the course the drivers improperly clad. 



