378 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The speed of horses, in all ages, has been a matter of admira- 

 tion ; and racing is coeval with their subjection to the use of 

 man, and will cease only to exist, when in the grand race of 

 time, both rider and horse shall have 



" Turned down the ' home stretch,' 

 And reached the last ' goal.' " 



o^ 



JosiAH Crosby, Chairman. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



On Horses. — The society, at a liberal expense, have pur- 

 chased a lot for the purposes of their exhibitions, well adapted 

 to all their wants. They have prepared a course upon it for the 

 exhibition of horses, and as a pleasure ground for spectators. 

 All who witnessed the show upon either day, can attest to the 

 peculiar fitness of this purchase. And after the society had 

 sufiercd and struggled for so many years, for the want of even a 

 tolerable place to exhibit and test the qualities of horses, — to be 

 ushered at once into an arena so beautiful in itself, and so fully 

 suited to this attractive and desirable part of the fair, — all of 

 one accord spoke out in praise. 



. Upon the track at all times could be seen an attractive dis- 

 play of horses of every speed, kind and value, while at the same 

 time all sporting was suppressed, except such as was believed to 

 partake vastly more of the " useful than the ornamental." 

 Trials of speed in trotting were had, and were duly considered 

 in awarding the premiums. The fancy class of horses was not 

 numerous, nor were those on the grounds allowed to take 

 improper liberties with the track. 



. Few stallions were on exhibition, but those offered were of 

 the very first class^in all points, and the committee were almost 

 unwilling to decide, by awarding one a premium over another. 

 Those who saw N. R. Washburn's, and Strong & Lewis's stal- 

 lions moving so fast and majestically over the course, will long 

 retain that spectacle in their memories, and the society are 

 under many obligations to the owners for their appearance here. 



